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For 1990-2009 cars only

Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation PG1 Steel Wheel

Removal Procedure

  1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
  2. Remove the wheel center hub cap. Refer to Wheel Trim Cover Replacement .

  3. Object Number: 378520  Size: SH
  4. Remove the wheel nuts.
  5. Mark the relationship of the wheel to the hub.
  6. Caution: If penetrating oil gets on the vertical surfaces between the wheel and the rotor or drum, it could cause the wheel to work loose as the vehicle is driven, resulting in a loss of control and an injury accident.

    Notice: NEVER use heat to loosen a tight wheel. It can shorten the life of the wheel, wheel nuts and wheel bearings. Excessive force, such as hammering the wheel or tire, can also cause damage and is not recommended. Slight tapping of the tire side wall, such as with one's hand or a rubber mallet, is normally acceptable.

    Important: Do not apply penetrating oil to the wheel or wheel studs.

  7. Remove the tire and wheel. If the tire and wheel cannot be removed, Go to Step 5.1.
  8. 5.1. Install the wheel nuts.
    5.2. Then loosen each wheel nut two full revolutions.
    5.3. Lower the vehicle.
    5.4. Rock the vehicle from side to side firmly.
    5.5. Start the engine.
    5.6. Apply the regular brake.
    5.7. Place the transmission into Drive.
    5.8. Allow the vehicle to roll forward slightly.
    5.9. Apply the regular brake firmly and quickly.
    5.10. Place the transmission into Reverse.
    5.11. Allow the vehicle to roll backward slightly.
    5.12. Apply the regular brake firmly and quickly.
    5.13. Repeat Steps 5.4 through 5.12 until the wheel can be removed from the vehicle.
  9. Clean the following components in order to remove any corrosion or foreign material accumulation:
  10. • The wheel mounting surface
    • The brake rotor/brake drum mounting surface

Installation Procedure

Caution: Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. Tighten the wheel nuts with your fingers until they are snug. Then, tighten the nuts (in the sequence shown) to the fastener tightening specification shown in Specifications in this Section. Improperly tightened wheel nuts could eventually allow the wheel to come off while the vehicle is moving, possibly causing loss of control, personal injury, and property damage.

Caution: If you are replacing the wheel(s), the wheel stud(s), the wheel nut(s) or the wheel bolt(s), install only new GM original equipment parts. Installation of used parts or non-GM original equipment parts may cause the wheel to loosen, loss of tire air pressure, poor vehicle handling and loss of vehicle control resulting in personal injury.

Notice: The use of non-GM original equipment wheels may cause:

   • Damage to the wheel bearing, the wheel fasteners and the wheel
   • Tire damage caused by the modified clearance to the adjacent vehicle components
   • Adverse vehicle steering stability caused by the modified scrub radius
   • Damage to the vehicle caused by the modified ground clearance
   • Speedometer and odometer inaccuracy

Tools Required

J 39544-KIT Complete Torque Socket Set


    Object Number: 378520  Size: SH
  1. Install the tire and wheel as marked in the Removal Procedure.

  2. Object Number: 971  Size: SH

    Notice: Use the correct fastener in the correct location. Replacement fasteners must be the correct part number for that application. Fasteners requiring replacement or fasteners requiring the use of thread locking compound or sealant are identified in the service procedure. Do not use paints, lubricants, or corrosion inhibitors on fasteners or fastener joint surfaces unless specified. These coatings affect fastener torque and joint clamping force and may damage the fastener. Use the correct tightening sequence and specifications when installing fasteners in order to avoid damage to parts and systems.

    Notice: Improperly tightened wheel bolts or nuts can lead to brake pulsation and rotor damage. In order to avoid expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheel bolts or nuts to the proper torque specification.

  3. Install the wheel nuts.
  4. Tighten
    Use the J 39544-15A or a torque wrench in order to tighten the nuts to 140 N·m (100 lb ft) in the proper sequence.

