Wheel and Tire: Installation
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2006 Mercury Montego, 2006 Ford Freestyle, and 2006 Ford Five Hundred. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- To install, position the wheel and tire assembly on the vehicle.
- Install the wheel nuts hand-tight, then lower the vehicle.
- Tighten the wheel nuts to 129 N.m (95 lb-ft) in a star-pattern sequence.
- If removed, install the center cap or wheel cover.
WARNING:
When a wheel is installed, always remove any corrosion, dirt or foreign material present on the mounting surfaces of the wheel or the surface of the wheel hub, brake drum or brake disc that contacts the wheel. Installing wheels without correct metal-to-metal contact at the wheel mounting surfaces can cause the wheel nuts to loosen and the wheel to come off while the vehicle is in motion, causing loss of control. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
CAUTION:
Failure to tighten the wheel nuts in a star pattern can result in high brake disc runout, which will speed up the development of brake roughness, shudder and vibration.
NOTE:
Aluminum wheels require a special bulge-type wheel nut with enlarged chamfer to prevent distortion of the wheel hub bolt nut seat.