remove the wheels?

[FullAstern]

Ok, I'm really more than willing to try and lubricate the brake calipers on my P32. However, looking at getting off the wheels does not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling. I have more than a enogh jacks and stands to get the wheels off teh ground but those rear duals looks scary. I've never taken anything like that off before. What do I need and is there a bestpractices "how to" anywhere? I have all kinds of tools but no matter how big a wrench I bring up next to those wheels, it ends up looking wimpy.

[FullAstern]

Ok, I'm really more than willing to try and lubricate the brake calipers on my P32. However, looking at getting off the wheels does not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling. I have more than a enogh jacks and stands to get the wheels off teh ground but those rear duals looks scary. I've never taken anything like that off before. What do I need and is there a bestpractices "how to" anywhere? I have all kinds of tools but no matter how big a wrench I bring up next to those wheels, it ends up looking wimpy.

[max49]

Put the bottle jack under the axle but don't lift the wheels off the ground yet unless you have an impact wrench. Get the right size socket and breaker bar, get a 2 to 4' cheater bar; a pipe that goes over the breaker bar to give you enormous leverage. Break each lug loose about one revolution. Lift the wheel or wheels off the ground about a 1/2" and finish taking the lugs off. Wrestle back and forth, pulling the wheels off.
Do what you're going to do.
Get another flat crow or pry bar, 3' long would work good.
Put the pry bar in front of the wheel and roll the tire onto it . Get it lined up close as to the hole and lug locations. Pry the tire upand jiggle into place. Make sure your valve stems will be accessible. Repeat for the next wheel.
I'm not trying to be smart but I was always told when an old veteran was giving me tips on changing tires, trucks and motorcycles,
Always keep reminding yourself that "you are smarter than the tire".
Of course use suitable jack stands if you're going to get under it. I actually put the jacks down for extra safety and for the front, I don't even use a bottle jack as they will come well off the ground.
Good luck and have fun, let us know how easy or hard it is to lube the caliper pins.

[FullAstern]

I'm a little concerned about the rear duals. It looks like I'll need a pretty good extension. I've seen what's called a "wrench stand" advertised to support the extenssion. It looks like I could use a jack stand to support the extension. I can pick up a 40" 3/4" breaker bar pretty cheap and I only need 1, 3/4" socket and about a 12" or so extension. I'll follow your adivce and maybe soak the lugs for a while with liquid wrnech.

[Full-Timers]

When installing the tires make sure the valve stems for the inner and outer wheels are 180 degrees (opposite each other) apart. Take a look at them before you take them off. You will see what I mean.

[JB Driver]

When it comes to the wheels and tires on the motorhome I find it is a job for the tire professionals. There is a reason that the manufacturers do not supply a jack and lug nut wrench. Since the tires are so big and hard to handle it only makes sense to have some one with the knowledge, equipment and experience to conduct the type of maintence procedures necessary with the chassis.

[max49]

When you said you had plenty of jacks and stands , I assumed you had sockets and extensions. I do mine with a 1/2" set of sockets and breaker bar no problem, on the road. The 195 tires are only at 175 LBS of torque and with a breaker bar that's not that tight.I also have an 1/2" pneumatic impact wrench and I have a 1/2" electric impact wrench from Harbor Freight that I carry in the MH. I've never used it yet, but I did test it on a rear lug on the MH and it spun it right off.
They're cheap and everyone should have one or the other. Even if you have the 22.5 tires with 475lbs of torque, they're still great for the speed once you get them broke loose with the breaker bar.
I work in road construction and our head mechanic is 63 years old and not really the best of health. He changes 22.5 & 24" tires so effortlessly it's disgusting.
IMO the 22.5 tires are definitly more work , but doable if you have the tools.

[Max Hubrich]

I bought a 3/4" breaker bar, A 5foot piece of pipe to fit over the breaker bar, A 1 5/16" deep socket,a 4" 3/4" extension and a wheel dolly (like used in truck tire shops). I bought it on Ebay for $45 (includes shipping). You must be on a hard surface to use the dolly. I use my 1/2" impact wrench after the lug nuts are loose-- a piece of cake after that with the dolly. Tires can be rotated easily on the dolly to align holes with the studs. I use the pipe/breaker bar to retighten the lug nuts.
Max H
'02 37' Mountain Aire, W-22, Gasser

[FullAstern]

Yep, I got more 1/2 inch sockets, 6 and 12 point, ratchets and extensions than you can shake a screw driver at. I also have a CP air gun but I think this job would best be served by 3/4" tools.
I didn't think of how much the wheel weighed...what kind of dolly are we talking about here?

[max49]

Jack the wheels off the ground only about a half inch off the ground. Use a little crow or pry to lift the wheel that 1/2" onto the hub.
1/2 drive sockets are fine for the 19.5 wheels as the socket size needed is 1"
The 22.5 wheels may be a bit much for 1/2 " drive but maybe if the socket, breaker bar or extension does'nt break. A good 1/2" impact wrench claims around 600 lb or even 1000 lbs of torque and that should be plenty even for the 22.5 tires.

[Max Hubrich]

Full astern-- Try this ebay site for the truck dolly I've got. This is what Cooper tire shops use. Saves a lot of fiddeling with a pry bar. The tire rorates on the dolly for easy alignment. I only use this at home-- not on the road. A similiar dolly from Northern Tool is $200.
MaxH

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Heavy-Duty-Truck-Tire-Wh...ck-Lift-Repair-Tool_

[Max Hubrich]

Hope this site will work for the tire dolly
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Heavy-Duty-Truck-Tire-Wh...dZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

Max H

[max49]

Hey that's nice Max, I don't change MH tires enough to justify it for me but I don't know why my company shop does'nt get one.
I'll show it to our shop foreman, but he's an 'old timer' and will probably say, "nahhh, we don't need that"

[HuskyJack]

Max49, are you sure of the torque for your wheels, 175 I think is low.. My Workhorse with 19.5 wheels is 475 lbs..
Jack