Buick Encore: Repair instructions

Tire and wheel removal and installation

Special Tools

• CH-41013 Rotor Resurfacing Kit
• CH-42450-A Wheel Hub Resurfacing Kit

For equivalent regional tools, refer to Special Tools.

Removal Procedure

1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle .
2. Remove the wheel cover, if equipped.

Fig. 6: Wheel Nut Caps

3. Remove the wheel nut caps (1), if equipped.

Fig. 7: Wheel Nuts

4. Remove the wheel nuts (1).

Fig. 8: Tire And Wheel Assembly

5. Remove the tire and wheel assembly (1).

WARNING: 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 loss of control and an injury accident.

CAUTION: Removing the wheel may be difficult because of foreign materials or a tight fit between the wheel and the hub/rotor. Slightly tap the tire side wall with a rubber mallet in order to remove the wheel. Failure to follow these instructions may result in damage to the wheel.

CAUTION: Never use heat to loosen a tight wheel bolt or nut. This can shorten the life of wheel and damage wheel bearings.

6. If the tire and wheel assembly is difficult to remove or cannot be removed, perform the following steps:

• Hand install the wheel nuts.
• Loosen the wheel nuts 2 complete turns.
• Lower the vehicle.
• Rock the vehicle from side to side.
• Repeat the procedure if necessary.

7. When the tire and wheel assembly loosens, raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle .
8. Remove the wheel nuts.
9. Remove the tire and wheel assembly.
10. If necessary and equipped , remove the center cap.

Installation Procedure

WARNING: Before installing the wheels, remove any buildup of corrosion on the wheel mounting surface and brake drum or disc mounting surface.

Installing wheels with poor metal-to-metal contact at the mounting surfaces can cause wheel nuts to loosen. This can cause a wheel to come off when the vehicle is moving, causing loss of control and possibly personal injury.

NOTE: Do not use power grinding tools to clean the brake rotor or drum to wheel mating surfaces.

1. Using a wire brush or wire wheel, clean the wheel to brake rotor or drum mating surface.
2. Using the CH-41013 Rotor Resurfacing Kit , clean the rotor or drum to wheel contact area.
3. Using the CH-42450-A Wheel Hub Resurfacing Kit , clean the surfaces around the wheel studs.
4. Clean the threads of the wheel studs.
5. If the threads of the wheel stud are damaged, replace the wheel stud. Refer to Wheel Stud Replacement , or Wheel Stud Replacement .
6. After cleaning all of the wheel and brake rotor or drum contact areas, use brake cleaner or denatured alcohol to remove any dirt and debris from the wheel nuts and the brake rotor or drum.
7. Inspect and clean the contact areas of the wheel. Refer to Wheel Mounting Surface Check.

Fig. 9: Rim Inner Center Seat

8. Apply a small amount of lubricant to the inner diameter of the wheel hub pilot hole (1) where it contacts the wheel hub flange. Refer to Adhesives, Fluids, Lubricants, and Sealers.

Fig. 10: Tire And Wheel Assembly

9. Install the tire and wheel assembly (1).

Fig. 11: Wheel Nuts

WARNING: Never grease or lubricate wheel nuts, studs and mounting surfaces.

Tightening the lubricated parts can cause damage to the wheel studs. This can cause a wheel to come off when the vehicle is moving, causing loss of control and possibly personal injury.

10. Hand install the wheel nuts (1).

Fig. 12: Wheel Nut Tightening Sequence

CAUTION: 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.

CAUTION: Refer to Fastener Caution .

11. Using a torque wrench and the appropriate socket, alternately and evenly tighten the wheel nuts to 140 (103 lb ft) in the sequence illustrated.

Fig. 13: Wheel Nut Caps

12. Install the wheel nut caps (1), if equipped.
13. Install the wheel center cap or wheel cover, if equipped.

Tire dismounting and mounting

CAUTION: Use a tire changing machine in order to dismount tires. Do not use hand tools or tire irons alone in order to remove the tire from the wheel. Damage to the tire beads or the wheel rim could result.

CAUTION: Do not scratch or damage the clear coating on aluminum wheels with the tire changing equipment. Scratching the clear coating could cause the aluminum wheel to corrode and the clear coating to peel from the wheel.

CAUTION: Damage to either the tire bead or the wheel mounting holes can result from the use of improper wheel attachment or tire mounting procedures. It takes up to 70 seconds for all of the air to completely exhaust from a large tire. Failure to follow the proper procedures could cause the tire changer to put enough force on the tire to bend the wheel at the mounting surface. Such damage may result in vibration and/or shimmy, and under severe usage lead to wheel cracking.

1. Deflate the tire completely.

NOTE: Rim-clamp European-type tire changers are recommended.

2. Use the tire changer in order to remove the tire from the wheel.
3. Use a wire brush or coarse steel wool in order to remove any rubber, light rust or corrosion from the wheel bead seats.

CAUTION: When mounting the tires, use an approved tire mounting lubricant.

DO NOT use silicon or corrosive base compounds to lubricate the tire bead and the wheel rim. A silicon base compound can cause the tire to slip on the rim. A corrosive type compound can cause tire or rim deterioration.

4. Apply an approved Lubricant to the tire bead and the wheel rim.
5. Use the tire changer in order to install the tire to the wheel.

WARNING: To avoid serious personal injury, do not stand over tire when inflating. The bead may break when the bead snaps over the safety hump. Do not exceed 275 kPa (40 psi) pressure when inflating any tire if beads are not seated. If 275 kPa (40 psi) pressure will not seat the beads, deflate, relubricate the beads and reinflate. Overinflation may cause the bead to break and cause serious personal injury.

6. Inflate the tire to the proper air pressure.
7. Ensure that the locating rings are visible on both sides of the tire in order to verify that the tire bead is fully seated on the wheel.

TIRE ROTATION

In order to equalize wear, rotate the tires at the specified intervals. Also, rotate the tire and wheel assembly whenever you notice uneven tire wear.

Radial tires tend to wear faster in the shoulder area, particularly in front positions, due to design. Radial tires in non-drive locations may develop an irregular wear pattern that can generate tire noise. This especially makes regular tire rotation necessary.

• Remove the tires and wheels. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation.

Fig. 14: Rotating Tires (4 Tires)

• For vehicles with single rear wheels (4 tires), rotate the tires as shown.

Fig. 15: Rotating Tires (5 Tires)

• For vehicles with single rear wheels (5 tires), rotate the tires as shown.

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