Tire Mount and Balance

This procedure covers the removal, mounting, and balancing of tires on all four wheels of a 1970 AMC Rebel Machine, ensuring proper bead seating and rotational balance.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Tire valve stems × 4 — TR413 snap-in or metal clamp-in
• Wheel weights × 1 — As needed per balancing results

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on a level, solid surface and engage parking brake.
2. Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels if starting with front wheels, or front wheels if starting with rear.
3. Loosen all wheel lug nuts approximately one turn before raising vehicle.
4. Locate the factory jacking points on the frame rails near each wheel.
5. Raise vehicle and support securely on jack stands at all four corners, ensuring stability before proceeding.

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove all wheels from vehicle
   With the vehicle supported on jack stands, completely remove the lug nuts from all four wheels. Keep lug nuts organized by wheel position. Remove each wheel and inspect the brake components and wheel studs for any damage or wear.
2. 2

   Deflate and dismount old tires
   Remove the valve core from each tire to fully deflate. Place the wheel on the tire mounting machine and clamp securely according to the machine manufacturer's instructions. Use the machine's bead breaker to separate the tire bead from the wheel on both sides. Carefully dismount the tire from the wheel using the mounting head, taking care not to scratch the wheel finish, particularly important on the Rebel Machine's original steel or optional Magnum 500 wheels.
3. 3

   Clean wheels and inspect for damage
   Thoroughly clean the wheel mounting surfaces, bead seats, and drop center area. Remove all old wheel weights. Inspect each wheel for cracks, bends, or corrosion particularly in the bead seat area. Check the valve stem hole for damage or elongation.
4. 4

   Install new valve stems
   Remove old valve stems and install new valve stems in each wheel. For snap-in rubber stems, ensure they are fully seated. For metal clamp-in stems, tighten the retaining nut securely. Verify each stem is straight and not leaking by applying soapy water.
5. 5

   Mount new tires onto wheels
   Apply tire mounting lubricant to both tire beads and wheel bead seats. Position the tire onto the wheel with the correct orientation (directional tread patterns must face the correct rotation direction, inner/outer sidewall markings must be correct). Use the tire machine to work the bottom bead over the wheel rim, then the top bead. Ensure the tire is centered on the wheel before proceeding.
6. 6

   Seat tire beads and inflate
   Inflate the tire slowly to seat both beads. You should hear distinct pops as each bead seats against the rim. Continue inflating to approximately 40 PSI to ensure both beads are fully seated, then reduce to the recommended pressure. For the Rebel Machine with stock tires, this is typically 24-28 PSI front and 26-30 PSI rear, but verify based on actual tire specifications. Check for leaks around the bead and valve stem using soapy water.
7. 7

   Balance each wheel and tire assembly
   Mount the wheel assembly onto the balancing machine, ensuring proper centering using the appropriate cone or hub adapter for the AMC 5-on-4.5 inch bolt pattern. Enter the wheel diameter (15 inches), width (7 inches), and offset into the balancer. Spin the assembly and allow the balancer to determine weight placement. Install clip-on or adhesive wheel weights as indicated by the balancer. Recheck balance and adjust until the assembly shows zero or minimal imbalance (typically within 0.25 oz).
8. 8

   Install wheels onto vehicle
   Place each balanced wheel assembly onto its respective hub position. Thread all lug nuts on by hand to prevent cross-threading. Using a tire iron or impact wrench, snug the lug nuts in a star pattern but do not fully tighten yet.
9. 9

   Lower vehicle and torque lug nuts
   Carefully raise the vehicle slightly with the floor jack to unload the jack stands, then remove the stands. Lower the vehicle completely to the ground. Using a torque wrench, tighten the lug nuts to 75 ft-lbs in a star pattern. Go around the star pattern twice to ensure even torque distribution and proper wheel seating against the hub.

Reassembly

1. Double-check that all lug nuts are torqued to 75 ft-lbs in a star pattern on all four wheels.
2. Adjust tire pressures to the recommended specifications based on tire manufacturer guidelines and vehicle loading.
3. Install valve stem caps on all four wheels.

Verification

• Verify all wheels are properly torqued by rechecking with torque wrench after vehicle has been lowered.
• Check tire pressures with an accurate gauge and adjust as needed to specification.
• Test drive the vehicle at low speed (under 20 mph) in a safe area to verify no vibration or pulling.
• After 50-100 miles of driving, recheck lug nut torque to ensure wheels remain properly secured.
• At highway speeds, verify no vibration is present which would indicate imbalance or improper mounting.

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