Tire Rotation DIY - Lifts and alignment pins

[jivewalker]

Looking to save my back and tired of manhandling tires onto the studs and hub. Never just lines up easily for me. Any recommendations on an affordable a lifting dolly that is solid, or at least some female m14 x 1.5 alignment pins that will thread onto the wheel studs? Google is not helping much on the pins and I posted over in tools forum, but no responses. Tire dollies are all over the place. Surely everybody isn't just going old school like I have been. Maybe this is the way?

 

[CharlieS]

I just manhandle them.

One trick I've seen people use is to sit on the floor with the tire cradled between your legs and use your thighs to lift the tire up to align it.

Here's an idea:


I think he uses this: 1250 lb. Capacity Vehicle Positioning Wheel Dolly - https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive/jacks-jack-stands/vehicle-dollies/1250-lb-capacity-vehicle-positioning-wheel-dolly-61917.html

Something else I'm tempted to try (since I already own one) is to use a Harbor Freight transmission dolly.

450 lb. Low Lift Transmission Jack

Amazing deals on this 450Lb Low Lift Transmission Jack at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[jivewalker]

I just manhandle them.

One trick I've seen people use is to sit on the floor with the tire cradled between your legs and use your thighs to lift the tire up to align it.

Here's an idea:


I think he uses this: 1250 lb. Capacity Vehicle Positioning Wheel Dolly - https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive/jacks-jack-stands/vehicle-dollies/1250-lb-capacity-vehicle-positioning-wheel-dolly-61917.html

Something else I'm tempted to try (since I already own one) is to use a Harbor Freight transmission dolly.

450 lb. Low Lift Transmission Jack

Amazing deals on this 450Lb Low Lift Transmission Jack at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Yep, I manhandle them as well, and usually by the 4th one I'm using the cradle method. About 4 months ago I herniated a disc in my back, so now I am trying to be cautious which is causing me to change the way I do some things. Thanks for the link, was thinking of something like that.

What I would really like is just the alignment pins that fit our lugs. With two of them threaded on, it would be cake.

 

[CharlieS]

Something like this, but in the right thread size/pitch?

2PC M12 alignment sleeve tool [184930] - $21.96 : Toolsource.com, Your Professional Tool Authority!

Toolsource.com 2PC M12 alignment sleeve tool [184930] - 12mm x 1.5 (Female)

www.toolsource.com

 

[AnyMal]

Nah, working on my car is my current workout regiment.
Also good for flexibility with contortionist stretches.

 

[jivewalker]

Something like this, but in the right thread size/pitch?

2PC M12 alignment sleeve tool [184930] - $21.96 : Toolsource.com, Your Professional Tool Authority!

Toolsource.com 2PC M12 alignment sleeve tool [184930] - 12mm x 1.5 (Female)

www.toolsource.com

Yes, like that but M14 x 1.5 I believe. Would be a simple solution. I like the tire lift/dolly too, but the drift pins require a lot less room to store!

 

[jivewalker]

Nah, working on my car is my current workout regiment.
Also good for flexibility with contortionist stretches.

My favorite contortionist workout so far is getting into the driver side foot well fuse box !

 

[Heckraiser]

manhandle now, advil later. Is there any other way?

I guess I've seen tire jockeys put a crowbar under the tire to lift it onto the lugs, but that only works if the wheel only needs to come up less than an inch to get onto the lugs. And still far from graceful.

:edit: ooh, that wheel dolly thing looks pretty clever.

 

[jivewalker]

manhandle now, advil later. Is there any other way?

I guess I've seen tire jockeys put a crowbar under the tire to lift it onto the lugs, but that only works if the wheel only needs to come up less than an inch to get onto the lugs. And still far from graceful.

:edit: ooh, that wheel dolly thing looks pretty clever.

Nothing touches pain from a slipped disc, well except Russian Standard.

