Wheel/Tire Replacement

WARNING: NEVER RUN THE ENGINE WITH ONE WHEEL OFF THE GROUND, SUCH AS WHEN CHANGING A TIRE. THE WHEEL STILL ON THE GROUND COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO MOVE.

CAUTION: Incorrect hoisting can damage steering linkage components and front end suspension struts.

REMOVAL

CAUTION: Do not use heat to loosen a frozen wheel because heat can shorten the life of the wheel and damage wheel bearings.

NOTE: All lug-nuts are metric (M-12). Replacement lug nuts must be of the same type and thread size as original. Metric lug nuts are identified by the word METRIC stamped on the top surface of the lug nut.

1. Remove wheel cover with tapered end of wheel lug nut wrench by inserting and twisting handle, then prying against inner wheel hub cap flange. Loosen, but do not remove, the lug nuts.

CAUTION: To prevent damage, never use differential carrier as a lift point.

2. Raise vehicle until tire clears floor.
3. Remove lug nut and pull wheel off wheel hub assembly (front).
4. If corrosion has formed around center pilot hole so that wheel cannot be removed by hand, use a wheel puller to remove the frozen wheel.

INSTALLATION
1. Clean all dirt and corrosion from the hub mounting surface and coat the pilot hole of the wheel. Apply a thin film of Silicone Dielectric Compound D7AZ-19A331-A or equivalent meeting Ford specification ESE-M1C171-A to the pilot flange.
2. Place wheel on hub assembly and tighten lug nuts alternately.

NOTE: Aluminum wheels require a special bulge-type lug nut with enlarged chamfer to prevent distortion of the wheel hub bolt nut seat.

3. Lower vehicle and cross-tighten lug nuts to 115-142 Nm (85-104 ft. lbs.).
4. Align wheel cover with notch in the wheel. Hit the outside edges of the wheel cover with the palm of the hand until it is snapped in place all the way around.