Front of Car dropped onto ground when tire removed

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I was changing over my All-Season Tires to Winter Tires. Somehow I did not do a good job of preventing the car from rolling when I removed the front right wheel. The front of the car dropped down when I removed the wheel. Would this have damaged the car?

Nissan X-Trail Pennzoil 3W-30
 
Originally Posted By: Bagus
I was changing over my All-Season Tires to Winter Tires. Somehow I did not do a good job of preventing the car from rolling when I removed the front right wheel. The front of the car dropped down when I removed the wheel. Would this have damaged the car?

Nissan X-Trail Pennzoil 3W-30


You are lucky you did not get hurt. At least one wheel of the opposite side and axle should be blocked on both sides of the tire. A pair of 2x4 or 4x4 is fine.

After blocking and jacking a jack stand should be used. If the car fell when you were removing the wheel that means you were partially under the wheel well.

I assume the rotor hit the ground? Unless you can see a chunk of the rotor missing it should be OK.
 
No way to definitively answer this via a forum post which means you'll want to have the vehicle inspected for damage by a qualified mechanic. Have you been able to get the car back on the jack so you can reinstall the wheel?
 
Posting pictures might tell us something. I'd say there is at least even odds something is damaged to include the car body.
 
I managed to jack the car back up, the car did dragged about 3-4 inches. There were no parts that chipped off, however I do feel some minor vibration when I am going at about 100 kph. Is the alignment the cause?
 
It might just be that the rotor is bent. If that's the case you'd be good with just replacing that, though I'd probably at least consider spending 70 more bucks on an alignment.

Probably ask Santa for some jack stands.
 
Thanks for all the reply. I'll have an alignment done and see if there is still any vibration after that and also ask the mechanic to inspect for any damage.

The only part of the car that touched the ground was the brake disc and I am assuming it should be strong enough to hold the car since it is subject to the same weight with the wheel on.
 
Originally Posted By: Bagus
Thanks for all the reply. I'll have an alignment done and see if there is still any vibration after that and also ask the mechanic to inspect for any damage.

The only part of the car that touched the ground was the brake disc and I am assuming it should be strong enough to hold the car since it is subject to the same weight with the wheel on.


That would be a bad assumption.. Dropping onto the ground is a whole different type of shock load than braking

I would get it inspected and tell the person doing the inspection what happened.
 
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If it makes you feel like less of an idiot no offense intends but I'm sure you felt dumb. When I had a cavalier it was a stick I was doing something with the rear brakes and asked my gf to tap the brakes it was on a floor jack. Well it was a 5 sp and the car didn't need the clutch pushed to start so she starts it in first and then to not kill it gives it gas with no rear tire. and I my jaw dropped as I watched my car head towards the woods finally she got the idea to hit the brakes like I originally told her to though
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that car went 50 feet dragging Its back end and didn't hurt a thing. Inspect it real good . You dont need a mechanic just get under it after properly securing it and make sure its all ok. The vibration is probably the rotor or could be just you freaking out and your mind playing tricks. Don't sweat it though we've all been there sit in a chair sit back and laugh and have a cold beer with some friends and shoot some stories.
 
Originally Posted By: Bagus

The only part of the car that touched the ground was the brake disc and I am assuming it should be strong enough to hold the car since it is subject to the same weight with the wheel on.


Not true. The hub assembly is vulnerable without the wheel attached. The disk is barely attached to the hub without the wheel installed. The assembly depends on the wheel being in place and lug nuts tight to make it a robust, integral unit.
 
you'll wanna have the subframe looked at very carefully for cracks. lots of subframes are made of brittle, cast materials that are hard but not "tough" in the material sense.
 
IMHO, I dont think you did any/much damage. I've seen cars fall off jacks before - and my truck took much more of a beating slamming on rocks all day on an off-road trip in KY. the vibration could be your tires/wheels.
 
Originally Posted By: Bagus
Thanks for all the reply. I'll have an alignment done and see if there is still any vibration after that and also ask the mechanic to inspect for any damage.

The only part of the car that touched the ground was the brake disc and I am assuming it should be strong enough to hold the car since it is subject to the same weight with the wheel on.


An alignment issue won't cause a vibration in the vast majority of instances.

I would guess you're probably ok or at the most need a new rotor. But, an inspection would be a good idea and should be pretty cheap. But, I'd skip the alignment for now.
 
I came home one night in a pouring rain (been a long time since I've seen that...) to find my cross-street neighbor holding an umbrella and flashlight for young people (guy and gal,obvously on a date gone horribly wrong) who were trying to change a tire in her very steep driveway ramp. They'd jacked it up, removed the wheel, and the scissor jack promptly tilted over because they hadn't chocked the other side, and there was no way to fit the scissor jack back under the car to lift it again.

I went back and got my floor jack into the Jeep, hauled it across the street, and it was *just* low enough to get under the unibody rail of their Accord and pick it back up (AFTER I chocked a wheel). It had landed on the rotor just like yours, and as far as I could tell there was no damage worse than the bent dust shield, which I pried back off the rotor. It sure shouldn't hurt your alignment, but it is true that brake rotors are not made to support weight on their edges. My guess is that in the WORST case you need a new rotor.

PS- to add insult to injury, the poor guy's spare was nearly flat, so invited them across the street to where my air compressor hose would reach. I think I earned some Samaritan points that night. I wonder if the girl ever called him back again? ;-) Actually she was a trooper, hauling the spare around, etc.
 
Sounds like my silly mistake when the jack slipped and hit my rear drive shaft putting a small, but noticeable dent in it.
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Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
I came home one night in a pouring rain (been a long time since I've seen that...) to find my cross-street neighbor holding an umbrella and flashlight for young people (guy and gal,obvously on a date gone horribly wrong) who were trying to change a tire in her very steep driveway ramp. They'd jacked it up, removed the wheel, and the scissor jack promptly tilted over because they hadn't chocked the other side, and there was no way to fit the scissor jack back under the car to lift it again.

I went back and got my floor jack into the Jeep, hauled it across the street, and it was *just* low enough to get under the unibody rail of their Accord and pick it back up (AFTER I chocked a wheel). It had landed on the rotor just like yours, and as far as I could tell there was no damage worse than the bent dust shield, which I pried back off the rotor. It sure shouldn't hurt your alignment, but it is true that brake rotors are not made to support weight on their edges. My guess is that in the WORST case you need a new rotor.

PS- to add insult to injury, the poor guy's spare was nearly flat, so invited them across the street to where my air compressor hose would reach. I think I earned some Samaritan points that night. I wonder if the girl ever called him back again? ;-) Actually she was a trooper, hauling the spare around, etc.


Thanks. I do not think the rotor was damaged as the braking seems to cause no vibration on the steering wheel.
 
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