Section 04-04: Wheels and Tires
1996 F-150, F-250, F-350, F-Super Duty Chassis Cab, F-Super Duty Motorhome Chassis and Bronco Workshop Manual
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING

Symptom Chart — Wheels And Tires

WHEELS AND TIRES
ConditionPossible SourceAction
  • Tires Show Excess Wear on Edge of Tread
  • Underinflated tires.
  • ADJUST air pressure in tires.
 
  • Vehicle overloaded.
  • High-speed cornering.
  • CORRECT as required.
 
  • Incorrect toe setting.
  • Tires Show Excess Wear in Center of Tread
  • Tires overinflated.
  • ADJUST air pressure in tires.
  • Other Excessive Tire Wear Problems
  • Improper tire pressure.
  • ADJUST air pressure in tires.
 
  • Incorrect tire/wheel usage.
  • INSTALL correct tire and wheel combination.
 
  • Loose or leaking shock absorbers.
 
  • Front end out of alignment.
 
  • Front wheel bearings out of adjustment.
  • ADJUST front wheel bearings.
 
  • Loose, worn or damaged suspension components, bushings and ball joints.
  • INSPECT, REPAIR or REPLACE as required.
 
  • Wheel and tire assembly out of balance.
  • BALANCE wheel and tire assembly.
 
  • Excessive lateral or radial runout of wheel or tire.
  • CHECK, REPAIR or REPLACE as required. USE dial indicator to determine runout.
 
  • Tires need rotating.
  • ROTATE tires.
  • Wheel Mounting Is Difficult
  • Improper application or mismatched parts, including lug bolts and lug nuts.
  • FOLLOW manufacturer's specifications.
 
  • Corroded, worn or damaged parts.
  • CLEAN or REPLACE.
  • Wheel Rusted or Corroded
  • Poor maintenance.
  • KEEP clean and PROTECT with paint.
  • Wobble or Shimmy Affecting Wheel Runout
  • Damaged wheel (eventually damaged wheel bearings and uneven tire wear).
  • INSPECT wheel rims for dents. REPAIR or REPLACE as required.
  • Excessive Vehicle Vibration, Rough Steering, or Severe Tire Wear
  • Loose or improper attaching parts.
  • TIGHTEN or REPLACE.
 
  • Overloading or unbalanced loads.
  • CHECK wheel and tire specifications against work load requirements. RECOMMEND correct tire and wheel. CHECK loading procedure.
  • Vehicle Vibrations
  • Tires/wheel mismatched.
  • INSTALL correct tire/wheel combination.
 
  • Inflation pressure too high or low.
  • ADJUST air pressure in tires.
 
  • Uneven tire wear.
 
  • Out-of-balance wheel or tire or wheel hub and brake drum assembly.
  • DETERMINE the out-of-balance component and BALANCE or REPLACE.
 
  • Bent or distorted wheel disc from overloading, road impact hazards or improper handling.
  • REPLACE wheel. Attempts to straighten wheel can result in fractures in the steel and weakening of the disc or the weld between disc and rim. CHECK loading and operating conditions and shop practices.
 
  • Out-of-round wheel or tire (excessive radial runout).
  • USE a dial indicator to verify runout reading. REPLACE the wheel or tire and CHECK for overloading and unbalanced loads, rugged operating conditions, proper wheel and tire specifications.
 
  • Improperly seated bead.
  • VERIFY correct tire/wheel usage and REMOUNT tire.
 
  • Excessive wheel or tire lateral runout.
  • USE a dial indicator to verify runout reading. REPLACE wheel or tire.
 
  • Loose wheel mountings — damaged lug bolts, lug nuts, enlarged wheel hub bolt holes, worn or broken wheel hub face or foreign material on mounting surfaces.
  • TIGHTEN or REPLACE worn or damaged parts. CLEAN mounting surfaces.
 
  • Defective wheel bearings.
  • REPLACE worn or damaged bearing sets.
 
  • Brake rotor imbalance.
  • CHECK for uneven brake rotor wear. If present, TURN both brake rotors. CHECK fins for caked mud or debris. If no external causes are evident, brake rotor may have a heavy spot. To confirm, SUBSTITUTE a known good brake rotor or shift brake rotor to other side of vehicle and ROAD TEST again. If heavy spot is indicated, REPLACE brake rotor.
 
