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Confused

Posted by Bob on January 17, 2000

In Reply to: Confused posted by Alan Chow on January 17, 2000

: Does anyone know why you have to losen the bolts on the wheel before you put it on the jack? Thanks. Alan.

The one really dangerous outcome that can happen with changing a tire is when the car falls off the jack. To prevent this, one locks the brake, puts the jack on a firm surface, etc. Of course, pulling violently on a "frozen" lug nut could require enough force to pull the weight of the car off the jack. So... one makes that initial loosening while the car is firmly on the ground. Later, when it's up on the jack, the force required to complete the loosening is minimal and safe. Clear? Now the important question: what does any of this have to do with the language?

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