Replacements
REMOVALWARNING: 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: Do not use heat to loosen a frozen wheel because heat can shorten the life of the wheel and damage wheel bearings.
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.
NOTE: On vehicles with steel wheels and full wheel cover, first remove center wheel cover appliques with tapered end of lug nut wrench by inserting and twisting handle while prying against wheel cover. Remove screw in center of wheel cover with tapered end of lug nut wrench.
NOTE: Aluminum wheels require a special bulge-type lug nut with chamfer to prevent distortion of the wheel hub bolt nut seat. Steel wheels require this same bulge-type lug nuts to maintain proper retention of wheel cover locking pedestal.
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. Some dealers have Mazda (M-12) lug nuts which do not have a 19 mm hex and will not work with the vehicle wrench.
2. Loosen, but do not remove, the lug nuts.
3. Raise vehicle until tire clears floor.
CAUTION: Incorrect hoisting can damage steering linkage components and front end suspension struts.
4. Remove lug nuts and wheel cover locking pedestal and remove wheel and tire assembly.
5. 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 center pilot hole of the wheel. Apply a thin coat 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. On vehicles with steel wheels, install wheel cover locking pedestal before installing lug nuts.
3. Lower vehicle and cross-tighten lug nuts to 115-142 Nm (85-104 ft lb).
NOTE: Do not use power tools. Use a torque wrench.
4. Align wheel cover with valve and cap extension by matching the hole in the wheel cover (also identified on backside of wheel cover with valve stem logo). Hit the outside or the wheel cover with the palm of your hand until it is snapped into place all the way around. Install center screw and snap center wheel cover ornament back into place.
5. Install center wheel cover applique.