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Cant get the tire off the ground?
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sings69
User
May 21, 2008, 11:49 AM
Post #1 of 5
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Cant get the tire off the ground?
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I have a 79 Dodge Van. Its parked at my brothers as I customize it. It's sinking into the ground & has a rear flat. When we went to put on the spare, the body lifts, but the tire and undercarriage wont move. It's been suggested that the shock might have blown, but when I looked under there I noticed it only had 1 clamp (that binds the leaf springs) Are there suppossed to be 2? and that may be the problem? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all. Newbie- sings69
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 21, 2008, 5:07 PM
Post #2 of 5
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Re: Cant get the tire off the ground?
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That's kind of a generic diagram of what things should look like with TWO U bolts. If tire is flat and you are on dirt this spring is no doubt real low to ground and tough to get a jack under the axle itself. It should be strong to lift at the nut ends of the uU bolts shown in this pic. If a strap that binds multiple leafs has broken is should still lift. If the ones I'm thinking of they are to hold the leafs from twisting away from each other and not shown in this pic.
If a shock is broken the axle would travel farther down before lifting off the ground to get at least the wheel off and spare on to get this to a better spot to fix the broken shock.
You no doubt need to get creative in hoisting and be real careful with jacks on dirt as floor type jacks can't roll and they can sink. Use good wood, blocks and may need to add blocks and re-hoist again in stages to get it high enough.
Good grief be careful on dirt when jacking and where you are jacking. Jacks and stands even aren't very secure on ground.
Can this tire just get a blast of air to hold just long enough to move to a preffered spot?
T
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sings69
User
May 22, 2008, 10:56 AM
Post #3 of 5
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Re: Cant get the tire off the ground?
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Tom. Thanks for your input. To elaborate a little , can I ask.. You state that "if your on dirt, this spring"..What spring are you refering to? 2) Are you saying that if there are 2 u-bolts, they are still connected to the under carriage, and I should be able to lift from there? 3) The leaf spring binder (strap) i refered to is NOT in the diagram..I now know its purpose. Thank You. 4) R U saying that the axle has some play in it? it will drop as I lift? & therefore I need to jack that much higher? And, I can't believe I didn't think of trying to fill the tire long enough to change or move it. DUH! Thanks again. I appreciate it. Jim - sings69
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 22, 2008, 11:37 AM
Post #4 of 5
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Re: Cant get the tire off the ground?
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Ok: Let me start over..... Forget the binder spring for the moment. When you lift by the frame the body goes up and the spring is still extending down as far as either the shock or a leaf spring itself will allow. You may have maxed out how high you can lift in the particular situation. In that case you would try to use a jack stand or blocks of good wood to hold it at that height and go back with something like real good plywood, 4X4X6 blocks of good wood and put those on the cup of a standard floor type jack if that's what you are using. Wheels of floor jacks need to roll some as the arm goes up or it will or could pull off the contact spot you are using. Stack up peices of plywood under to make jack higher or blocks to get the lift you need. Hence you need TWO spots that can support the weight of the vehicle. The axle housing on full size American type vans of the time can support the weight - even right on the stud and nut plate right where the U-bolts attach spring to axle. You don't want to mess up threads on the U-bolts so use judegment on placement of whatever you are using to lift.
Now even with tire replaced you may need to lower a couple times between jack and jack stands or blocks to get all that out. This is creative, emergency lifting of a vehicle such that you can replace the wheel. It would be much better if the vehicle could be moved to a solid surface and not have to be creative.
Crap like this happens here with dirt, mud, snow even without flat tires where wheels have dug down too low to lift. Some just have to be hauled to a better spot which you should consider.
Note: THIS IS CREATIVE AND NOT BY THE BOOK. YOUR JUDGMENT IS NEEDED. If in doubt - haul it away. Know what spots are strong on vehicle to support it. Frame/chassis vehicles are strong where springs attach. Connecting beams may not be full strength in middle between front and rear wheel but are near what I'll call the torque box area.
More: If the tire is wasted now just drive it out. Of course driving on a flat is no good for the tire.
I really should default to suggesting you get help from a towing concern that would have stuff to do this or extract the vehcile to where it would be safe to change the tire. I'm not there seeing all the conditions you have. If both dirt and on a slope at all lifting a back wheel defeats that wheel's parking brake also - there's a lot of judgment to use here. At all costs don't let this get you hurt if you don't have the stuff to do this. If the vehicle falls from percarious methods it could hurt YOU or damage something unnecessarily.
In short - If in doubt about just what to do and what to place where then don't and get help,
T
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sings69
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May 22, 2008, 1:11 PM
Post #5 of 5
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Re: Cant get the tire off the ground?
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Tom. I know the technique of which you speak. As a young man I helped move a Carnival around. And we did this alot. You jack, Block it up. Add height to the jack. Raise it again, add to the blocking, etc. Got it. Dont worry, I'll be careful. Thanks. P.S. I WILL try to air up the tire route 1st.
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