Wheel brace for 131 ford fiesta

chuckles30

Hi folks,
I bought a 131 fiesta last autumn (fleet car) and apart from checking that all the kit for the spare wheel was there, I never looked at it in detail until yesterday when I got a puncture
Anyway, I pulled out my wheel brace, only to discover when I tried using it, that the corner angles had all been rounded way and it was just slipping off the nuts. It was obviously used to try and open very tight nuts and the corners got worn away :mad:

Anyway, now I need to replace it. Do I just buy a replacement Ford one or does anyone have any recommendations for a good non-Ford one? What kind of price can I expect to pay?

Thanks in advance for any advice...

wotzgoingon

My local discount shop like €2 shop sells them. They are the plus shape ones which have four different sizes, worth a look in your local shop.

cletus

chuckles30 wrote: »

Hi folks,
I bought a 131 fiesta last autumn (fleet car) and apart from checking that all the kit for the spare wheel was there, I never looked at it in detail until yesterday when I got a puncture
Anyway, I pulled out my wheel brace, only to discover when I tried using it, that the corner angles had all been rounded way and it was just slipping off the nuts. It was obviously used to try and open very tight nuts and the corners got worn away :mad:

Anyway, now I need to replace it. Do I just buy a replacement Ford one or does anyone have any recommendations for a good non-Ford one? What kind of price can I expect to pay?

Thanks in advance for any advice...

wouldn't bother with a ford one. Lidl/aldi have them in every few months, or any motor factors, or Halfords should be able to supply them

colm_mcm

chuckles30 wrote: »

Hi folks,
I bought a 131 fiesta last autumn (fleet car) and apart from checking that all the kit for the spare wheel was there, I never looked at it in detail until yesterday when I got a puncture
Anyway, I pulled out my wheel brace, only to discover when I tried using it, that the corner angles had all been rounded way and it was just slipping off the nuts. It was obviously used to try and open very tight nuts and the corners got worn away :mad:

Anyway, now I need to replace it. Do I just buy a replacement Ford one or does anyone have any recommendations for a good non-Ford one? What kind of price can I expect to pay?

Thanks in advance for any advice...

Get one in a motor factors, under €20

Another user here had the same experience with his mondeo.

cletus

wotzgoingon wrote: »

My local discount shop like €2 shop sells them. They are the plus shape ones which have four different sizes, worth a look in your local shop.

at €2 I'd say they're made of cheese. €20 should see you right though

wotzgoingon

cletus wrote: »

at €2 I'd say they're made of cheese. €20 should see you right though

They weren't selling for €2, I was saying my local discount shop like a €2 shop has them. They looked to be very good quality.

wildefalcon

I find the telescopic sort very good. They come with a standard sized end that can take any standard socket, though the one included covers most cars. The extra long handle allows you to lever a bit more, useful if you aren't heavily built.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/21-17-19mm-EXTENDABLE-WHEEL-TELESCOPIC-VAN-TRUCK-LORRY-CAR-BRACE-SOCKET-WRENCH-/130815192567

colm_mcm

Check the outside radius of the brace too, make sure its not too thick or it'll scratch the holes in the wheel.

cletus

wotzgoingon wrote: »

They weren't selling for €2, I was saying my local discount shop like a €2 shop has them. They looked to be very good quality.

apologies, misunderstood your post

Noccy_Mondy

Don't even bother with another ford one again. It will be horsed after taking of about 2 wheels. Terrible quality altogether. Do you have a socket set hanging around? If so, just keep the right fitting in the car. At least they're made properly.

chuckles30

Thanks for all the replies folks......looks like I'm off to any motor supply shop tomorrow...and it won't break the bank :-)

biko

wildefalcon wrote: »

I find the telescopic sort very good.

I concur.
I have a cross and although it's handy to have several sizes a telescopic is much easier to work with.

johnayo

This breaker bar and socket from Halfords will do the trick.(or similar from any motor factor). Don't scrimp on the socket as you may round off the wheel nuts while removing them.


http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_871081_langId_-1_categoryId_212616

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_162398_langId_-1_categoryId_212616

colm_mcm

Can't see why you'd need an impact socket to be fair. Once its a hexagon shape it would never round off the wheel nuts.

johnayo

colm_mcm wrote: »

Can't see why you'd need an impact socket to be fair. Once its a hexagon shape it would never round off the wheel nuts.

Point taken. I'm just trying to give an idea of what will work.

chuckles30

Based on earlier replies, I was thinking along these lines
http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_535921_langId_-1_categoryId_212616

I just want to be able to change a wheel in an emergency. I'm also going to pick up one of the air pumps that works off the cigarette lighter as a colleague had one the other day and it saved my bacon as it pumped the wheel for long enough for me to get to a garage.

martinr5232

Bring the wheel brace back to the dealer you bought the car from and get them to replace it for you under warranty.

No Pants

Get a telescopic one from Halfords, local motor factors, even Woodie's have the Draper ones I think. They generally come with two reversible sockets, but make sure that it fits snugly, if it's a loose fit, that's what will round corners.

I get one for every car I get if I don't have one to transfer. The stock wheel brace from manufacturers is too short for my liking, so therefore very difficult to shift the nuts. I've only had to use it once, about seven years ago (touches wood).