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Home >> Ford >> 2000 >> Contour SE, 2.5 L, Standard >> Repair and Diagnosis >> External Pages >> Different car >> Section 1070 (Wheels & Tires) >> Removal And Installation >> Wheel and Tire >> Removal and Installation

Removal and Installation

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 Mercury Montego, 2005 Ford Freestyle, and 2005 Ford Five Hundred. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
    CAUTION: Do not use heat to loosen a seized wheel nut. Heat can damage the wheel and wheel bearings.
    NOTE: To avoid damage or scratching the center cap, place facing up when removed.
  1. Loosen the wheel nuts.
    1. Remove the center cap or wheel cover.
      • Loosen the wheel cover retaining nuts.
    2. With the weight of the vehicle on the wheels, loosen the wheel nuts.
      Fig 1: Loosening Wheel Nuts
      G03878348Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  2. Raise and support the vehicle. For additional information, refer to JACKING & LIFTING .
  3. Remove the wheel nuts and the wheel and tire assembly.
    Fig 2: Removing Wheel Nuts
    G03878349Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
    4. NOTE: Corrosion buildup can result in wheels sticking to the front brake disc flange/rear hub flange after extensive service.
  4. Use the following procedure to prevent the sticking condition from recurring once the wheels are removed.
    • Clean the brake disc flange/hub flange and wheel bore of corrosion with a wire brush, steel wool or any other suitable material.
    • Coat the wheel bore with a thin layer of grease meeting Ford specification ESE-M1C171-A. Do not apply grease to wheel hub bolt nut seats or the wheel stud.
    5. 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.
  5. To install, position the wheel and tire assembly on the vehicle.
    6. 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.
  6. Install the wheel nuts hand-tight, then lower the vehicle.
    • Tighten the wheel nuts to 129 Nm (95 lb-ft) in a star-pattern sequence.
      Fig 3: Tightening Wheel Nuts
      G03878349Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  7. Install the center cap or wheel cover.
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