Swapping wheels on the 997TT

[brownan]

Going to swap my OEM wheels for my track wheels for the first time this Saturday. I'm not particularly mechanical but had it down pat with my B6S4 Avant which the TT replaced. For some reason I am quite anxious about doing this for the first time with the TT. Few questions for those who have it down to a science:

(a) I'm going to collect a new jack from Sears (my old one is dead). I'm thinking I should get a 4000lb version. Hopefully will be sufficiently low profile to fit under the lowered car. Thoughts?

(b) do you typically jack the car up using the rear mount enough so that you can change both the front and rear without relocating the jack? This used to work well on the S4.

(c) how difficult is it to manouver those 305 section rears? They are literally gigantic when you see them off the car?

Any suggestions appreciated. I'd prefer to have the tire shop do the work but fitting 4 wheels into the TT doesn't really work...

[meaker]

Shouldnt be a problem. I swap my wheels with a fracture in my shoulder and went to 325 tire. Do make sure you have a low profile jack if you car is lowered any..

[TT Surgeon]

AB
Call me on my cell I'll help you do it Fri afternoon. You can use my low profile sears jack, I'll bring it.
Basically, you need a tq wrench(I have), 19mm(I have), alignment stud (I have) and I recently bought a craftsman low profile 2.5 ton floor jack(79$). Yes, you must use the jack points and a low pro jack, tq to 96 ftlbs.
It's easy, I have a fast 'system'.
C

[brownan]

Originally Posted by TT Surgeon

AB
Call me on my cell I'll help you do it Fri afternoon. You can use my low profile sears jack, I'll bring it.
Basically, you need a tq wrench(I have), 19mm(I have), alignment stud (I have) and I recently bought a craftsman low profile 2.5 ton floor jack(79$). Yes, you must use the jack points and a low pro jack, tq to 96 ftlbs.
It's easy, I have a fast 'system'.
C

Hey thanks Chris. I've actually got the wheels out in Southampton so am going to do it out there. Will pick up the low-pro 2.5 ton floor jack you mention. Thanks for the other info....very helpful.

Hey, how did the GMG stuff work out with FarnbarcherLoles?

[raiyu]

I picked up a racing jack from harborfreight.com:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91039

Going to be taking it with me to Summit Point for Thurs/Fri RTR PCA, havent had a chance to use it, but my car is near slammed and I'm hoping it's going to fit.

[TT Surgeon]

Originally Posted by brownan

Hey thanks Chris. I've actually got the wheels out in Southampton so am going to do it out there. Will pick up the low-pro 2.5 ton floor jack you mention. Thanks for the other info....very helpful.

Hey, how did the GMG stuff work out with FarnbarcherLoles?

FL worked out great! Can't say enough.
When I do the w/t thing I do 1 side at a time, jack it up at the rear point, break down all the lugs first. Then do 1 at a time, so you always have three tires on the car in case the jack fails, etc. The guide that screws into the lug holes is very useful for a quick job, our cars didn't have it, but all 996's do, pick one up at the parts counter before you do it, then tq everything to 96ft lbs and go. You'll have to reset the tpms, it will also go crazy at the track when you lower your air pressure. That 79$ craftsman low profile works great and it's small/light enough to carry around if you have to, but they also have a very nice lo pro aluminum jack, ~300$. Enjoy!

[hidalgo]

Chris, Since you swap your wheels quite a bit how often do you put new anti-seize on the studs if ever?

[eclou]

never put anti-seize on lug bolts

[hidalgo]

I may be using the wrong term but I thought in the owners manual they recommended something on the studs.

[TT Surgeon]

I never put anything on 'em other han a torque wrench.

[hidalgo]

Got it. Thanks

[brownan]

Originally Posted by TT Surgeon

FL worked out great! Can't say enough.
When I do the w/t thing I do 1 side at a time, jack it up at the rear point, break down all the lugs first. Then do 1 at a time, so you always have three tires on the car in case the jack fails, etc. The guide that screws into the lug holes is very useful for a quick job, our cars didn't have it, but all 996's do, pick one up at the parts counter before you do it, then tq everything to 96ft lbs and go. You'll have to reset the tpms, it will also go crazy at the track when you lower your air pressure. That 79$ craftsman low profile works great and it's small/light enough to carry around if you have to, but they also have a very nice lo pro aluminum jack, ~300$. Enjoy!

Thanks Doc. It's like a new car with that FL-GMG set-up right?!

[TT Surgeon]

Right on!
It's night and day. I almost just did the springs and sways, in the end I'm glad I did the whole 9 yards. No extra harshness/NVD at all. I had Kip set my bars in the middle f/r.
'Tight' is the only way to describe the ride now!