  5. Install the wheel center hub cap. Refer to Wheel Trim Cover Replacement .
  6. Lower the vehicle.

Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation Chevrolet and Oldsmobile w/PH3

Removal Procedure

  1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
  2. Remove the wheel center hub cap. Refer to Aluminum Wheel Hub Cap Replacement .

  3. Object Number: 379664  Size: SH
  4. Remove the wheel nuts.
  5. Mark the relationship of the wheel to the hub.
  6. Caution: If penetrating oil gets on the vertical surfaces between the wheel and the rotor or drum, it could cause the wheel to work loose as the vehicle is driven, resulting in a loss of control and an injury accident.

    Notice: NEVER use heat to loosen a tight wheel. It can shorten the life of the wheel, wheel nuts and wheel bearings. Excessive force, such as hammering the wheel or tire, can also cause damage and is not recommended. Slight tapping of the tire side wall, such as with one's hand or a rubber mallet, is normally acceptable.

    Important: Do not apply penetrating oil to the wheel or wheel studs.

  7. Remove the tire and wheel. If the tire and wheel cannot be removed, Go to Step 5.1.
  8. 5.1. Install the wheel nuts.
    5.2. Then loosen each wheel nut two full revolutions.
    5.3. Lower the vehicle.
    5.4. Rock the vehicle from side to side firmly.
    5.5. Start the engine.
    5.6. Apply the regular brake.
    5.7. Place the transmission into Drive.
    5.8. Allow the vehicle to roll forward slightly.
    5.9. Apply the regular brake firmly and quickly.
    5.10. Place the transmission into Reverse.
    5.11. Allow the vehicle to roll backward slightly.
    5.12. Apply the regular brake firmly and quickly.
    5.13. Repeat Steps 5.4 through 5.12 until the wheel can be removed from the vehicle.
  9. Clean the following components in order to remove any corrosion or foreign material accumulation:
  10. • The wheel mounting surface
    • The brake rotor/brake drum mounting surface

Installation Procedure

Caution: Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. Tighten the wheel nuts with your fingers until they are snug. Then, tighten the nuts (in the sequence shown) to the fastener tightening specification shown in Specifications in this Section. Improperly tightened wheel nuts could eventually allow the wheel to come off while the vehicle is moving, possibly causing loss of control, personal injury, and property damage.

Caution: If you are replacing the wheel(s), the wheel stud(s), the wheel nut(s) or the wheel bolt(s), install only new GM original equipment parts. Installation of used parts or non-GM original equipment parts may cause the wheel to loosen, loss of tire air pressure, poor vehicle handling and loss of vehicle control resulting in personal injury.

Notice: The use of non-GM original equipment wheels may cause:

   • Damage to the wheel bearing, the wheel fasteners and the wheel
   • Tire damage caused by the modified clearance to the adjacent vehicle components
   • Adverse vehicle steering stability caused by the modified scrub radius
   • Damage to the vehicle caused by the modified ground clearance
   • Speedometer and odometer inaccuracy

Tools Required

J 39544-KIT Complete Torque Socket Set


    Object Number: 379664  Size: SH
  1. Install the tire and wheel as marked in Step 4 of the Removal Procedure.

  2. Object Number: 971  Size: SH

    Notice: Use the correct fastener in the correct location. Replacement fasteners must be the correct part number for that application. Fasteners requiring replacement or fasteners requiring the use of thread locking compound or sealant are identified in the service procedure. Do not use paints, lubricants, or corrosion inhibitors on fasteners or fastener joint surfaces unless specified. These coatings affect fastener torque and joint clamping force and may damage the fastener. Use the correct tightening sequence and specifications when installing fasteners in order to avoid damage to parts and systems.

    Notice: Improperly tightened wheel bolts or nuts can lead to brake pulsation and rotor damage. In order to avoid expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheel bolts or nuts to the proper torque specification.

  3. Install the wheel nuts.
  4. Tighten
    Use the J 39544-15A or a torque wrench in order to tighten the nuts to 140 N·m (100 lb ft) in the proper sequence.

  5. Install the wheel center hub cap. Refer to Aluminum Wheel Hub Cap Replacement .
  6. Lower the vehicle.

Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation Pontiac w/PH3 Aluminum Wheel

Removal Procedure

  1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.

