Really REALLY embarrassing question......

[Ifti]

Ok, its time for me to be honest.

I have never used a car jack in my life. There, I said it!

I had my last car for around 8 years, and was lucky enough to never need to use the jack. When I needed tyres changed it was always when a service was due, so all done together. Ive been lucky enough to never have a roadside puncture etc.

Now I want to remove my wheels to clean and seal them with Poorboys sealer, but Im a little nervous as its somet Ive never done....

Is this the correct procedure....

1. Remove the caps above nuts with the little metal tool.
2. Use locking nut, and slightly loosen all nuts on wheel.
3. Jack car up.
4. Remove nuts.
5. Remove wheel from car.

Then clean wheel etc, and wheel arch if required.
To put back reverse the above procedure, making sure not to put nuts on too tight at first.
Let the car down, then tighten nuts.

Assuming the above is correct, I have 2 question....

1. How tight to do the nuts? Should I get it as tight as I possibly can??
2. How to use the jack?! (the one in the car boot is all I have) I mean, I know how to open it and what to turn to make it open/close. I also know how to place the jack, so its on the floor properly etc. I also know that I need to look for the little arrow mark on the trim next to the wheel I want to remove etc.
What I need to know, is exactly where the jack goes under the car though. Obviously its under the arrow, but how far under? is it where there is a slight lip, which fits into the ridge in the jack??

If someone had a quick pic of exactly how it sits etc, I'd be really grateful!

Sorry for the noob question, but as i said, Ive never used a jack before!!! lol
I can do odd bits under the bonnet etc, and Im learning as I go - its just where to place the jack that I want to ensure is correct before I go ahead!

Thanks, and dont laugh!!!!! 

[182_blue]

your procedure looks correct, you should leave it on axle stands reallly (i tend not too though  ), it tells you in the manual how to jack the car 

oh and dont over tighten the bolts !

[182_blue]

oh, nearly forgot



































 

[08micsta]

oh, nearly forgot



































 

What he said! ^^^

Dont worry the first car I ever jacked up was a Audi A4 Avant. And it looked like the little jack was going to snap! And I left the car on the jack for a good few hours outside yelling at all the guys watchin me detail not to go within 5 metres of the car 

Those were the days 

[Andy]

halfords do a little trolley jack for about £20 this is better than the car jack & easier to use.When jacking the car up where the little arrow is make sure you look under the car as thier is another ledge to jack it up on..seen a few golfs now jacked up on the sill

[Hurdy]

NO!!!

Not right method.

Do not loosen all the bolts before putting the jack on the car and slightly supporting the weight of the car. Then crack the bolts open.

[Phil Mcavity]

yes whatever you do, dont jack the car up with a trolley jack on the drivers floor or passengers floor pan, because it tends to reduce the persons leg room

I did that very thing when i left school in my 1st job, jacked up an  brand new AstraMax van on the footwell, needless to say, my boss spat his teeth out when he saw the damage id done when he pulled back the floor mat!

[08micsta]

Is it correct to:

1. No jack. Loosen each wheel a tiny bit... Like just to get through the hold as in only a quarter turn on all bolts.
2. Jack up and remove the bolts.
3. Also... Be careful not to bang the discs!!! When our Porsche went in for new rears (1100 pounds later) they used a smooth metal rod and after loosening one of the bolts and taking it out they then slot this rod in and the wheel slides off. They put it on the same way.

I thought that was brilliant as it meant the brake discs were safe and it was very proffesional.

Mike

[Phil Mcavity]

yes , slaken bolts a fraction before jacking wheel off the floor, or you will have one hell of a job stopping the wheel turning whilst its off the floor.

I find the scissor jack to do a good enough job as long as you make sure your on a flat surface and place it at the correct angle to avoid possible disaster.

[182_blue]

Is it correct to:

1. No jack. Loosen each wheel a tiny bit... Like just to get through the hold as in only a quarter turn on all bolts.
2. Jack up and remove the bolts.
3. Also... Be careful not to bang the discs!!! When our Porsche went in for new rears (1100 pounds later) they used a smooth metal rod and after loosening one of the bolts and taking it out they then slot this rod in and the wheel slides off. They put it on the same way.

I thought that was brilliant as it meant the brake discs were safe and it was very proffesional.

Mike

thats what i have always done, Hurdy says not though 

[08micsta]

Is it correct to:

1. No jack. Loosen each wheel a tiny bit... Like just to get through the hold as in only a quarter turn on all bolts.
2. Jack up and remove the bolts.
3. Also... Be careful not to bang the discs!!! When our Porsche went in for new rears (1100 pounds later) they used a smooth metal rod and after loosening one of the bolts and taking it out they then slot this rod in and the wheel slides off. They put it on the same way.

I thought that was brilliant as it meant the brake discs were safe and it was very proffesional.

Mike

thats what i have always done, Hurdy says not though 

I think he has been out sniffing carbon fibre again... Perhaps when he comes back to bare metal he will agree with us 

[Ifti]

So the jack goes under the arrow, where the lip/pinch seal is?

So where would I put the axle stands? Right next to the jacking points?

Wow I feel like such a noob, but this is a bit Ive never done before! lol

[Ifti]

oh, nearly forgot




 

GIT !!!! lol

[Ifti]

Is it correct to:

1. No jack. Loosen each wheel a tiny bit... Like just to get through the hold as in only a quarter turn on all bolts.
2. Jack up and remove the bolts.
3. Also... Be careful not to bang the discs!!! When our Porsche went in for new rears (1100 pounds later) they used a smooth metal rod and after loosening one of the bolts and taking it out they then slot this rod in and the wheel slides off. They put it on the same way.

I thought that was brilliant as it meant the brake discs were safe and it was very proffesional.

Mike

thats what i have always done, Hurdy says not though 

I think Hurdy meant to support the car a little on the jack - not to actually jack it up any, just have it there as support. Then loosen nuts a little amount, before actually jacking up and removing the nuts?......

[182_blue]

Is it correct to:

1. No jack. Loosen each wheel a tiny bit... Like just to get through the hold as in only a quarter turn on all bolts.
2. Jack up and remove the bolts.
3. Also... Be careful not to bang the discs!!! When our Porsche went in for new rears (1100 pounds later) they used a smooth metal rod and after loosening one of the bolts and taking it out they then slot this rod in and the wheel slides off. They put it on the same way.

I thought that was brilliant as it meant the brake discs were safe and it was very proffesional.

Mike

thats what i have always done, Hurdy says not though 

I think he has been out sniffing carbon fibre again... Perhaps when he comes back to bare metal he will agree with us 

the VW manual says undo bolts slightly (with no jack present), then jack up car