Avalanche Tire Iron

[silversport]

Alright everyone...I will take my medicine if that's what I got comin' but what did I do wrong...I would like your opinions...(BOHICA, riite)

The other day I was removing the rear wheels so I could install the matching mud flaps...I was using the included tire iron (1st mistake, riight) when the 1st lug nut broke loose!

Sharp pain in my hands, my left hand had a tear and cut in the web between my thumb and index finger (this DOESN'T mean I have webbed fingers, though)
My right little finger was in great pain and bleeding a GREAT DEAL...

I looked down and the little notch cutout in the handle of the tire iron had made a beutiful "V" shaped slice into my little finger.

Go inside and wash and look at the wound, lift the flap of skin and WOW I can see white stringy fibres and I am into the meat of the finger (WUNNERFUL!!!)

Anyway, besides trusting the stock tire iron to try and remove lug nuts what did I miss on using it to remove lug nuts Also, I would like to let GM know that this may be a poor design...

Awaiting your opinions and carefully zipping up my flame suit!

 

[teking]

?I have always bought the star setup with the 4 different sizes at the end. ?
Jon

yep that's what I always use on all my vehicles. Much safer, you get more leverage, and less effort because you can spin it. Sorry to hear about the accident.

 

[jnspur]

silversport -
OWWIE! That smarts!
If you mean the plastic splash guards that match the cladding, you don't have to take the wheels off to put those on . . .

 

[silversport]

I couldn't get the drill in between the tire/wheel and the fender...I broke off 3 drill bits doing this...they look nice but tilt in a little bit...by the way, the wound is healing nicely and Doc says it looks like a perfect skin graft...thanks, everyone...

 

[strichart01]

I did a little re-designing of the mud flap mounting on mine. It worked great and had no problem with the pesky rear wheel screw.

BTW: Be careful off road - these flaps will rip off and ruin your cladding. Hasn't happened to me, but I have seen it happen.

 

[vicious]

People on 'Ludes should not change tires...

 

[Ambalanche]

GM sent me a card asking me if I wanted a Flexible tire iron for my AV, since apparently other people have had problems with the fit of the metal one. I haven't had to use either yet, anybody with insite on this?

 

[empty]

Rotated the tires Saturday using just the onboard tools. That's 5 separate lifts--30 lugs with the factory tire iron. No major wounds. Minor wound when I got stuck by a dried out blade of grass. But it ain't proper auto maintenance if it doesn't draw at least some blood.

Have had the spare down and few times and haven't had any problems with the supplied rods. These were leisurely events so it might be a different story had I been pissed and in a hurry.

 

[ygmn]

I have used mine with no problems.....but I will be more careful next time for sure.

 

[gatorjedi]

Rotated the tires Saturday using just the onboard tools. ?That's 5 separate lifts--30 lugs with the factory tire iron. ?No major wounds. ?Minor wound when I got stuck by a dried out blade of grass. ?But it ain't proper auto maintenance if it doesn't draw at least some blood.

Have had the spare down and few times and haven't had any problems with the supplied rods. ?These were leisurely events so it might be a different story had I been pissed and in a hurry.

Rager24 and I have done a few mods together, and on just about every one I have cut myself of busted a knuckle or something to that effect. When we did his new dual exhaust on friday we were almost done when I banged my hand on something, and he asked if I was bleeding again, I informed him NO, but it is about that time!!! (the reason I get cut up is because I do all the work!!!) I recon I have lost about a pint of blood in the pursuit of AV mods

 

[jeffreyhyde]

Somebody once mentioned that Av's came with gloves in the side compartment...haven't verified this yet...

 

[TXAVy]

BTW: Be careful off road - these flaps will rip off and ruin your cladding. ?Hasn't happened to me, but I have seen it happen.

I saw posted elsewhere here that you can use the little snap on connectors to attach the mudflaps instead of screws and this won't happen. They'll pop off instead of tearing your cladding.

The dealership here is even using that trick now. Maybe they read the forum too since I gave 'em the link when I knew a lot more about the 2003 AVs than their staff did.

 

[base_501]

there should be some gloves in the pouch for that holds the tire iron. if they are not there call you got screwed. they are nothing to write home about but they work.

 

[wrchism]

OUCH . . . while I'll admit that my auto work has often drawn blood, this sounds more serious than normal . . . I'll be careful (and wear the gloves) if I ever have to use the factory stuff. When rotating tires and other stuff at home, I use a cross shaped lug wrench, a floor jack, and jack stands.

 

[rager24]

Gatorjedi doesn't do all the work just all the bleeding.
Can I help it that some people aren't coordinated and are just prone to bleeding.
Good thing my av is Red

 

[silversport]

I wouldn't be concerned about a little cut but this was way into the meat...i could see tendons (or whatever the white stringy things are)...anyway, I guess I asked for the other comments..."'ludes... "