Silly question - can't get the wheels off my 156 JTS!

I have just tried to swap the wheels front-to-back to rotate the tyres on my
52 plate 156 2.0JTS, but I can't get the wheels off!!

There wheels look normal - 5 nuts (1 locking). I can't see anything special
on the wheels and the handbook doesn't give any special instructions. Its
not like I can't change a wheel, but this has me stumped!! In attempt to
sound slightly less silly - yes I did jack the car up and yes I did remove
the wheel nuts!

I don't like to phone a garage - I would just feel silly!

Help!!!

Also - there are no jacking point markings front or rear under the car
(normally there are little triangles or arrows) - any pointers there as the
pictures in the handbook don't match the car or the jack?!?


"Gareth Tuckwell" > wrote in message
...
> I have just tried to swap the wheels front-to-back to rotate the tyres on
my
> 52 plate 156 2.0JTS, but I can't get the wheels off!!
>
> There wheels look normal - 5 nuts (1 locking). I can't see anything
special
> on the wheels and the handbook doesn't give any special instructions. Its
> not like I can't change a wheel, but this has me stumped!! In attempt to
> sound slightly less silly - yes I did jack the car up and yes I did remove
> the wheel nuts!
>
> I don't like to phone a garage - I would just feel silly!
>
> Help!!!
>
>

Gareth Tuckwell wrote:
> Also - there are no jacking point markings front or rear under the car
> (normally there are little triangles or arrows) - any pointers there
> as the pictures in the handbook don't match the car or the jack?!?
>

I've always found jacking points to not look very strong, so I always jack
the A-arm up. It also has the benefit that you aren't jacking up the car on
the suspension while the wheel stays on the floor. I'm no spanner-man so
perhaps this isn't a good idea but it's worked well for me.

Carl Farrington wrote:

> Gareth Tuckwell wrote:
>> Also - there are no jacking point markings front or rear under the car
>> (normally there are little triangles or arrows) - any pointers there
>> as the pictures in the handbook don't match the car or the jack?!?
>>
>
> I've always found jacking points to not look very strong, so I always jack
> the A-arm up. It also has the benefit that you aren't jacking up the car
> on the suspension while the wheel stays on the floor. I'm no spanner-man
> so perhaps this isn't a good idea but it's worked well for me.

That *may* not be a good idea. There was a big thing about (IIRC)
Vauxhalls on which the A-arm would bend when this was done. Best to use
the jacking points IMHO. After all, they are designed or the purpose.
--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

I would love to use the jacking points on the 156JTS, but there don't seem
to be any!

There is a ridge runs right from the front to rear wheels and there is a
matching notch out of the jack, but there is no indication of where along
the ridge I should place the jack - there is no little triangle, arrows, or
marks on the ridge. I put the jack either side of ridge, about 10cm back
from the front wheel arch and when I started jacking it creaked and looked
like it was going to bend, so I took it back down again and moved it further
along from the wheel, where it seemed stronger, but much further away from
the wheel than on other cars I have jacked up.

Whilst I love Alfas, I don't know much about mechanics - can change oil,
etc, but that's it. So I don't know what an A-arm is - I think it is part of
the suspension and I'm guessing that it is 'A' shaped, but how do I find it?



"Catman" > wrote in message
.. .
> Carl Farrington wrote:
>
> > Gareth Tuckwell wrote:
> >> Also - there are no jacking point markings front or rear under the car
> >> (normally there are little triangles or arrows) - any pointers there
> >> as the pictures in the handbook don't match the car or the jack?!?
> >>
> >
> > I've always found jacking points to not look very strong, so I always
jack
> > the A-arm up. It also has the benefit that you aren't jacking up the car
> > on the suspension while the wheel stays on the floor. I'm no spanner-man
> > so perhaps this isn't a good idea but it's worked well for me.
>
> That *may* not be a good idea. There was a big thing about (IIRC)
> Vauxhalls on which the A-arm would bend when this was done. Best to use
> the jacking points IMHO. After all, they are designed or the purpose.
> --
> Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
> Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
> Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7
> Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
> www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

"Gareth Tuckwell" wrote:

> I would love to use the jacking points on the 156JTS, but there don't seem
> to be any!

Curious, my 2003 156 has very obvious jacking points. Is yours a Veloce (as
mine is)? I say this as there are clear cutaways in the skirts for the jack.

