flat tires with a 4/6 drop - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

78chevstepside · 02-02-2004, 09:55 PM

today it was nice so I decide to pull the 78 out of the garage. Well I never made it out. I had a flat tire . With a flat my truck a-arm rests 1" from the ground with 15" rally wheels. I was wondering how everyone else changes a flat with such a drop. My floor jack only reach about 3 " from the ground. What I ended up doing is using 2 jacks. Jacking up on the front of the frame with one. When I reach enough clearance I put the other jack it the normal place. I would hate to get a flat on the road. I never carry a jack let alone 2. My tires only have about 2k on them. I have problems with the rims rusting inside the tire( mainly from lack of use). then the bead brakes and then I get a flat. Last time I bought tires I had them remove the old tire. Then I took them home power brushed them with a power brush and painted them. I guess the rust has returned. Anyone got any ideas on changing flats with a 4/6 drop without 2 jacks?

low 84 · 02-02-2004, 10:15 PM

use a 4x4 piece of wood or something similar and drive the flat wheel/tire up onto it

*1FaastC10* · 02-03-2004, 05:56 PM

easy, put a front axle under it and lift it. then you wont have to worry about how low the jack goes, it'll be how high the jack goes that will be your problem.

in seriousness, Ryan is right, i have done that before, and it worked great.

BaggedC10 · 02-03-2004, 06:10 PM

I had a similar problem a while back. My old bag setup leaked down and I couldn't air it up. So, I raised the truck by the frame. Under a frame horn or near a front cab mount works for me.

Stupid question but is it better to raise the vehicle from the LCA or front crossmember?

gchemist · 02-03-2004, 10:24 PM

I raise mine from the crossmember because the A-arms are too low!!! In a case like yours there is no way I could fit my floor jack under the crossmember. So I raise the truck at the frame directly behind the wheel.

I always carry a floor jack. Next on my garage list is an aluminum low floor jack. The racing type style.

Low87 · 02-05-2004, 01:31 PM

I've got a 6/8 drop and have had a few flats while out and about. I have to carry 2 jacks with me, a little one to raise the truck enough to get the factory jack under the a-arm. If it's the rear, no problem.

Tom · 02-05-2004, 01:39 PM

Even without a flat I have trouble

I take the floor jack and put it under the sway bar. Use that to lift the truck a couple inches, then put jackstand under a frame piece. Lower floorjack, put under engine crossmember, and jack away.

bigblock73 · 02-05-2004, 03:43 PM

Front cross member for me, mine wont fit under the a-arm either.

Low87 · 02-05-2004, 06:44 PM

I have to use both jacks before I can get the floor jack under anything.

02-02-2004, 09:55 PM	#1
78chevstepside Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: lacenter, washington Posts: 718	flat tires with a 4/6 drop today it was nice so I decide to pull the 78 out of the garage. Well I never made it out. I had a flat tire . With a flat my truck a-arm rests 1" from the ground with 15" rally wheels. I was wondering how everyone else changes a flat with such a drop. My floor jack only reach about 3 " from the ground. What I ended up doing is using 2 jacks. Jacking up on the front of the frame with one. When I reach enough clearance I put the other jack it the normal place. I would hate to get a flat on the road. I never carry a jack let alone 2. My tires only have about 2k on them. I have problems with the rims rusting inside the tire( mainly from lack of use). then the bead brakes and then I get a flat. Last time I bought tires I had them remove the old tire. Then I took them home power brushed them with a power brush and painted them. I guess the rust has returned. Anyone got any ideas on changing flats with a 4/6 drop without 2 jacks?

