wheel BUICK LUCERNE 2007 Repair Manual

If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel
bolts, or wheel nuts, replace them only with
new GM original equipment parts. This way, you
will be sure to have the right wheel, wheel
bolts, and wheel nuts for your vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels,
wheel bolts, or wheel nuts on your vehicle
can be dangerous. It could affect the
braking and handling of your vehicle,
make your tires lose air and make you
lose control. You could have a collision in
which you or others could be injured.
Always use the correct wheel, wheel bolts,
and wheel nuts for replacement.Notice:The wrong wheel can also cause
problems with bearing life, brake cooling,
speedometer or odometer calibration,
headlamp aim, bumper height, vehicle ground
clearance, and tire or tire chain clearance
to the body and chassis.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 408for more
information.Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You cannot know how it has
been used or how far it has been driven. It
could fail suddenly and cause a crash. If
you have to replace a wheel, use a new
GM original equipment wheel.
405

Tire Chains
{CAUTION:
If your vehicle has P235/55R17, or
P245/50R18 size tires, do not use tire
chains. There is not enough clearance.
Tire chains used on a vehicle without the
proper amount of clearance can cause
damage to the brakes, suspension, or
other vehicle parts. The area damaged by
the tire chains could cause you to lose
control of your vehicle and you or others
may be injured in a crash.
Use another type of traction device only if
its manufacturer recommends it for use
on your vehicle and tire size combination
and road conditions.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
Follow that manufacturer’s instructions.
To help avoid damage to your vehicle,
drive slowly, readjust or remove the
device if it is contacting your vehicle, and
do not spin your vehicle’s wheels.
If you do nd traction devices that will t,
install them on the front tires.
Notice:If your vehicle has P225/60R16 size
tires, use tire chains only where legal and only
when you must. Use only SAE Class S-type
chains that are the proper size for your
tires. Install them on the front tires and tighten
them as tightly as possible with the ends
securely fastened. Drive slowly and follow the
chain manufacturer’s instructions. If you
can hear the chains contacting your vehicle,
stop and retighten them. If the contact
continues, slow down until it stops. Driving
too fast or spinning the wheels with chains on
will damage your vehicle.
406

If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are
driving, especially if you maintain your vehicle’s
tires properly. If air goes out of a tire, it is
much more likely to leak out slowly. But if you
should ever have a blowout, here are a few tips
about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire will create a drag
that pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your
foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel rmly. Steer to maintain lane
position, and then gently brake to a stop well out
of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much
like a skid and may require the same correction
you would use in a skid. In any rear blowout
remove your foot from the accelerator pedal. Get
the vehicle under control by steering the way
you want the vehicle to go. It may be very bumpy
and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently brake
to a stop, well off the road if possible.{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate safety equipment
and training. The jack provided with your
vehicle is designed only for changing a
at tire. If it is used for anything else, you
or others could be badly injured or killed
if the vehicle slips off the jack. Use the
jack provided with your vehicle only for
changing a at tire.
If a tire goes at, the next part shows how to use
the jacking equipment to change a at tire safely.
407

Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes at, avoid further tire and wheel
damage by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on
your vehicle’s hazard warning ashers. See
Hazard Warning Flashers on page 160for more
information.
{CAUTION:
Changing a tire can be dangerous. The
vehicle can slip off the jack and roll over
or fall on you or other people. You and
they could be badly injured or even killed.
Find a level place to change your tire. To
help prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake rmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart
while the vehicle is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in
the vehicle.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
To be even more certain the vehicle will
not move, you should put blocks at the
front and rear of the tire farthest away from
the one being changed. That would be the
tire, on the other side, at the opposite end
of the vehicle.
When your vehicle has a at tire, use the following
example as a guide to assist you in the placement
of wheel blocks.
The following information will tell you next how to
use the jack and change a tire.
408

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment you will need is located in the
trunk.
1. If your vehicle has a
center retainer, turn
it counterclockwise
to remove it.
2. Lift and remove the compact spare tire cover.3. Remove the washer and retainer that holds
down the jack and wheel wrench.
4. Remove the jack container with the jack and
the wheel wrench.
5. Remove the spare tire from the vehicle. See
Compact Spare Tire on page 418for more
information.
409

The tools you will be using include the jack (A)
and the wheel wrench (B).
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
1. Place the wheel wrench securely over the
wheel nut. Turn the wheel wrench
counterclockwise to loosen all the wheel nuts,
but do no remove them yet.
410

2. Turn the jack handle clockwise to raise the
jack lift head.
{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.
3. Put the jack into the ange in the frame which
is located near each wheel well. The anges
are accessible through openings in the
plastic trim at the bottom of the vehicle. The
front opening is about 8 inches (20 cm)
back from the front wheel well. The rear
opening is about 3 inches (8 cm) forward from
the rear wheel well.
411

7. Remove all wheel
nuts and take off the
at tire.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts
to which it is fastened, can make the
wheel nuts become loose after time. The
wheel could come off and cause an
accident. When you change a wheel,
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
remove any rust or dirt from the 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.
8. Remove any rust or
dirt from the wheel
bolts, mounting
surfaces and spare
wheel.
413

9. Install the compact spare tire.
{CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts.
If you do, the nuts might come loose.
Your wheel could fall off, causing a
serious accident.
10. Put the wheel nuts back on with the rounded
end of the nuts toward the wheel. Tighten
each nut by hand until the wheel is held
against the hub.11. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.
414

{CAUTION:
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly
tightened wheel nuts can cause the wheel
to come loose and even come off. This
could lead to an accident. Be sure to use
the correct wheel nuts. If you have to
replace them, be sure to get new GM
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. See
Capacities and Specifications on page 436
for 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. See
Capacities and Specifications on page 436for
the wheel nut torque specication.12. Tighten the wheel
nuts rmly in a
crisscross sequence
as shown.
Notice:Wheel covers will not t on your
compact spare. If you try to put a wheel cover
on the compact spare, you could damage
the cover or the spare.
Do not try to put the wheel cover on the compact
spare tire. It will not t. Store the wheel cover
in the trunk until you have the at tire repaired or
replaced.
415