Page 233 of 387
Removing
NI* Caps
Wheel Covers and Wheel
To remove the wheel or
nut cap
covers for your
particular vehicle,
if you
have steel wheels with full
plastic wheel covers, loosen
each nut
cap using the
wheel wrench.
The tools you’ll be using include the jack (A) and wheel
wrench (6).
Please note that nut caps will not rmove from the
cover completely.
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If you have aluminum
wheels with nut caps,
remove them., Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire
If your have aluminum wheels and the center cover
hides the wheel nuts, remove the center cover
by using
the flat end of the wrench to pry it off. Do not drop the
cover or lay it face down, as it could become scratched
or damaged.
Do not use a hammer or mallet on this type of cover.
1. Use the wheel wrench to loosen the wheel nuts, but
don't remove them.
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Page 235 of 387
2. Attach the wheel wrench to the jack, and rotate the '
wrench clockwise to raise the jack head a few inches.
Near each wheel well
is a notch in the frame into
which to put the jack head. The front notch is
10 inches (25 cm) back from the front wheel well.
The rear notch is 8 inches (20 cm) forward from the
rear wheel
well.
3. Position the jack and raise, the jack head until it fits
firmly on the ridge in the vehicle's frame nearest the
flat tire.
Do not raise the vehicle yet. Put the compact
spare tire near
you.
I
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Getting under a vehicle when it is jacked up is
dangerous. If the vehicle slips off the jack, you
could be badly injured
or killed. Never get under
a vehicle when it is supported only by a jack.
NOTICE:
Raising your vehicle with the jack improperly
positioned will damage the vehicle
or may allow
the vehicle to fall
off the jack. Be sure to fit the
jack lift head into the proper location before
raising your vehicle.
4. Raise the vehicle by rotating the wheel wrench
clockwise
in the jack. Raise the vehicle far enough
off the ground so there is enough room for the spare
tire
to fit.
S. Remove all the wheel nuts and take off the flat tire.
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Page 237 of 387
I 1r= U. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces and
spare wheel.
....
/r CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to
which
it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts
become loose after
a time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When you change a
wheel, remove any rust or dirt from the places
where the wheel attaches to the vehicle.
In an
emergency, you can use a cloth or a paper towel
to do this; but be sure to use a scraper or wire
brush later, if you need to, to get all the rust or
dirt off.
I A CAUTION: a
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. If you
do, the nuts might come loose. Your wheel could
fall
off, causing a serious accident.
I
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: ,. -.
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Page 238 of 387
7. Replace the wheel nuts
with rounded end
of the
nuts toward
the wheel.
Make sure each wheel stud is centered in each
wheel Eole while
tightening the nuts.
Tighten each nut by
hand
until the wheel is
held against the hub.
8. Lower the vehicle by rotating the wheel wrench
counterclockwise on the jack. Lower the
jack completely.
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Page 239 of 387

9. Tighten the wheel
nuts firqly in a ' ,
criss-cross sequence.
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened
wheel nuts
can cause the wheel to become loose
and even
come off. This could lead to am accident.
Be sure to use the correct wheel nuts. If you have
to replace them, be
sure to get new GM original
equipment
wheel nuts.
Stop somewhere as soon as you can and have the
nuts tightened with
a torque wrench to 100 b-ft
(140 N-m).
NOTICE:
Improperly tightened. wheel nuts can lead to
brake pulsation 'and .rotor damage. To avoid
expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheel
nuts in the proper sequence and to the proper
torque specification.
Don't try to put the wheel cover on the compact spare tire.
It won't fit. Store the wheel Cover in the trunlr until you
have replaced the compact spare tire with a regular tire.
I NOTICE:
Wheel covers won't fit on your compact spare. If
you try to put.a wheel cover on your compact
spare, you could damage the cover or the spare.
When you reinstall the full size wheel and tire, you
install the wheel cover or nut caps at this point. '
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Page 240 of 387
When re-installing the
full plastic wheel cover,
align the valve stem
symbol (which is
molded into the back side of the cover) with
the valve stem.
When re-installing the
decorative nut caps
on
aluminum wheels,
tighten the caps
snug with the wheel
wrench.
Start the nut cap by pushing it onto the lugnut with the
.'
wheel wrench. Tighten the plastic caps snug using the '
wheel wrench. Then, continue tightening one-quarter
turn. Do not overtighten.
Then continue. tightening one-quarter turn for plastic ::-,.,-8:- ' .
caps, or one-eighth turn for steel caps. Do not ' I
overtighten. When re-installing. the center cover, do not
use a hammer or mallet, as they could damage the,cover.
,' r
.,:\~.:, .&>. '
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