02-02-2004, 10:15 PM	#2
low 84 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,144	use a 4x4 piece of wood or something similar and drive the flat wheel/tire up onto it __________________ '51 F100, backhalf with a narrowed 9 and coil overs, 18.5" mickeys, monte front clip, +400" sbc in the works '05 1500 Crew Cab RIP '84 swb 5/7 drop, solid cammed 408 w/ fully ported dart heads, th350 w/ 10 inch hughes, 12 bolt w/ 3.73 richmonds and a locker '80 swb 4x4 in progress: 7" lift, 350 th350/np205, d44 and 1.5" ORD tie rod, 14BFF w/discs , armored diff covers, 40" MTR's

02-03-2004, 06:10 PM	#4
BaggedC10 Under construction! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: NorCal Posts: 1,065	I had a similar problem a while back. My old bag setup leaked down and I couldn't air it up. So, I raised the truck by the frame. Under a frame horn or near a front cab mount works for me. Stupid question but is it better to raise the vehicle from the LCA or front crossmember? __________________ 2001 Silverado bagged on 22's. Sold Last edited by BaggedC10; 02-03-2004 at 06:14 PM.

02-03-2004, 10:24 PM	#5
gchemist BAD BOW-Silverado XST Join Date: May 2000 Location: Senior Member from Austin, TX Posts: 6,431	I raise mine from the crossmember because the A-arms are too low!!! In a case like yours there is no way I could fit my floor jack under the crossmember. So I raise the truck at the frame directly behind the wheel. I always carry a floor jack. Next on my garage list is an aluminum low floor jack. The racing type style. __________________ Gerardo a.k.a. Mad Chemist Silverado XST videos

02-05-2004, 01:31 PM	#6
Low87 been here longer than Liz Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Broken Arrow, OK Posts: 2,437	I've got a 6/8 drop and have had a few flats while out and about. I have to carry 2 jacks with me, a little one to raise the truck enough to get the factory jack under the a-arm. If it's the rear, no problem. __________________ ~Greg~ Mac's Garage '87 SWB 6/8 drop "Piso" '08 CCSB Silverado DD the departed '89 GMC K5 Jimmy 4x4 "Rusty Nuts" '77 Chevy K5 Blazer 2wd '83 Chevy stepside "You get what you pay for" - Mike 'swervin ervin' Ervin

02-03-2004, 05:56 PM	#3
1FaastC10 Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 6,400	easy, put a front axle under it and lift it. then you wont have to worry about how low the jack goes, it'll be how high the jack goes that will be your problem. in seriousness, Ryan is right, i have done that before, and it worked great.

02-05-2004, 01:39 PM	#7
Tom driving is in my blood Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 5,714	Even without a flat I have trouble I take the floor jack and put it under the sway bar. Use that to lift the truck a couple inches, then put jackstand under a frame piece. Lower floorjack, put under engine crossmember, and jack away. __________________ -78 c10 short/step: 388cid, M20, 5/5 drop, lots more. Playtoy and first vehicle. -98 c1500 x-cab: 5.7L, 17" rims, 5/6 drop, flowmaster, helper bags,NBS rear disk brakes. -02 Suburban 4x4: leveled front -CBR600F4i, CBR600RR, CBR1000RR, and standup skis DISCLAIMER: I cant spell for the life of me.

02-05-2004, 03:43 PM	#8
bigblock73 yeller Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 13,826	Front cross member for me, mine wont fit under the a-arm either. __________________ Jeff 73-87.com 73-87.com Facebook page 73-87 cab corner 6x9 speaker brackets for sale 67-72 cab corner speaker brackets for sale 47-54 cab corner speaker brackets for sale

02-05-2004, 06:44 PM	#9
Low87 been here longer than Liz Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Broken Arrow, OK Posts: 2,437	I have to use both jacks before I can get the floor jack under anything. __________________ ~Greg~ Mac's Garage '87 SWB 6/8 drop "Piso" '08 CCSB Silverado DD the departed '89 GMC K5 Jimmy 4x4 "Rusty Nuts" '77 Chevy K5 Blazer 2wd '83 Chevy stepside "You get what you pay for" - Mike 'swervin ervin' Ervin

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