Cheers
Tony

Catman wrote:
> Carl Farrington wrote:
>
>> Gareth Tuckwell wrote:
>>> Also - there are no jacking point markings front or rear under the
>>> car (normally there are little triangles or arrows) - any pointers
>>> there
>>> as the pictures in the handbook don't match the car or the jack?!?
>>>
>>
>> I've always found jacking points to not look very strong, so I
>> always jack the A-arm up. It also has the benefit that you aren't
>> jacking up the car on the suspension while the wheel stays on the
>> floor. I'm no spanner-man so perhaps this isn't a good idea but it's
>> worked well for me.
>
> That *may* not be a good idea. There was a big thing about (IIRC)
> Vauxhalls on which the A-arm would bend when this was done. Best to
> use the jacking points IMHO. After all, they are designed or the
> purpose.

mmm interesting! As it happens, I jack from very close to the pivot point,
if not near enough on it.

Carl Farrington wrote:

> Catman wrote:
>> Carl Farrington wrote:
>>
>>> Gareth Tuckwell wrote:
>>>> Also - there are no jacking point markings front or rear under the
>>>> car (normally there are little triangles or arrows) - any pointers
>>>> there
>>>> as the pictures in the handbook don't match the car or the jack?!?
>>>>
>>>
>>> I've always found jacking points to not look very strong, so I
>>> always jack the A-arm up. It also has the benefit that you aren't
>>> jacking up the car on the suspension while the wheel stays on the
>>> floor. I'm no spanner-man so perhaps this isn't a good idea but it's
>>> worked well for me.
>>
>> That *may* not be a good idea. There was a big thing about (IIRC)
>> Vauxhalls on which the A-arm would bend when this was done. Best to
>> use the jacking points IMHO. After all, they are designed or the
>> purpose.
>
> mmm interesting! As it happens, I jack from very close to the pivot point,
> if not near enough on it.

You'll porbably be OK. I have no trouble finding a jacking point. They
are the bits that rust first.......
--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

My owners manual says: "Place the jack under the car near the wheel"
A picture goes with it that shows the jack to be approx 40cm (16") from the
wheel arch and the V-notch in the jack to align with the sharp rim under the
side 10cm (4") inside the side of the car.
--
Ciao from Holland
AlfistaGJ (Gert-Jan)
Alfa red 156 SW 1.8 Madeno tuned (2000)
Golden Montreal 1428700 (1973/4)



"Gareth Tuckwell" > schreef in bericht
...
> Also - there are no jacking point markings front or rear under the car
> (normally there are little triangles or arrows) - any pointers there as
the
> pictures in the handbook don't match the car or the jack?!?
>
>
> "Gareth Tuckwell" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I have just tried to swap the wheels front-to-back to rotate the tyres
on
> my
> > 52 plate 156 2.0JTS, but I can't get the wheels off!!
> >
> > There wheels look normal - 5 nuts (1 locking). I can't see anything
> special
> > on the wheels and the handbook doesn't give any special instructions.
Its
> > not like I can't change a wheel, but this has me stumped!! In attempt to
> > sound slightly less silly - yes I did jack the car up and yes I did
remove
> > the wheel nuts!
> >
> > I don't like to phone a garage - I would just feel silly!
> >
> > Help!!!
> >
> >
>
>

> I have just tried to swap the wheels front-to-back to rotate the tyres on
my
> 52 plate 156 2.0JTS, but I can't get the wheels off!!
>
> The wheels look normal - 5 nuts (1 locking). I can't see anything special
> on the wheels and the handbook doesn't give any special instructions. Its
> not like I can't change a wheel, but this has me stumped!! In attempt to
> sound slightly less silly - yes I did jack the car up and yes I did remove
> the wheel nuts!

Corrosion has occurred between your alloy wheel and the hub, locking one to
the other; this is very common and doesn't damage either but is inconvenient
when you want to change a wheel.

If you gently let the car down off the jack (without replacing the wheel
nuts) you may successfully part the wheel and hub, otherwise, buy a rubber
mallet from a DIY store and give it a whack!

To prevent this from happening again, coat the inner surface of the wheel
(where it touches the hub) with copper grease (available from car accessory
shops); use it sparingly and don't get any on the brake disc or pads.

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