Tools for switching out wheels

[Stang0811]

Happy New Year everyone

Just wanted to know what tools everyone is using to switch out their wheels - any recommendation would be appreciated

Thanks

[Doanster]

Outside of the usual quality jack and stands, a jack pad adapter ensures easy lifting and no damage to the plastic jack points. I lucked out and the adapter I use for my Merc fits the X5 as well. Burger Motorsports sells a BMW-specific unit.
Don't forget the torque wrench naturally. If you want to save even more time, get a cordless impact wrench. I use a Dewalt Li Ion unit.

[Alan l.]

I use one of these to speed up the process. After breaking the lugs loose i use this to remove them. I use the same when reinstalling the lugs but do a final torque down with my torque wrench. This is one of the tools i use the most when working on my car from 10mm nuts to wheel lugs. I have an adapter for it so it can take 1/2" sockets as well as 1/4's.



http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-PS41-2A-...+impact+wrench

Alan

[Doanster]

For extra reach as well as wheel protection from scuffs, I use this set from Schwaben.
https://www.ecstuning.com/News/Schwa...ets/ES2221243/

[Roundown]

If you're using an impact driver to speed up the process, I've found these to be useful. They break torque at 75lbs (for you to finish the rest with a hand torque wrench).

https://www.ecstuning.com/ES9021/

The Schwaben torque-limiting socket set prevents over-tightening of wheel bolts and lug nuts. Attach them to your ½-inch breaker bar or impact gun and tighten the wheel bolts or lugs until the socket stops tightening at 74 ft-lb (100 Nm). Then final-tighten the wheel fasteners to the recommended specification using a torque wrench.
Handsome sockets are shop tough, plated to resist corrosion, and color-coded for fast identification. Set takes up less room in your tool box than conventional torque sticks, and comes in a handy blow-molded case for portability and easy organization.
Set includes: 17, 19, and 21 mm six-point impact sockets to fit most metric wheel bolt heads and lug nuts.

[stewy604]

Those Schwaben sockets are nice, very slick. I've gone the cheap way and just wrapped my socket with tape (hasn't let me down yet). I also use a set of alignment rods when installing the wheels, makes the process a heck of a lot easier.

Similar to these from Burger:

[Doanster]

Originally Posted by stewy604

Those Schwaben sockets are nice, very slick. I've gone the cheap way and just wrapped my socket with tape (hasn't let me down yet). I also use a set of alignment rods when installing the wheels, makes the process a heck of a lot easier.

Agreed on both fronts. I've always just used black duct tape on my socket, but when I got the cordless impact wrench, the std socket was too shallow and the battery pack would end up smacking the wheel if I wasn't careful. The extra length of the Schwaben set alleviated that. The plastic sleeves were a bonus.

As for the wheel hanger, I kept the one that came with my old Passat's tool kit, but haven't had a need to use it yet. The disc and hub haven't rotated on me yet when I turn the wheel to line up the holes.

[BitteEinBit]

What size are our lug nuts?

[Doanster]

Originally Posted by BitteEinBit

What size are our lug nuts?

Our lug bolts are 17mm, 14x1.25, cone seat. Don't have the stock length off the top of my head. Will measure when I swap my stock setup back in a couple weeks.

[BitteEinBit]

17mm, ok, thanks! I want to make sure I buy the correct socket.

[stewy604]

Originally Posted by Doanster

As for the wheel hanger, I kept the one that came with my old Passat's tool kit, but haven't had a need to use it yet. The disc and hub haven't rotated on me yet when I turn the wheel to line up the holes.

Yea, not usually a problem. I just find they really help with the rears especially, as they're rather heavy and often awkward to 'get up there.'

[Terp335]

Originally Posted by Doanster

Outside of the usual quality jack and stands, a jack pad adapter ensures easy lifting and no damage to the plastic jack points. I lucked out and the adapter I use for my Merc fits the X5 as well. Burger Motorsports sells a BMW-specific unit.
Don't forget the torque wrench naturally. If you want to save even more time, get a cordless impact wrench. I use a Dewalt Li Ion unit.

Here is the link to the jack pad adapter I use. I've used a hockey puck in the past as well, but clearly this is better.

http://burgertuning.com/BMW_jack_pad_adapter.html

[Stang0811]

Any recommendation on a good car jack to get?

[Terp335]

Originally Posted by Stang0811

Any recommendation on a good car jack to get?

Here is a link to one on Harbor Freight which has great equipment. I've had on older model of this one (its a 2.5 ton jack) and its been awesome. Its low enough to get under my 3 series and I've used it for the last 6 seasons to swap tires.

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-ton-l...ump-61253.html

[stewy604]

Big vote rapid pump floor jack...not sure how I lived without one.