Ever wonder why your tires wear unevenly. Most of this is caused by uneven torque of your rims. Doing these procedures correctly will save you some money when it comes down to rotating your tires.
PREPARING FOR WHEEL INSTALLATION:
Prior to installing any wheels, first verify the conditions of the fastening system’s threads such as nuts, studs, bolts, and hub threads. Also check the wheel to make sure it is clean before mounting it to the hub. Once your satisfied with the checks, install the wheel to the vehicle’s hub. Now check for clearance of the brake rotors. Tightening at least three wheel fasteners. (There’s no need to tighten to full torque value.)
WHEEL FASTENER TORQUE:
Many do not realize, but all threaded fasteners are intended to stretch slightly when fully tightened to specs. If the wheel fasteners are under-tightened, they will eventually loosen, resulting in wheel damage or separation of the vehicle. If the fasteners are tightened beyond their design limit, the wheel stud or bolt can permanently stretch or even break during installation. Never use an impact gun to tighten the wheel fasteners. Not only will you be able to accurately control the level of the tightness, but use of an impact tool can easily damage the fasteners or the wheel surface. Use a socket that will that will fit the wheel. When tightening the wheels, don’t make the mistake of finger-tightening, then lowering the vehicle to the ground to continue. Instead of fighting vehicle weight, it’s best to perform your complete tightening procedure while the tire is off the ground.
RE-TORQUE:
The best suggestion is to re-torque all wheel fasteners after the first 50-100 miles, especially after installing new wheels. When re-torquing, raise the vehicle to lift the tires away from the ground. Then re-tighten in the proper sequence to full specified torque values.
TIGHTENING SEQUENCE:
Always tighten any wheel in the proper sequence pattern in order to evenly distribute the load between the wheel and the hub. Use a torque wrench for the best result.
4-BOLT HUB:
With the hub/wheel positioned so that one fastener is at 12-o’clock position, tighten the 12-o’clock position first, followed by the 6 o’clock position, followed by the 3 o’clock position, then the 9 o’clock position.