  2. Object Number: 379564  Size: SH
  3. Remove the wheel nut caps.

  4. Object Number: 378519  Size: SH
  5. Remove the wheel nuts.
  6. Mark the relationship of the wheel to the wheel studs.
  7. Caution: If penetrating oil gets on the vertical surfaces between the wheel and the rotor or drum, it could cause the wheel to work loose as the vehicle is driven, resulting in a loss of control and an injury accident.

    Notice: NEVER use heat to loosen a tight wheel. It can shorten the life of the wheel, wheel nuts and wheel bearings. Excessive force, such as hammering the wheel or tire, can also cause damage and is not recommended. Slight tapping of the tire side wall, such as with one's hand or a rubber mallet, is normally acceptable.

    Important: Do not apply penetrating oil to the wheel or wheel studs.

  8. Remove the tire and wheel. If the tire and wheel cannot be removed, Go to Step 5.1.
  9. 5.1. Install the wheel nuts.
    5.2. Then loosen each wheel nut two full revolutions.
    5.3. Lower the vehicle.
    5.4. Rock the vehicle from side to side firmly.
    5.5. Start the engine.
    5.6. Apply the regular brake.
    5.7. Place the transmission into Drive.
    5.8. Allow the vehicle to roll forward slightly.
    5.9. Apply the regular brake firmly and quickly.
    5.10. Place the transmission into Reverse.
    5.11. Allow the vehicle to roll backward slightly.
    5.12. Apply the regular brake firmly and quickly.
    5.13. Repeat Steps 5.4 through 5.12 until the wheel can be removed from the vehicle.
  10. Clean the following components in order to remove any corrosion or foreign material accumulation:
  11. • The wheel mounting surface
    • The brake rotor/brake drum mounting surface

Installation Procedure

Caution: Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. Tighten the wheel nuts with your fingers until they are snug. Then, tighten the nuts (in the sequence shown) to the fastener tightening specification shown in Specifications in this Section. Improperly tightened wheel nuts could eventually allow the wheel to come off while the vehicle is moving, possibly causing loss of control, personal injury, and property damage.

Caution: If you are replacing the wheel(s), the wheel stud(s), the wheel nut(s) or the wheel bolt(s), install only new GM original equipment parts. Installation of used parts or non-GM original equipment parts may cause the wheel to loosen, loss of tire air pressure, poor vehicle handling and loss of vehicle control resulting in personal injury.

Notice: The use of non-GM original equipment wheels may cause:

   • Damage to the wheel bearing, the wheel fasteners and the wheel
   • Tire damage caused by the modified clearance to the adjacent vehicle components
   • Adverse vehicle steering stability caused by the modified scrub radius
   • Damage to the vehicle caused by the modified ground clearance
   • Speedometer and odometer inaccuracy

Tools Required

J 39544-KIT Complete Torque Socket Set


    Object Number: 378519  Size: SH
  1. Install the tire and wheel as marked in Step 4 of the Removal Procedure.

  2. Object Number: 971  Size: SH

    Notice: Use the correct fastener in the correct location. Replacement fasteners must be the correct part number for that application. Fasteners requiring replacement or fasteners requiring the use of thread locking compound or sealant are identified in the service procedure. Do not use paints, lubricants, or corrosion inhibitors on fasteners or fastener joint surfaces unless specified. These coatings affect fastener torque and joint clamping force and may damage the fastener. Use the correct tightening sequence and specifications when installing fasteners in order to avoid damage to parts and systems.

    Notice: Improperly tightened wheel bolts or nuts can lead to brake pulsation and rotor damage. In order to avoid expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheel bolts or nuts to the proper torque specification.

  3. Install the wheel nuts.
  4. Tighten
    Use the J 39544-15A or a torque wrench in order to tighten the nuts to 140 N·m (100 lb ft) in the proper sequence.


    Object Number: 379564  Size: SH
  5. Install the wheel nut caps.
  6. Tighten
    Tighten the caps to 3 N·m (27 lb in).

  7. Lower the vehicle.