  • Wheel hub bolt runout.
  • REPLACE wheel hub or axle shaft.
 
  • Water in tires.
  • REMOVE water.
 
  • Loose or worn engine or transmission mounts.
  • TIGHTEN or REPLACE.
 
  • Improper pinion angle.
  • REALIGN assembly to specifications. If damaged, REPLACE pinion and ring gear as a set.
 
  • Improper front end alignment.
  • ALIGN front end.
 
  • Loose or worn driveline or suspension parts.
  • IDENTIFY location of vibration carefully as it may be transmitted through frame making a rear end vibration appear to come from the front. REPAIR or REPLACE loose and worn parts.
 
  • Excessive driveshaft runout or imbalance.
  • BALANCE or REPLACE driveshaft as necessary.
 
  • Worn or damaged U-joints.
  • REPLACE worn U-joints.
  • Cracked or Broken Wheel Discs (Center Portion of Wheel). Cracks develop in the wheel disc from hand hole to hand hole, from hand hole to rim, or from hand hole to lug bolt. Wheel hub bolt holes become worn, elongated or deformed. Metal builds up around wheel hub bolt hole edges, cracks develop from wheel hub bolt hole to wheel hub bolt hole. Related driver complaints: unusual operating noise or vibration and on-the-road failures.
  • Metal fatigue resulting from abusive handling.
  • REPLACE wheel. CHECK position of wheel on vehicle for working load specifications.
 
  • Truck operated with loose wheel mounting.
  • CHECK for:
      Installation of correct lug bolts and lug nuts, and correct torque specifications.Cracked or broken lug bolts. REPLACE.Worn wheel hub face. MACHINE if not excessive, or REPLACE if severe.Broken or cracked wheel hub barrel. REPLACE.Worn wheel hub bolt grooves. REPLACE or INSTALL recommended serrated lug bolts.Rust streaks fanning out from wheel hub bolt holes are a sure indication that the lug nuts are or have been loose.
    • CLEAN mounting surfaces and RETIGHTEN lug nuts periodically.
  • Cracks Develop in Rim Base Back (Rim Bead Seat) or the Gutter Area (Drop Well Radii)
  • Overloading or abusive use.
  • REPLACE wheel. CHECK loading and operating conditions. AVOID overinflation of tires. CHECK specs for rim load capacity, working loads, tire size, ply rating and tire construction.
 
  • Improper use of tools.
  • CHECK mounting, demounting, and maintenance procedures.
  • Dual Tires Rubbing
  • Insufficient wheel spacing.
  • CHECK tire and wheel sizes. Make certain proper size tires and wheels are used.
 
  • Overloading.
  • REDUCE weight.
 
  • Underinflation.
  • INFLATE tires to specifications.
  • Damaged Wheel Hub Bolt Threads
  • Sliding wheel across lug bolts during assembly.
  • REPLACE lug bolts. FOLLOW proper wheel installation procedure.
  • Loose Brake Drum
  • Lug bolt too long.
  • REPLACE lug bolt with proper length lug bolt.
  • Loose Inner Wheel
  • Excessive wheel hub bolt standout from mounting face of wheel hub permitting lug nut to bottom out.
  • REPLACE lug bolt with proper length lug bolt.
  • Broken Lug Bolts
  • Loose lug nuts.
  • REPLACE lug bolts. FOLLOW proper torque procedure.
 
  • Overloading.
  • REPLACE lug bolts. COMPARE actual load against vehicle load ratings.
  • Stripping Threads
  • Excessive torque.
  • REPLACE lug bolts. FOLLOW proper torque procedure.
  • Rust Streaks from Wheel Hub Bolt Holes
  • Loose lug nuts.
  • CHECK complete assembly. REPLACE damaged parts. FOLLOW proper torque procedure.
  • Damaged Lug Nuts
  • Loose wheel assembly.
  • Overtightened lug nuts.
  • REPLACE lug nuts. FOLLOW proper torque procedure.
  • Frozen Lug Nuts
  • Corrosion or galling.

  •  CAUTION: Do not permit lubricant to get on cone seats of wheel hub bolt holes or on cone angle of lug nuts.

    If corrosion is slight, CLEAN away corrosion with a wire brush. If corrosion is excessive, REPLACE lug bolts and lug nuts. If condition persists, LUBRICATE first three threads of each lug bolt with a graphite-based lubricant.