Wheel And Tire: Installation
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Mercury Sable and 2003 Ford Taurus. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Position the wheel and tire assembly on the vehicle.
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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: All wheel nuts are metric (M-12). New wheel nuts must be of the same type and thread size as original. Metric wheel nuts are identified by the word METRIC stamped on the top surface of the wheel nut.NOTE: Aluminum wheels require a special bulge-type wheel nut with enlarged chamfer to prevent distortion of the wheel hub bolt nut seat.
Install the wheel nuts hand-tight, then lower the vehicle. Tighten the wheel nuts to specification in a star-pattern sequence.
- Install the center cap or wheel cover.
- Tighten the wheel cover retaining nuts. Do not overtighten the nuts.
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.