© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
by
Russell Krick
Publisher
The Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.Tinley Park, Illinois
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Tire, wheel, and wheel bearing diagnosis
Wheel cover removal and installation Tire maintenance Measuring tire and wheel runout
(8 Topics)
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Wheel balance Mounting and dismounting tires Tire puncture repair Wheel bearing service
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Problems usually show up as vibrations, abnormal tread wear patterns, steering
wheel pull, abnormal noises,and other symptoms
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Diagnosing Tire Problems
Inspect the tires for problems Check both sidewalls, and the tread
area If necessary, road test the vehicle to
verify the customer complaint Make sure the symptoms are not being
caused by steering, suspension, or front wheel alignment problems
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Inspecting the Tires
Wiggle the tire to check for dry, rough, or loose wheel bearings
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Tire Impact Damage
Typical damage found on used tires
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Tire Wear Patterns
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Tire Inflation Problems Correct tire inflation is important to the
service life of a tire assures the full tire tread contacts the
road Underinflation
wears the outer corners of the tread sidewalls flex, building up heat
Overinflation wears the center of the tread produces a rough ride
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Tire Inflation Pressure
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Tire Vibration Problems
When one of the front tires is vibrating, it may be felt in the steering wheel
When one of the rear tires is vibrating, it will be felt in the center and rear of the car
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Causes of Tire
Vibration
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Tire Noise “Thumping” sound caused by ply
separation “Whine” due to abnormal tread wear When these noises occur, inspect the
tire for an out-of-round condition or tread cupping these conditions require replacement
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Wheel Bearing Noise Produced by a dry, worn wheel bearing When balls or rollers are damaged from
lack of lubrication, they may emit a humming or growling sound
Checking the bearings: raise the vehicle on a lift rotate the tire by hand feel and listen for bearing roughness wiggle the tire to check for looseness
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Wheel Cover Removal
Pry between the wheel and coverat four alternating points
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Wheel Cover Installation
Hold the wheel cover in place with the valve stem sticking through the cover
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Maintenance procedures include periodic inspection, checking inflation pressure, and tire rotation
These maintenance steps help ensure safety and longer tire life
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Checking Tire Inflation Pressure
Remove valve stem cap Press the tire gauge squarely over the
stem Compare reading to the maximum
pressure printed on the tire sidewall or operator’s manual
Adjust as necessary Reinstall the cap
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Tire Service Tools
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Rotating Tires
Ensures maximum tire life Front and rear tires wear differently Rotation helps even out tire wear Tires are rotated at intervals such as
every 3000 miles (5000 km)
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Tire Rotation Patterns
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Torquing Lug Nuts Torque is very important, especially on
vehicles with mag wheels and lightweight hubs
Overtorquing can cause wheel and hub distortion, or brake pulsation
Undertorquing might allow the lug nuts to loosen and the wheel to fall off
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Torquing Lug Nuts
Torque nuts to specifications in a crisscross pattern
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Replacing Lug Studs Lug studs can become stripped or worn Force out the old stud with a pressing
tool To install new studs, use flat washers
and a lug nut Draw the new stud into place by
tightening the nut on the washers If the hub is removed from the vehicle,
a hydraulic press can be used
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Tire runout caused by ply separation or
manufacturing defect
Wheel runout caused by impact damage or incorrect
welding of the spider and rim
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Lateral Runout Side to side movement of a wheel or
tire Maximum for a tire
.090” (2.0 mm)
Maximum for a wheel .045” (1.0 mm)
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Measuring Lateral Runout
Mount a dial indicator with the stem against the sidewall and side of the rim.
Check reading at several points
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Radial Runout
Difference in radius from the center axis of rotation (out or round)
Maximum for a tire .060” (1.5 mm)
Maximum for a wheel .035” (0.9 mm)
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Measuring Radial Runout
Mount a dial indicator with the stem against the tread and the lip of the rim.
