So if you have the wheels on the car, and need to remove one lug nut to install wheel locks, can you get away with just removing that one lugnut and replacing it with the lock one? Can you do it on the ground without even jacking the car up? 4 out of 5 bolted on isn't too bad heh...

Not sure what's considered proper, or rather what is really needed.

 

Dang! Meant to post this in the wheels forum, duh.

 

Yep, it's fine. The torque on the remaining 4 will hold the wheel firmly in place. No need to jack the car up for this. You could drive the car around with only 4 on if you wanted to and not do any harm.

 

I would think so, but before I did anything unknowlingly stupid, I thought I'd just run it by everyone, heh.

On a sad note, I think I'm missing one of the essential parts for the jacking process. I have the jack, and the tire iron to remove the lugnuts, but seem to be missing the hook thing that you connect the two together to actually jack the car up.

New wheels sit in garage for at least a day

 

You should seriously consider looking into your owners manual. There are only two parts to the jack. The scissors jack, and the lug wrench. Once you see it in the book, you'll see how it works.

 

FYI, you should buy a torque wrench for tightening the lugnuts.. I torque mine to 85 ft/lbs..

--mike

 

Actually, he's right, there are 3 pieces. The scissor jack, the rod with the hook on one end and a flat screwdriver tip on the other. The hook goes onto the spindle of the scissor jack, and then the notch in the lug-wrench handle goes onto the flat end of the rod. The lug wrench becomes the "handle" that turns the rod, which in turn spins the scissor jack spindle.

Maybe it's a difference between 03's and 04's or something, but mine is the same as Chicken is describing.

 

Do what I did...Head to Wal-Mart and buy a $20 2 ton floor jack. Much faster and easier than the provided jack, which in my opinion is for emergency use only.

This is of course unless you've lowered your car. Then you pretty much have to use the provided jack because a hydraulic floor jack won't fit under the car! I found that out the hard way when I changed my springs out. I lowered the car off the hydraulic jack, then couldn't get the jack clear of the side skirt!

 

I went with the "Tim the Tool Man Taylor" approach ..... I purchased the 3 ton jack auauarrrrhhhh!!!!!!ooohhhhooo!!!!!

 

Now I KNOW Mr. Veilside Widebody can't get a 3-ton floorjack under THOSE side skirts!!!

Still diggin' that car man!!!

 

Yeah, after *not* looking in the owners manual (figuring the jacking process would be self-explnatory as I already knew where the little notches were that they recommend you use, etc.), I decided to check it out as I thought I might be crazy. It didn't fit together. See below...
Yep, 3 pieces. I'm missing the middle one.
I have one! Errrrr.... HAD one. I've moved a few times since I got it and *sniff* sadly think it may have been left somewhere or I lent it to someone, but couldn't find it.

Having them put on today... can't wait.... YEEEEEEEEE! Pictures later... maybe...

 

So what is the best wheel lock then?

I've heard that the McGard ones are pretty mediocre quality.