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Safe lifting points for a tire shop with a lift

Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2019 6:25 pm
by AZ_Mike
To make a long story short I had Walmart install my tires on Transit rims and I brought them home in a trailer for installation because I needed to inspect and adjust my drum brakes. I also did not want them to confuse spherical and tapered lug nuts.

It took them almost four hours to do seven tires. They said they had a breakdown and remounts half of them several times to get them to balance. All but two of them are wearing a ridiculous amount of weights as many as 5-7 counting exterior and inside rim.

A friend suggested that an inexperienced Tech might not have realized they were lug centric and might have tried to balance them as if they were hub centric.

I've done the rear two axles in the evenings after work this week I'm saving the fronts for the weekend so I can get a good look at the double adjuster setup.

I may have to return to Walmart and have them redo everything. Is it safe for them to lift the vehicle?

Re: Safe lifting points for a tire shop with a lift

Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2019 6:45 pm
by pcolette
My opinion and experience is that I will not allow Walmart automotive touch any of my vehicles. They often don't know what they are doing. A tire retailer/service shop is your best choice. And do not allow anyone to lift your Pinz unless you are there to guide them through it. There is the possibility of damaging the Pinz if lifted incorrectly.

On all the Pinz's I've owned (5), I put the Pinz on HD jack stands and took the tire/wheel combo to my local, family owned tire dealer to have them mount and spin-balance them. They've never objected to me being in the shop and watching everything they do. And I've never needed more than a few (1-4) on any tire. I did switch over to ceramic balancing beads and have been very happy with them.

Best of luck!

Re: Safe lifting points for a tire shop with a lift

Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2019 8:13 pm
by AZ_Mike
Sounds like I need to buy two more jack stands to go with the four I have already. I had back surgery 6 weeks ago but I guess I can count this towards the PE I'm supposed to be starting :)

Mike

Re: Safe lifting points for a tire shop with a lift

Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2019 8:40 pm
by pcolette
I feel like anything I do on the Pinz is physical and mental therapy.😀

Re: Safe lifting points for a tire shop with a lift

Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2019 11:27 pm
by rmel
What tires did you get installed on the Transit wheels?
Some of the more aggressive styles and particular brands
are notoriously difficult to balance.

Incidentally, I believe the Transit wheels are hub centric, of
course the stock Pinz wheels are lug centric. I also flipped
over to Dynabeads, and use the larger diameter beads so I
can pull the valve out of the stem to air down and not get
sand blasted in the face :D

Re: Safe lifting points for a tire shop with a lift

Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2019 4:11 pm
by AZ_Mike
The 33.3" puncture resistant MAXXIS 255s. Very aggressive tread and feel very heavy.

I was able to find detailed wherel info for the Ford Transit. They are normally hub centric.

Mike