General panda 4x4 toolkit

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General panda 4x4 toolkit

Getting back to the space saving tyre, has anyone had to use it on the 4x4 or Cross? If so how did you transport the damaged full size tyre ? Also how did the vehicle handle with the space saver on?

Giving some thought in advance as to how you would deal with a puncture is a very good idea. Expect to be doing it on a dark, cold, windy, rainy night wearing a dinner suit. My own preparation includes a baggy one-piece overall, some extra tools to replace the hopelessly inadequate factory fit jack & wheelbrace, a battery powered lantern, a metal tray to put the wheel nuts in (don't you just love watching them roll down the drain that just happened to be right next to where you stopped), several pairs of disposable gloves and a large waterproof bag to put the removed wheel in. Also check periodically that the spare is fully inflated (mine is generally kept at the maximum pressure permitted for the tyre; you can always let some air out later), and consider carrying a portable compressor, just in case. Remember you'll need to jack the car up higher to put the spare on than you needed to jack it to get the deflated tyre off, and be aware that with a flat tyre, you won't have as much ground clearance to insert the jack in the first place. Get everything right and you'll be on your way in less than five minutes.

It happens maybe once in five years, but when it does, you'll be glad you've prepared for it.

If you're driving the way you should be driving with a temporary spare wheel fitted, handling won't be an issue.
 
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It's quite amusing to read about changing wheels. A few years ago Mrs b_u worked at Exeter University and suffered a puncture on her Mk3 MJ, which had a full-size spare wheel. The (male and female) students around all asked, "Who are you going to ring to fix it?" and they were amazed when she replied, "I'm just going to change the wheel." Different generations.
 
Giving some thought in advance as to how you would deal with a puncture is a very good idea. Expect to be doing it on a dark, cold, windy, rainy night wearing a dinner suit. My own preparation includes a baggy one-piece overall, some extra tools to replace the hopelessly inadequate factory fit jack & wheelbrace, a battery powered lantern, a metal tray to put the wheel nuts in (don't you just love watching them roll down the drain that just happened to be right next to where you stopped), several pairs of disposable gloves and a large waterproof bag to put the removed wheel in. Also check periodically that the spare is fully inflated (mine is generally kept at the maximum pressure permitted for the tyre; you can always let some air out later), and consider carrying a portable compressor, just in case. Remember you'll need to jack the car up higher to put the spare on than you needed to jack it to get the deflated tyre off, and be aware that with a flat tyre, you won't have as much ground clearance to insert the jack in the first place. Get everything right and you'll be on your way in less than five minutes.

So the next question comes as to where to store all that :/ ?
 
Get everything right and you'll be on your way in less than five minutes.

Nothing takes five minutes! I only had one actual flat tyre in 16 years on my old car and I did everything right except that the wheel wouldn't come off. Luckily I was in a motorway services and found a breakdown truck parked nearby. That guy taught me to pack a soft mallet too, and to make sure the wheel face gets a bit of grease when it goes back on.
 
I paid £320 for a wheel and tyre on my Bravo and was wincing every day until the last 3 months when I have suffered from two major tyre failures die to punctures. Old Brava Bravo tool kit holders are available on ebay for a song and fit inside a 15" wheel. I have got over it with this one now and dont really notice the tool bag anymore. I think its a mental thing. Think cool like a Panda would!
 
What size is the hole in the centre of your wheel? I see the alloys have a smaller centre hole and would not fit upside down. The space saver left from my old 100HP does fit the right way which I call upside down and is the right type for the 4x4 but is not a proper tyre.

However

http://www.oponeo.co.uk/steel-wheel/alcar-kfz-7355#19283125

This wheel might and would take a proper tyre too. It costs only £37 delivered.

I have tried a Punto jack kit and that fits in the wheel bit the jack is not tall enough to get the car off the ground. I am going to try modifying the plastic carrier to accept a taller jack from a 500L and will report if successful.
 
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I am making enquiries about having a styrene insert made for the space saver spare. If anyone is interested it might be useful to know; If I can get as far as getting a cost. You can definitely get a one off piece made but I have no idea yet at what cost. Personally up to £50 would easily get my order. I am using a 500L jack as per my Bravo too; - this has the lift needed and can accommodate a 17mm socket and ratchet to lift and lower.
 
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I'm resurrecting this thread as I don't think the 'definitive' answer ever appeared all on one post, and to help anyone who reads it all again...

For the non 4x4 and non Trekking Panda models, when supplied with a spare wheel, there is a plastic insert inside the spare which holds the jack and other tools. That space saver spare wheel is 14" in diameter and the jack is quite compact. The space saver spare for these models has a 135/80 R14 84M tyre.

For the Trekking, 4x4 and Cross, the spare wheel needs to be 15" in diameter (in part to clear the larger front disc brakes), and is fitted with a 125/80x15 space saver tyre. And, crucially, the jack is different - because the car sits 2" higher of the road to start with, it uses a bigger jack that extends to a greater height. This jack is labelled as being for the Panda 4x4 and Qubo models only. This will not fit inside the spare wheel and so is supplied in a separate bag. The 175/65 R15 wheels that the Trekking/4x4 are fitted with, and the 185/65 15 wheels of the Cross will not fit into the spare wheel well in the boot, so you cannot carry a full size spare.

Note also that the towing eye is different for the Trekking/4x4/Cross. It is longer, to reach through the deeper bumpers these cars have. The shorter towing eye, supplied with other Pandas is too short to reach fully into the threaded mounting on the car.

A quick update (and a nudge to keep this as the last post so others find it -- please don't reply or it moves again). Note: since writing the above point, several 'Cross' versions which are two wheel drive were released. However, as these all have 15" wheels, the same applies to these as to the four wheel drive cars.
 
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