ScotS

Sorry for the newb question, but what's the easiest way to rotate tires? I have a jack and 2 jackstands. To get the front to the opposite side rear, I think I need to lift 3 corners? Can I put the rear axle up on stands and jack one front side up? On my little truck, I just put the whole thing up on jackstands but I don't have 4 heavy duty stands.

Thanks, Scot

wiskeyVI

I have done it, but now days I just take it to a tire shop and pay $15 or so to let them do it.
My current set of Firestones have free rotation where I bought them and I use it when I can, I just tip the guy who do who does the work.

chadc

Go to Discount Tires (if they're in your area), they'll rotate for free. You can even buy their warranty for your tires for something like $30 a tire.

Shorts

You can do it with a jack and 2 stands, we've done it that way a few times before. It is a little nerve racking though when a wheel sticks and you gotta muscle it off the rotor. Just work smooth and steady, you'll be fine. Get a helper if you can.

05HDRAM

I had 4 heavy duty stands, but someone borrowed 2 of them. My last 4 rotations were done that way. Just keep body parts out from under the truck while just on the jack. I did have one collapse once, no harm done to me or the truck.

Grit Dog

Put both sides of the front on the 2 stands then put the jack under the rear diff, that will get all 4 off the ground at the same time, or if you're just X pattern rotating this time, just 1 stand under the front and jack under the rear.
2 jacks makes it a snap if you're looking to buy a new tool, then you can lift up to 3 wheels at a time with no stands.

ScotS

Is it safe to jack up the axles from under the diffs? I thought I read somewhere in the owner's manual that that wasn't a good idea. Can't find where I read that now.

I do have 2 more jack stands but they're the cheap, small type from Checkers...maybe 1-2 ton? Would those be okay to hold up the rear and put the bigger 4 ton stands under the front?

Plan B would be to swap front to rears on the same side, then put the front up on the stands and swap left to right...twice as much work though. Why do you even have to swap side to side? I don't know much about stuff like this but I thought it was just front to rear.

Thanks for the tips, guys. I like to do minor maintenance myself and most of the local shops aren't cheap over here anyway. It is scary though...guess that's why I've got 30k and haven't rotated the tires yet!

billie

I only do back to front, same side. Many directional tires have to be done that way anyway so what's the difference in my view.

You just have to be careful that you don't bend the diff cover with a jack. I think every manual says that I don't worry about it. To each their own.

Be prepared to use some force to remove the rears especially if they are alloy rims, they can rust on pretty good. I had to use a small hydraulic jack. Clean and add anti-seize, there and on every other part you take apart on a Dodge.

ScotS

I ended up rotating them in an "X" pattern, right front to left rear, etc. I had to jack the front diff because I couldn't find a clear spot on the left front axle tube and didn't want to risk bending the suspension brackets. Put a little dent in the edge of the diff cover but I don't think it's done any harm. Kind of a lot of work and next time plan to pay someone else to do it.

Question...is 135 ft./lbs. correct for alloy wheels? Seems pretty tight for aluminum.

billie

You can drop a 'small' block of wood in the jack cup to help clear the cover.

I always check my manual but 135-140 sounds right.