2001 CHEVROLET ASTRO Owners Manual

5-23
The tools you'll be using include the jack (A), wheel
blocks (B), extension (C) and ratchet (D).
Removing the Wheel Covers
You will have to take off hub caps or wheel nut caps to
reach your wheel nuts.
Styled Steel Wheel Shown
If you have the styled steel wheel or aluminum wheel with
plastic nut caps, loosen the plastic nut caps with the ratchet
and socket. Make sure the DOWN side faces you.
To remove the hub cap from the aluminum wheel
without plastic nut caps, fit the flat end of the extension
into the notch. Then, remove the center cap.

5-24 Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire
1. Before you start, block the front and rear of the tire
farthest away from the one being changed. Then put
your compact spare tire near the flat tire.
2. With the DOWN side facing you, use the ratchet and
socket to loosen all the wheel nuts. Don't remove
them yet.
3. The jack has a bolt on the end. Attach the socket end
of the extension to the jack bolt.

5-25
4. Attach the ratchet to the extension with the UP side
facing you.
5. Turn the ratchet clockwise. That will raise the jack
lift head a little.6. Position the jack under the vehicle.

5-26
Front Position
A. Front Jack Location
B. Jack
C. Ratchet and ExtensionRear Position
A. Rear Jack Location
B. Jack
C. Ratchet and Extension

5-27
CAUTION:
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.
CAUTION:
Raising your vehicle with the jack improperly
positioned can damage the vehicle and even make
the vehicle fall. To help avoid personal injury and
vehicle damage, be sure to fit the jack lift head
into the proper location before raising
the vehicle.7. Raise the vehicle by turning the ratchet clockwise.
Make sure the UP mark faces you. Raise the vehicle
far enough off the ground so there is enough room
for the compact spare tire to fit.
8. Remove all the wheel nuts and take off the flat tire.

5-28
9. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces and
spare wheel.
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.
CAUTION:
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.
10. Put on the compact spare tire.
11. Put the nuts on by hand. Make sure the
cone
-shaped end is toward the wheel. Tighten each
nut by hand until the wheel is held against the hub.
If a nut can't be turned by hand, use the extension
and see your dealer as soon as possible.

5-29
12. Lower the vehicle by turning the ratchet
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.
13. Tighten the wheel
nuts firmly in a
crisscross sequence
as shown. Turn the
ratchet clockwise
with the UP mark
facing you.

5-30
CAUTION:
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened
wheel nuts can cause the wheel to become loose
and even come off. This could lead to an 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 lb
-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.
14. Remove the wheel blocks.
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.