What to do with your Model S when you remove a tire

[K.I.T.T.23]

My assumption is someone here is going to tell me something that is very obvious that I missed... but honest question here:


I have had 2 tire issues in the past month. Each time, I would have preferred to remove the tire myself, take the tire to the shop, have it repaired and then reinstall the tire. Typically, with any of my old ICE cars, I would use a jack stand on the lower control arm. With a Tesla, I am a bit nervous regarding positioning.

My question: Is there a spot on the control arm that should be used or should not be used to hold the car suspended when the wheel is removed?

I do have a set of pucks to jack the car up in the proper location, but I hesitate to leave a car unattended on a hydraulic car jack.

Thoughts? and Thank you in advance.

 

[Crutonius]

I can't seem to get any confirmation that any spot except that jack points are acceptable for a jack stand.

If I had to put jackstands on it I would use this. https://www.amazon.com/Powerbuilt-620516-4000-UJack-Garage/dp/B06XCRJRPZ?th=1

 

[K.I.T.T.23]

I can't seem to get any confirmation that any spot except that jack points are acceptable for a jack stand.

If I had to put jackstands on it I would use this. https://www.amazon.com/Powerbuilt-620516-4000-UJack-Garage/dp/B06XCRJRPZ?th=1

I actually really like that @Crutonius ! I have not seen a Jack like that before. Amazon may owe you a commission lol.

Any other ideas out there? If not, I am getting this thing.

 

[Crutonius]

About the only other thing would be something like this. Save On Atlas 6LP - 6,000 lb Low Rise Scissor Lift at ToolPan

Not exactly cost effective but nice if you have the money.

In a pinch I would think supporting it from the lower control arm bushings doesn't sound too risky. But everything I see in service manual makes me nervous to try such a thing.

 

[TLLMRRJ]

I have 4 big floor jacks, and I just bought 4 Jackrods to go with it. They are a great solution that are well designed, and even worked great to support our Range Rover Sport recently. I am happy to say goodbye to the problem of setting jack stands. With the Jackrods, and leaving the jacks in the locked position, I get better redundancy than just jack stands.

Jack Rod

You can be seriously injured or even die if your floor jack seals fail while working on your car (it happens more than you think). Many people use jack stands, but on high-end floors, for quick repairs, road side work or newer vehicles with only 4 lift points this isn't an option. The JACKROD is...

agm-products.com

 

[morepower]

Rennstand. Not my car but a photo I found on the web.

 

[TLLMRRJ]

Rennstand. Not my car but a photo I found on the web.

View attachment 953774

I looked at those, but they are such a hassle to set up compared to Jackrod, and they are a real pain for cars with low ride height because they add a lot of height to the jack.

 

[Gixx1300R]

 

[K.I.T.T.23]

I looked at those, but they are such a hassle to set up compared to Jackrod, and they are a real pain for cars with low ride height because they add a lot of height to the jack.

Actually, looking at how they work, it may be fine. The top portion is just placed on top of the jack and once you are at height, place the lower (red parts) below.

thanks @morepower

 

[K.I.T.T.23]

View attachment 953776

ya know... that may do it... just a fist full of 2x4s.

 

[Gixx1300R]

Actually, looking at how they work, it may be fine. The top portion is just placed on top of the jack and once you are at height, place the lower (red parts) below.

thanks @morepower

I was a Firefighter for 20 years with special ops training. One of my fields of expertise was VMR (vehicle machinery rescue) and extrication. I have supported everything from full load semi-trailers to rail cars with 4x4 cribbing.

 

[K.I.T.T.23]

I was a Firefighter for 20 years with special ops training. One of my fields of expertise was VMR (vehicle machinery rescue) and extrication. I have supported everything from full load semi-trailers to rail cars with 4x4 cribbing.

it was kind-a funny, I talked to my wife about the options and basically went with a "well, I can spend $200 and get a fancy jackstand or something, or I could do it like I did in Afghanistan in 2007 for ~$15 lol"

yeah, I will probably just make the wooden stands, like I said with my opening post, someone will likely have an idea that makes me think "duh, of course" and wooden supports was it.

Sometimes I think we get into a Tesla mindset because we have these $100k vehicles and forget that we don't need special equipment to fix stuff lol.

 

[Gixx1300R]

it was kind-a funny, I talked to my wife about the options and basically went with a "well, I can spend $200 and get a fancy jackstand or something, or I could do it like I did in Afghanistan in 2007 for ~$15 lol"

yeah, I will probably just make the wooden stands, like I said with my opening post, someone will likely have an idea that makes me think "duh, of course" and wooden supports was it.

Sometimes I think we get into a Tesla mindset because we have these $100k vehicles and forget that we don't need special equipment to fix stuff lol.

click on this link

DIY Tire Rotation Ideas

Did mine today. Just got a 3 ton low profile at Harbor freight on Friday with a coupon they emailed me. I did the rear with the big jack, and then there was clearance to get my "regular" 2 ton much smaller jack (you can carry it in one hand) that wasn't low profile enough on its own (I don't...

teslamotorsclub.com

 

[Gixx1300R]

 

[Waterop]

I believe that you can jack up the car high enough to bring the other tire off the ground at which point you can put a jack stand under it then lower the jack down. Done for rotating tires. I have never done this myself, but have read it on other post.

 

[Olle]

My assumption is someone here is going to tell me something that is very obvious that I missed... but honest question here:


I have had 2 tire issues in the past month. Each time, I would have preferred to remove the tire myself, take the tire to the shop, have it repaired and then reinstall the tire.

Exactly what I do too, to minimize the risk that somebody lifts in the wrong place. When I replaced all 4 last time, Tirerack came with the mobile tire van to the house. Very neat experience. I handed them the pucks and watched until I saw them put their jacks under each.

Typically, with any of my old ICE cars, I would use a jack stand on the lower control arm.

I did too, before I became an engineer.

With a Tesla, I am a bit nervous regarding positioning.

My question: Is there a spot on the control arm that should be used or should not be used to hold the car suspended when the wheel is removed?

Don't under any circumstances lift a modern car by the control arms. Extra important for EVs, which for efficiency reasons may have pushed the envelope further to reduce unnecessary mass. The arms are optimized to handle exactly the forces that they are subjected to during driving. That does not include any point loads from the outside surface.

I do have a set of pucks to jack the car up in the proper location, but I hesitate to leave a car unattended on a hydraulic car jack.

Thoughts? and Thank you in advance.

I jack up one side by its jack point furthest from the wheel to be removed. Then put the jack stand under the jack point closest to the removing wheel, then lower the jack a bit to where the car rests on both jack and stand. Not very elegant or efficient but it works.

 

[snellenr]

I'm in the part of the country where we need snow tires, so I bought a full set (wheels & tires) from Tirerack. When I had to repair a tire recently (screw), I just put on one of the snows while I worked.

If you don't have a set, I'd suggest buying a suitable used wheel & tire somewhere (junkyard, ebay, etc) - assuming you won't ever be rolling on it will make the search easier.

 

[blodg1]

This is what we used when I worked at Tesla. They are JackPoint brand.