So, I need tires for my GT, should I 1) Remove all 4 and take the tires in or 2) Take the car in and make them aware of the the coolant pipes. This one scares me.
Where do you plan to go for tires? A lot of it depends on the shop. If you bring the actual car in make sure you inform the salesman as well as who will be installing the wheels. Not sure how close you are to one, but Discount Tire is a very reputable shop and I'd suggest going there if possible. I know they have locations around Nashville, not sure about where you are. Very well trained staff and you can request one of the managers there to oversee the install themselves to ensure it's lifted properly.
I worked at Discount for 2 years during grad school and can attest to how great of a company they are.
All you have to do is mention 'coolant tubes' (a term they likely have never heard) and the staff should invite you to show them where to lift the car. They don't want the liability.
[This message has been edited by Gall757 (edited 01-23-2016).]
As mentioned above it depends on the shop. I took the paper with lifting points in when I was going to have my exhaust welded up and the manager placed it on the toolbox. I had a bad feeling about the guys in the shop so I stuck by the glass door watching them. Sure enough they started to lift it by the plastic rockers before I stopped them.
On the other hand I used a Firestone to get a lifetime alignment and told the service writer that it had coolant tubes and when the tech came in the service writer started to tell him where to lift it and before he was done the tech said "what do you think I`m going to do, crush the coolant tubes" So he was well aware of what to watch for on a Fiero.
[This message has been edited by TXGOOD (edited 01-23-2016).]
When I take my car in for service I print a couple of copies of the 'jack points' and give one to the service writer and tape one to the dash. So far so good.
it ain't hard to mess up a lot of things under a Fiero, I take mine to a friend with a lift and help him place the arms where they are supposed to be and I have set the right rear arm so close to the muffler pipe on that side I dented it myself, not bad but that dent rusted and I had to replace that section of pipe after a few years, and that only ever happened once.
When I take any vehicle in for a safety inspection I am always in the bay when they lift it up, all it takes is for someone to put the lift arm in the wrong place and they can damage the car/truck I even had one slip at the last inspection when he just started to lift it. the arm slipped and the truck dropped a little and I yelled, "STOP" told him the arm slipped and he put it back down and put it back in place and off he went with the inspection, now think about that happening when it was up high !
Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't
When I used to take my car in for tires/alignment, I don't let the car out of my sight. I am right at the bay door right behind my car always, when the guy comes out with the jack I just tell him where to jack, and they say thanks, most of the time, as they get two tires at a time. But never let it out of your site.
I knew a guy who used to work for a GM dealer, and worked on Fieros during the 80s, but his attitude was "just kick the lift legs under the car" then lift the car, he probably crushed a few tubes in his day The moral here is, you can't trust places(No matter what big name place) unless you know the person themselves or you know they know Fieros.
If you have the means, just take in the four rims/tires, then you are sure nothing will happen. (Providing you know where to jack the car without crushing the tubes ) Plus that way you can check for sticky weights on the inside of the rim, alot(most) of places don't check and put on outside weights, so you end up with 2 sets of weights. If you see any let them know beforehand.
As mentioned above it depends on the shop. I took the paper with lifting points in when I was going to have my exhaust welded up and the manager placed it on the toolbox. I had a bad feeling about the guys in the shop so I stuck by the glass door watching them. Sure enough they started to lift it by the plastic rockers before I stopped them.
If I saw a shop about to lift my car by the plastic rockers I would demand my keys back and leave immediately.
I take ALL my tires and wheels to the dealer in my van. I dont let ANYONE bolt my wheels on any of my vehicles except the RV. I just dont mess with semi-truck wheels myself. I could write a magazine on stories of my dealings with tire mounters.
You guys got so focused on jacking points, you forgot two other things tire shops do that is less damaging but still very annoying! 1) air guns that are set at rediculous torque settings! 2) putting/leaving WAY too much air in them thar tires! (I swear many them just go off the side of the tires. Kit
You guys got so focused on jacking points, you forgot two other things tire shops do that is less damaging but still very annoying! 1) air guns that are set at rediculous torque settings! 2) putting/leaving WAY too much air in them thar tires! (I swear many them just go off the side of the tires. Kit
Any halfway decent shop should be using torque limiters on the air wrenches and torque wrenches for the final torque. If they are not, then you need to find another shop.