Check reading at several points
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Wheel balance is a common cause of tire and steering wheel vibration
When one side of a tire is heavier than the other, centrifugal force tries to throw the heavy side outward when the tire is rotating
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Static Imbalance
Caused by a heavy spot located in the center of the tire tread
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Dynamic Imbalance
Heavy spot is to one side of thetread or on the sidewall
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Wheel Balancing
Wheels are balanced by adding wheel weights
Most are press-fit onto the wheel Weights for mag wheels stick onto the
wheel with an adhesive backing
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Weights are often kept on thebalancing machine
Wheel Balancing
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Static balancing add weights opposite the heavy area of
the wheel if a large amount is needed, add half to
the inside, and half to the outside of the wheel
Dynamic balancing add weights exactly where needed dynamic balancing machine will indicate
where weight must be added
Wheel Balancing
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Wheel Balancing
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On-car Balancing Follow equipment operating instructions Wear eye protection Remove rocks and debris from tread Place vehicle on a jack stand When using the engine to spin the drive
wheels, do not exceed 35 mph (40 to 56 km/h) when one wheel is on the floor, the free wheel
will turn at twice the indicated speed
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On-car Balancing
With a limited-slip differential, raise both rear wheels off the floor
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Wheel Balancers Wheel balancing machine that is used
to determine which part of a wheel assembly is heavy
Bubble balancer static balance
Off-car balancer static or dynamic balance
On-car balancer static or dynamic balance
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Bubble Balancer
Wheel and tire assembly is mountedon the machine
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Bubble Balancer
Add weights until the bubble is centered
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Off-Car Balancer Wheel and tire assembly is mounted on
the machine and rotated Machine will indicate where weights
should be added After adding weights, spin the tire again
to check for vibration
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Off-Car Balancer
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On-car Balancer Provides an electric motor to spin the
wheel and tire assembly Electronic pickup or hand-operated
device is used to determine where weights are needed
Balances the wheel cover, brake disc, and lug nuts along with the tire and wheel
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A tire changing machine is used to force the tire on and off the wheel prevents tire or rim damage reduces the labor required
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Tire Changing Machine
Power head turns the bar to force the beads over the rim
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Tire Changing Machine
Applies tremendous force to stretch the tire bead on and off the wheel
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Safe Work Practices Wear eye protection Keep your fingers out of the way Never mount a tire on a rim that is not
smooth and clean Always lubricate the bead and wheel
flange with proper lubricant Only inflate a tire on the machine, or in
a safety cage as recommended
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Safe Work Practices Stand away from the tire when adding
air; a loud “pop” sound will indicate when the beads seat
Do not exceed 40–50 psi (276–345 kPa) when initially inflating a tire
After inflation, install the core and reduce tire pressure to recommended limits
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Automated Tire Changer
Uses a rubber wheel to force the bead back over
the wheel
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Repairs must be made carefully Improper repair could result in a tire
failure and an accident
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Finding a Leak Inflate the tire with air Place the tire in a drum of water, or wet
the tire with a water hose Look for air bubbles forming on the tire
or around the bead at the rim Bubbles indicate leakage Mark the leak with a crayon or chalk
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Repairing a Leak Remove the tire from the rim Inspect the inside of the tire carefully Fill the injury using a recommended
plug or liquid sealant Select a patch that extends well
beyond the damaged area
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Repairing a Leak Scuff the area that the patch will cover Apply the proper cement to the inner
liner Remove the covering from the
adhesive side of the patch and carefully place it on the inner liner
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Repairing a Leak
Use a stitcher tool to bond the patchto the inner liner
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Tire Repair Practices Always dismount the tire and patch the
inner liner Never repair sidewalls or tires with
punctures larger than 1/2” (13 mm) When removing an object from the tire,
reduce air pressure to at least 15 psi (103 kPa)
Broken strands in steel belts indicate damage and could puncture the patch
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Wheel bearings are normally filled with grease
If the grease dries out, the bearing will fail
Some bearings are serviceable Some bearings are sealed units
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Nondriving Wheel Bearing Assembly
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Wheel Bearing Removal(Nondriving Wheels)
Raise the vehicle on a lift Remove the wheel, grease cap, cotter
pin, adjusting nut, and safety washer Pull out the outer wheel bearing
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Screw the nut back on the spindle Slide the hub outward
when the inner bearing catches on the adjusting nut, the grease seal and inner bearing catches on the nut, the grease seal and inner wheel bearing will pop out
Wipe the bearings and races clean
Wheel Bearing Removal
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Bearing Inspection
Wash and dry the bearings
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Bearing Inspection
Bearing and race problems
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Bearing Replacement
Bearing and race are replaced as a set. Drive out the old race
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Bearing Replacement
To install a new race, use a driving tool
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Greasing the Bearings Pack the bearing with high-temperature
wheel bearing grease Use a packer or grease it by hand Make sure grease is worked
completely through each bearing cage and around every ball or roller
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Greasing the Bearings
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Bearing Installation Place the inner bearing in its race Install the new grease seal in the hub Wipe the spindle clean Slide the hub into position Install the outer bearing Install the safety washer and adjusting
nut adjust the nut as described in the manual
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Typical Bearing
Adjustment
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Driving Hub and Wheel Bearing Assembly
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Loosen the wheel lug nuts and spindle nut
Raise the vehicle on a lift Remove the lug nut or bolts, the wheel,
and the axle nut
Wheel Bearing Removal(Driving Wheels)
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Remove the caliper and hang it to one side
Unbolt the brake disc from the hub Remove the steering knuckle and hub
assembly
Wheel Bearing Removal
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Using a puller to remove the hub from a steering knuckle
Wheel Bearing Removal
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Remove the old bearing using a driver or hydraulic press
Wheel Bearing Removal
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Wheel Bearing Installation
Install new bearings and a grease seal
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Wheel Bearing Installation
Press the hub into the steering knuckle
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Wheel Bearing Installation
Install the steering knuckle assembly Install the brake disc, caliper, and other
components Tighten the spindle nut and lug nuts to
specifications Stake the spindle nut or install a cotter
pin as required Lower the vehicle
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Using a Press
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Spindle Nut Retainers
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Servicing Rear Wheel Bearings
(Front-Wheel-Drive)
Two types of rear wheel bearings are used: serviceable nonserviceable (sealed units)
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Rear Hub Assembly(Front-Wheel-Drive)
This unit is not serviceable
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Bearing and Hub Replacement
When nonserviceable units fail, the bolts holding the bearing and hub to the axle or control arm must be removed
When installing the new assembly, torque the bolts to specifications
New fasteners may be specified
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Wheel Bearing Service
When a serviceable wheel bearing is used, it can be disassembled and packed with grease
Follow service manual procedures