2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO Owners Manual

6. Tilt the tire toward the vehicle with some slack
in the cable to access the tire/wheel retainer.
Separate the retainer from the guide pin by sliding
the retainer up the pin while pressing down on
the latch.Once the retainer is separated from the guide pin,
tilt the retainer and pull it through the center of
the wheel along with the cable and guide latch.
7. Put the spare tire near the at tire.
5-99

Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
Use the following pictures and instructions to remove
the at tire and raise the vehicle.
The tools you will be using include the jack (A), the
wheel blocks (B), the jack handle (C), the jack handle
extensions (D), and the wheel wrench (E).
1. Do a safety check before proceeding.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 5-94
for more information.2. If your vehicle has
wheel nut caps, loosen
them by turning the
wheel wrench
counterclockwise.
If the vehicle has a center cap with wheel nut caps,
the wheel nut caps are designed to stay with the
center cap after they are loosened. Remove
the entire center cap.
5-100

If the wheel has a smooth center cap, place the
chisel end of the wheel wrench in the slot on
the wheel, and gently pry it out.3. Use the wheel wrench and turn it counterclockwise
to loosen the wheel nuts. Do not remove the wheel
nuts yet.
5-101

4. Position the jack under the vehicle as shown. If the
at tire is on the front of the vehicle (1500 Model
vehicles), position the jack under the bracket
attached to the vehicle’s frame, behind the at tire.
If the at tire is on the front of the vehicle
(all other models), position the jack on the frame
behind the at tire.Front Position - 1500 Models
Front Position - All Other Models
5-102

If the at tire is on the rear, position the jack under
the rear axle between the spring anchor and the
shock absorber bracket.
If you have added a snow plow to the front of your
vehicle, lower the snow plow fully before raising
the vehicle.
Make sure that the jack head is positioned so that
the rear axle is resting securely between the
grooves that are on the jack head.
{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 t the
jack lift head into the proper location before
raising the vehicle.
5. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise to raise the
vehicle. Raise the vehicle far enough off the ground
so there is enough room for the spare tire to t
under the wheel well. Rear Position – All Models
5-103

6. Remove all the wheel
nuts and take off the
at tire.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which
it is fastened, can make wheel nuts become
loose after time. The wheel could come off and
cause an accident. When you change a wheel,
remove any rust or dirt from 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 needed, to get all the rust or dirt off.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 5-94.7. 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.
10. Tighten each wheel nut by hand. Then use the
wheel wrench to tighten the nuts until the wheel
is held against the hub.
5-104

11. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower
the vehicle. Lower the jack completely.
{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 5-133for 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 5-133for 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 regular wheel and tire, you must
also reinstall either the center cap, or bolt-on hub
cap, depending on what your vehicle is equipped with.
For center caps, place the cap on the wheel and
tap it into place until it seats ush with the wheel.
The cap only goes on one way. Be sure to line up the
tab on the center cap with the indentation on the wheel.
For bolt-on hub caps, align the plastic nut caps with
the wheel nuts and then tighten by hand. Then use the
wheel wrench to tighten.
5-105

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 5-110.
{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 5-95.
5. If the spare does not lower, turn the wrench
counterclockwise until approximately 6 inches
(15 cm) of cable is exposed.
5-106