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

I just sit down in front of the tire, put my toes under each side of the tire, and lift the tire with my toes. Good for 6-7" of lift. No effort or back muscles required, and you're right there at eye level to put the lugs on. I thought all shadetree hacks did it this way?

 

[GTV]

 

[AnyMal]

LOL no f that, im over head pressing that wheel. 10 reps a corner.

 

[JAS4]

I just sit down in front of the tire, put my toes under each side of the tire, and lift the tire with my toes. Good for 6-7" of lift. No effort or back muscles required, and you're right there at eye level to put the lugs on. I thought all shadetree hacks did it this way?

Me too. Easy. Although, the older I get the more noise is involved in getting down and up from the floor.

 

[gaijin]

Yes, like that but M14 x 1.5 I believe. Would be a simple solution. I like the tire lift/dolly too, but the drift pins require a lot less room to store!

If M14 x 1.5 is correct, how about these?

Link: Wheelez Lug Guide Tool

HTH

 

[montegofd3s]

I just sit down in front of the tire, put my toes under each side of the tire, and lift the tire with my toes. Good for 6-7" of lift. No effort or back muscles required, and you're right there at eye level to put the lugs on. I thought all shadetree hacks did it this way?

This right here. Roll in place(ish), sit, lift with feet, screw on lug nuts with free hand.

 

[Leelanau]

Looking to save my back and tired of manhandling tires onto the studs and hub. Never just lines up easily for me. Any recommendations on an affordable a lifting dolly that is solid, or at least some female m14 x 1.5 alignment pins that will thread onto the wheel studs? Google is not helping much on the pins and I posted over in tools forum, but no responses. Tire dollies are all over the place. Surely everybody isn't just going old school like I have been. Maybe this is the way?

This wheel dolly was a game changer for me. Maybe the best 130 bucks I’ve ever spent on Amazon. You can pick up heavy truck tires (35”+) with one hand on the handle, one on the tire, roll them around the room and then spin the tire at the wheel to align the holes to the studs. Total back saver!



Esco Super Wheel Dolly

Amazon link

 

[Climbingnut]

I usually just use a breaker bar and another piece of pipe and place them each under the two sides of the wheel. Lifting one side higher than the other will rotate the wheel a bit should you need to adjust alignment of the wheel. No way I’m going to man handle the wheel into place and jack my back up.

 

[biff44]

Jeez, time to man up!

 

[Leelanau]

YouTube video

I wished I knew how to insert a video into a post…

I have a few bulged discs and used to wrestle tires around, sit on my ass and use my toes and get filthy and have a sore back for a week.

A tire dolly makes it effortless and clean. The video is not the brand I own but works the same. They are designed for heavy truck tires, so 200 tires are nothing.

 

[jivewalker]

Some great responses here! I've got no concerns with my man up status here, 50 years old and been doing my own rotations for 30+ years now, just looking to make it easier on myself, you know "work hard, work smart". Also, my tires and wheels keep getting bigger!

Lifting the tire onto the studs is hit or miss, anyone who actually does it knows it's not as easy to line it up on the studs while holding the wheel up, and, even when you do get it on the studs, its not always easy to get it centered on the hub. And I must have some large fingers as I find it difficult to get the lug nuts on by hand and don't like removing the center caps every time..

For my vehicles, Camry is easy, 4runner is pretty heavy and awkward to line up on both studs and hub, 200 is just heavier and just as awkward but the lug nuts are easier than 4runner to start for me.

With the camry and 4runner, and the 200 until I get new tires and have a 5 tire rotation, I have to put the vehicles on jack stands to have 2 tires off at once, which usually results in it being higher than foot liftable for me.

Bottom line goal of my post, first to find some alignment drift pins which seem like would eliminate 2 or 3 takes of lining it up, thanks @gaijin those are it, second was to make the process easier on my beat to crap back. The wheel dolly seems to be the answer for that. Going to start with the drift pins and go from there. Or get that girl to come over and line em up for me.