I've decided to take the tires off and take them in. I'm not going to risk it.
That's what I do. I try to limit as much as I can the damage that other people can do to my cars. I often wish I had the equipment to mount and balance my own tires!
Just one more recommendation for Discount Tire. The last time I took my Fiero to them for new tires, I mentioned the possibility of damaging the coolant tubes. The sales rep asked me to go out into the shop and show the technician exactly where to place the lift pads, which I did. They also use torque limiting extensions on the impact gun and do the final torque with an actual torque wrench. I've never had a problem with over tightened lug nuts or tire pressures being out of line. Great customer service.
------------------ Rod Schneider, Ball Ground, Ga. "You can't have too many toys!" 1988 Fiero GT 1988 Porsche 928S4 1987 Corvette 2001 Chrysler 300M Van's RV-6 airplane
Here the biggest, clear pic of the jacking points I could find - Prints Better
I see one problem with this pic. Look at the red spots (vehicle jack). It is NOT clear that those are pointing to the ridge on the frame...not the rocker, and not the coolant tube bracket that is directly behind it. Is it really the mechanic's fault when they lift it by the rocker after giving them a copy of this?
Personally, nobody lifts my car without me verifying the lift points first. If they won't allow me to be in the bay when you are lifting it, I will take my business elsewhere.
I see one problem with this pic. Look at the red spots (vehicle jack). It is NOT clear that those are pointing to the ridge on the frame...not the rocker, and not the coolant tube bracket that is directly behind it. Is it really the mechanic's fault when they lift it by the rocker after giving them a copy of this?
Just one more recommendation for Discount Tire. The last time I took my Fiero to them for new tires, I mentioned the possibility of damaging the coolant tubes. The sales rep asked me to go out into the shop and show the technician exactly where to place the lift pads, which I did. They also use torque limiting extensions on the impact gun and do the final torque with an actual torque wrench. I've never had a problem with over tightened lug nuts or tire pressures being out of line. Great customer service.
Last Spring I went to Discount Tire for new tires and told them about the coolant tubes. They informed me that they lift on the outside where the car jack lifts on a Fiero. I watched it and sure enough they lifted on that rail? Also the long pads were it lifts the car were carpeted. I also mentioned not to torque more than 100ft lbs. They told me they have extensions that will torque to that. I was impressed with the lift they used.
That is a horrible pic of where to put jack points/stands. That pic shows to put the stands on the tailpipes, on the part of the cradle that is angled and the front frame that is angled.
That is a horrible pic of where to put jack points/stands. That pic shows to put the stands on the tailpipes, on the part of the cradle that is angled and the front frame that is angled.
I don't think it shows using the tail pipes as jack stand or jacking point, yes it is a crappy picture but if you look close the top pink block is on the frame rail and seeing I have never seen duel exhaust that were both on the side on any Fiero. Now I could be mistaken but that is sure what it looks like to me, its probably just a bad drawing, because lets face it is just a drawing not a photo of where the places a jack stand placed. I think it is correct because that is where the other frame rail would be not a second tail pipe.
Steve
[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 01-28-2016).]
I love Discount Tire as much as anyone, but I went once and they had jacked up my 88 GT by the floor pans instead of the frame. (But they did follow directions and not get the coolant pipes) So, it more than just pipes to watch out for. My car was tetering back and forth from the engine side because the heavier engine weight. When they finished, my passenger floor was bubbled up like a Firebird passenger floorboard.
If its a car I care about I take the wheels off the car and bring them in loose to be mounted and balanced. And tell them to balance with stick on weights inside the ring of the rim so they dont mess up the face.
[This message has been edited by 2.5 (edited 02-09-2016).]
The moral here is, you can't trust places(No matter what big name place) unless you know the person themselves or you know they know Fieros. 
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