Wheel and Tire - Single Rear Wheel (SRW): Installation

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2013 Ford F-550 Super Duty, 2013 Ford F-450 Super Duty, 2013 Ford F-350 Super Duty, and 2013 Ford F-250 Super Duty. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Inspect the wheel and tire assembly for cracks, dents, leaks, severe wear or rust flaking. Install a new wheel if cracks or rust flaking of the surface exists.
WARNING: When a wheel is installed, always remove any corrosion, dirt or foreign material present on the mounting surface of the wheel and the mounting surface of the wheel hub, brake drum or brake disc. Make sure that any fasteners that attach the rotor to the hub are secured so they do not interfere with the mounting surfaces of the wheel. Failure to follow these instructions when installing wheels may result in the wheel nuts loosening and the wheel coming off while the vehicle is in motion, which could result in loss of control, leading to serious injury or death to vehicle occupant(s).

NOTE: Make sure to apply a thin coat of anti-seize lubrication only to the interface between the wheel pilot bore and the hub pilot. Do not allow the anti-seize to make contact with the wheel-to-brake disc/drum mounting surface, wheel studs, wheel nuts, brake pads or brake disc friction surfaces or damage to the components may occur.

Clean the wheel to remove any loose paint, dirt, rust pitting or foreign material without damaging the metal.
- Using a clean, dry shop towel, wipe off any excess metallic particles.
- Re-inspect the wheel after cleaning. Fatigue cracks or rust flaking may be seen only after cleaning has been completed.
- Clean the wheel mounting surfaces and apply a thin coat of anti-seize to the wheel hub pilot surface (wheel only).
WARNING: Use only the specified lubricant on the wheel studs as directed in the following procedure. Incorrect lubricant application may result in insufficient wheel nut torque, resulting in possible wheel/tire separation from the vehicle. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious injury to the vehicle occupant(s).

NOTE: Do not allow oil to build up in the wheel stud threads. Only use 2 to 3 drops of oil per wheel hub.

Apply 2 to 3 drops of the specified motor oil to a clean shop towel. Using the shop towel, apply the oil to the wheel stud threads.
- Wipe off any excess oil from the wheel stud threads.
Install the wheel and tire assembly.
On all 2-piece flat wheel nuts, apply one drop of the specified motor oil between the flat washer and the nut. If corrosion exists, or the integral 2-piece swiveling wheel nuts do not rotate freely, install new swiveling wheel nuts as necessary.
- Install the wheel nuts by hand.
- Tighten the wheel nuts until snug in a star/cross pattern to minimize runout.
  
  Fig 1: Locating Wheel Nut
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
WARNING: Retighten wheel nuts within 160 km (100 mi) after a wheel is reinstalled. For dual rear wheel (DRW) only, a second retightening is required within 800 km (500 mi). Wheels can loosen after initial tightening. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious injury to vehicle occupant(s).

NOTE: Failure to tighten the wheel nuts in a star/cross pattern may result in high wheel and tire runout, which will speed up the development of brake roughness, shudder and vibration.

With the weight of the vehicle on the tires, tighten the wheel nuts to 224 Nm (165 lb-ft) in a star/cross pattern.

NOTE: If a vehicle vibration is experienced during the period between wheel installation and wheel nut retightening, follow the diagnostic and correction procedures outlined in the Symptom Chart and Pinpoint Tests.
If equipped, install the wheel cover.