2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE Owners Manual

7. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces,
and spare wheel.
8. Install the spare tire.
{CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts.
Because the nuts might come loose. The
vehicle’s wheel could fall off, causing a crash.
9. Put the wheel nuts back on with the rounded
end of the nuts toward the wheel after mounting
the spare tire.
10. Tighten each wheel nut by hand. Then use the
wheel wrench to tighten the wheel nuts until the
wheel is held against the hub.
11. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower
the vehicle. Lower the jack completely.
5-89

{CAUTION:
Incorrect or improperly tightened wheel nuts
can cause the wheel to come loose and even
come off. This could lead to a crash. If you have
to replace them, be sure to get new original
equipment wheel nuts. Stop somewhere as
soon as you can and have the nuts tightened
with a torque wrench to the proper torque
specication. SeeCapacities and Specifications
on page 5-115for wheel nut torque
specication.
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
specication. SeeCapacities and Specifications on
page 5-115for the wheel nut torque specication.12. Tighten the nuts
rmly in a crisscross
sequence as shown
by turning the
wheel wrench
clockwise.
When you reinstall the full-size wheel and tire, you must
also reinstall the either the center cap or the bolt-on
hub cap, depending on what your vehicle has.
If you are reinstalling a center cap, line up the tab
on the center cap with the slot on the wheel.
The cap only goes in one way. Place the cap
on the wheel and press until it snaps into place.
If you are reinstalling bolt-on hub caps, line up the
plastic nut caps with the wheel nuts and tighten them
clockwise by hand to get them started. Continue
tightening with the wheel wrench until snug.
5-90

Secondary Latch System
Your vehicle has an underbody-mounted tire hoist
assembly equipped with a secondary latch system.
It is designed to stop the spare tire from suddenly falling
off your vehicle. For the secondary latch to work, the
spare must be installed with the valve stem pointing
down. SeeStoring a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools
on page 5-94.
{CAUTION:
Before beginning this procedure read all the
instructions. Failure to read and follow the
instructions could damage the hoist assembly
and you and others could get hurt. Read and
follow the instructions listed next.To release the spare tire from the secondary latch:
1. Check under the
vehicle to see if the
cable end is visible.
If the cable is not
visible proceed
to Step 6.
2. If it is visible, rst try to tighten the cable by turning
the wheel wrench clockwise until you hear two clicks
or feel it skip twice. You cannot overtighten the cable.
3. Loosen the cable by turning the wrench
counterclockwise three or four turns.
4. Repeat this procedure at least two times. If the
spare tire lowers to the ground, continue with
Step 5 ofRemoving the Spare Tire and Tools
on page 5-81.
5-91

5. If the spare does not lower, turn the wrench
counterclockwise until approximately 6 inches
(15 cm) of cable is exposed.
6. Stand the wheel blocks on their shortest ends, with
the backs facing each other.
7. Place the bottom edge
of the jack (A) on the
wheel blocks (B),
separating them so that
the jack is balanced
securely.
8. Attach the jack handle, extension, and wheel
wrench to the jack and place it (with the wheel
blocks) under the vehicle toward the front of the
rear bumper.
5-92

9. Position the center lift point of the jack under the
center of the spare tire.
10. Turn the wrench clockwise to raise the jack until it
lifts the end tting.
11. Continue raising the jack until the spare tire stops
moving upward and is held rmly in place. The
secondary latch has released and the spare tire is
balancing on the jack.
12. Lower the jack by turning the wheel wrench
counterclockwise. Keep lowering the jack until the
spare tire slides off the jack or is hanging by
the cable.
{CAUTION:
Someone standing too close during the
procedure could be injured by the jack.
If the spare tire does not slide off the jack
completely, make sure no one is behind you
or on either side of you as you pull the jack
out from under the spare.
13. Disconnect the jack handle from the jack and
carefully remove the jack. Use one hand to push
against the spare while rmly pulling the jack out
from under the spare tire with the other hand.
If the spare tire is hanging from the cable, insert the
hoist end of extension, and wheel wrench into the
hoist shaft hole in the bumper and turn the wheel
wrench counterclockwise to lower the spare the rest
of the way.
5-93

14. Tilt the tire retainer at the end of the cable and pull
it through the wheel opening. Pull the tire out from
under the vehicle.
15. Turn the wheel wrench in the hoist shaft hole in the
bumper clockwise to raise the cable back up if the
cable is hanging under the vehicle.
Have the hoist assembly inspected as soon as you can.
You will not be able to store a spare or at tire using
the hoist assembly until it has been replaced.
To continue changing the at tire, seeRemoving the
Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire on page 5-85.
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools
{CAUTION:
Storing a jack, a tire, or other equipment in the
passenger compartment of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or collision,
loose equipment could strike someone.
Store all these in the proper place.
Notice:Storing an aluminum wheel with a at tire
under your vehicle for an extended period of time
or with the valve stem pointing up can damage
the wheel. Always stow the wheel with the valve
stem pointing down and have the wheel/tire repaired
as soon as possible.
Store the tire under the rear of the vehicle in the spare
tire carrier.
5-94

A. Spare Tire/Flat
Tire (Valve Stem
Pointed Down)
B. Hoist Assembly
C. Hoist Cable
D. Tire/Wheel Retainer
E. Hoist ShaftF. Hoist End of
Extension Tool
G. Hoist Shaft Access Hole
H. Wheel Wrench
I. Jack Handle
Extension(s)
J. Spare Tire Lock
1. Put the tire (A) on the ground at the rear of the
vehicle with the valve stem pointed down, and to
the rear.2. Tilt the tire. Separate the tire/wheel retainer (D)
from the guide pin. Pull the pin through the center
of the wheel. Tilt the retainer down through the
center wheel opening.
5-95

Make sure the retainer is fully seated across the
underside of the wheel.
3. Assemble the two jack handle extensions (I) and
wheel wrench (H) as shown.4. Insert the open end
of the extension (F)
through the hole in the
rear bumper (G) (hoist
shaft access hole).
5. Raise the tire part way upward. Make sure the
retainer is seated in the wheel opening.
6. Raise the tire fully against the underside of the
vehicle by turning the wheel wrench clockwise
until you hear two clicks or feel it skip twice.
You cannot overtighten the cable.
5-96