C6 Tech/Performance LS2, LS3, LS7, LS9 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Removing wheels correctly???

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 18, 2011 | 12:41 PM
  #1  
canuck9's Avatar
canuck9
Thread Starter
Drifting
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,612
Likes: 230
From: Fort Myers, Florida
Default Removing wheels correctly???

Would like to buy a low-profile jack stand and remove the wheels on my Grand Sport so I can clean the inside of the rim. My questions are..

1. What tools do I need to buy to accomplish this?
2. Any step-by-step instructions?

Thanks in advance
Michael
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2011 | 03:14 PM
  #2  
taken19's Avatar
taken19
Track Junky
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,074
Likes: 36
From: Orlando Area
Tech Contributor
Default

Front inside rims can be cleaned with a car wash brush from local auto parts store. Rears can be done by hand with normal car wash sponge. it's a tight squeeze but can be done without removing wheels. Do all accessible areas then let the car roll about 2 feet forward in neutral and get the remaning portions that were adjacent to the calipers.

Makes your life much easier trying this way first.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2011 | 03:21 PM
  #3  
eboggs_jkvl's Avatar
eboggs_jkvl
Moderator emeritus
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 18,599
Likes: 3,951
From: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
Default

This is the jack I recommend as a low profile: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5429_200345429

If you need a jack, this one works well.

Cleaning the wheels can be done as described in post #2.


Elmer
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2011 | 03:41 PM
  #4  
staticki's Avatar
staticki
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 31
From: Dyer IN
Default

Originally Posted by canuck9
Would like to buy a low-profile jack stand and remove the wheels on my Grand Sport so I can clean the inside of the rim. My questions are..

1. What tools do I need to buy to accomplish this?
2. Any step-by-step instructions?

Thanks in advance
Michael
You need a jack, a stand, and a lug wrench.

First you will want to loosen the bolt on the wheel you are going to take off while the wheel is on the ground (otherwise the wheel will spin if it is raised). Then you will want to jack the car up by the frame rails (this can be done with the pad on the jack or people use pucks). Since the wheel will be off for a period of time it will be a wise choice to put a stand on the side you are working on. Once the car is secured take off the 5 lug nuts and the wheel will lift right off.

The only note on putting wheels back on are ensure you tighten the bolts in a star pattern to make sure they are centered on the hub. Then do the above steps in reverse order (tighten bolts as much as possible in the air, drop the car, and then tighten when they are down on the ground).
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2011 | 03:48 PM
  #5  
canuck9's Avatar
canuck9
Thread Starter
Drifting
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,612
Likes: 230
From: Fort Myers, Florida
Default

Originally Posted by staticki
You need a jack, a stand, and a lug wrench.

First you will want to loosen the bolt on the wheel you are going to take off while the wheel is on the ground (otherwise the wheel will spin if it is raised). Then you will want to jack the car up by the frame rails (this can be done with the pad on the jack or people use pucks). Since the wheel will be off for a period of time it will be a wise choice to put a stand on the side you are working on. Once the car is secured take off the 5 lug nuts and the wheel will lift right off.

The only note on putting wheels back on are ensure you tighten the bolts in a star pattern to make sure they are centered on the hub. Then do the above steps in reverse order (tighten bolts as much as possible in the air, drop the car, and then tighten when they are down on the ground).
Thanks for the info...two questions

1. Where do you put the stand under the car?
2. Do you tighten as hard as you can or to a certain amount of pressure?
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2011 | 04:28 PM
  #6  
Bill Dearborn's Avatar
Bill Dearborn
Tech Contributor
25 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,037
Likes: 9,801
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Default

A $20 to $30 1 1/2 ton cheap jack will do just fine. Use jacking pads and lift from the side of the car. No need to go to the expense of a low profile jack to get in from the front. If the car is lowered just lay a couple of 2 ft long 2x6s on the ground with the upper one staggered a little bit forward of the bottom board. That will give you a ramp to drive up. Once on the boards just run the jack in from the side. Can do all 4 wheels this way.

You don't need all sorts of fancy equipment to lift these cars. Been lifting C5s and C6 this way since 1997 with no issues.

Bill
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2011 | 04:29 PM
  #7  
eboggs_jkvl's Avatar
eboggs_jkvl
Moderator emeritus
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 18,599
Likes: 3,951
From: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
Default

Jack stands go on the frame.

Use lifting pucks to get clearance of the jack and the rocker panels. (VERY expensive to repair if broken)

Star pattern and using a Torque wrench tighten the nuts to 100 lb ft.


Elmer
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2011 | 06:25 PM
  #8  
TMyers's Avatar
TMyers
Race Director
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,436
Likes: 4
From: Everett Wa
Default

Just do one side at a time.

1. Install jaking puck in front location and posisiton jack.
2. If you don't have airtools, loosing lug nuts for both wheels
3. Raise vehicle until both tires come off the ground.
4. Remove one wheel and clean.
5. Reinstall wheel and remove other wheel and clean.
6. After both wheels are reinstalled and tightened up lower vehicle and remove puck.
7. Torque nuts to 100ft lbs.
8. Repeat for other side.

Don't need a jack stand and this method is much easier. Just as a note I had never cleaned the inside of my stock crome wheels. Took over 5 hours to get them clean. One thing I did found out is that the inside of the barrel is painted and was stained badly. I used paint stripper and remove the paint and there is a very nice aluminum under it. Polished it up and waxed it and it looks very good now and is much easier to maintain.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Jul 18, 2011 | 07:21 PM
  #9  
ALS 08's Avatar
ALS 08
Pro
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 633
Likes: 13
From: Hurley New York
Default

http://www.bugmanweb.com/c6/c6index.html



Boards,You'll drive up on these in order to get the car high enough so that you can get your standard jack under the front end. You only have a 5-inch ground clearance.
Jack pucks. These hook onto specific locations on the Vette, and protect your rocker panels from damage by the jack. Don't lift without them




$20 Jackstands
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2011 | 07:40 PM
  #10  
HalfMoon's Avatar
HalfMoon
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,834
Likes: 91
From: California
Default

Originally Posted by taken19
Front inside rims can be cleaned with a car wash brush from local auto parts store. Rears can be done by hand with normal car wash sponge. it's a tight squeeze but can be done without removing wheels. Do all accessible areas then let the car roll about 2 feet forward in neutral and get the remaning portions that were adjacent to the calipers.

Makes your life much easier trying this way first.


http://www.autogeekmobile.net/daytona-special.html
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2011 | 09:41 PM
  #11  
canuck9's Avatar
canuck9
Thread Starter
Drifting
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,612
Likes: 230
From: Fort Myers, Florida
Default

Thanks to everyone for all of the help and the very detailed descriptions...I feel very confident in being able to accomplish what I was looking to achieve now!!!

Michael
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Removing wheels correctly???





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:40 PM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE