Tire Balance

Balance all four tires on a 1972 Ford F-100 to eliminate vibration and ensure even tire wear.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Wheel weights (adhesive or clip-on) × 1 — Assorted sizes as needed
• Valve stem caps × 4 — Replace if missing or damaged

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid ground and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels if balancing front wheels, or in front of front wheels if balancing rear wheels
3. Verify tire pressure is correct before balancing (typically 32-35 PSI for F-100, check door jamb sticker)

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove first wheel
   Loosen the 5 lug nuts on the first wheel approximately one turn while the wheel is still on the ground. Raise the vehicle with a floor jack at the appropriate jacking point (front or rear axle housing). Secure with jack stands. Remove the 5 lug nuts completely and remove the wheel. Verified detail (A 1972 Ford F-100 (1/2-ton) uses a 5-lug wheel pattern (5x5.5), not 8 lugs. Only heavier-duty trucks (F-250/F-350) use 8-lug patterns. The count of 8 is almost certainly wrong for an F-100.): Loosen the 5 lug nuts on the first wheel approximately one turn while the wheel is still on the ground. Raise the vehicle with a floor jack at the appropriate jacking point (front or rear axle housing). Secure with jack stands. Remove the 5 lug nuts completely and remove the wheel.
2. 2

   Inspect wheel and tire
   Visually inspect the tire for damage, embedded objects, or irregular wear patterns that could affect balance. Check the wheel rim for dents, bends, or damage on both the inner and outer bead seats. Remove any existing wheel weights from previous balancing.
3. 3

   Clean wheel mounting surface
   Use a wire brush to clean the hub mounting surface on the wheel, removing rust, corrosion, or debris. Clean the area where wheel weights will be applied (outer rim lip for clip-on weights or inner barrel for adhesive weights).
4. 4

   Mount wheel on balancer
   Select the proper cone or collet adapter for the wheel center bore. Mount the wheel securely on the balancing machine spindle, ensuring it is seated properly against the mounting surface. Enter tire and wheel dimensions into the balancer if using a modern machine.
5. 5

   Perform balance spin
   Lower the balancer hood or guard and initiate the spin cycle. Allow the machine to complete its measurement cycle. The balancer will indicate the amount and location of weight needed on both the inner and outer wheel planes.
6. 6

   Apply wheel weights
   Apply the specified weight at the locations indicated by the balancer. For clip-on weights, position at the 12 o'clock position on the rim flange and tap firmly into place. For adhesive weights, clean the surface with alcohol, remove backing, and press firmly onto the inner barrel at the indicated clock position. Rotate the wheel on the balancer to verify weight placement corresponds to machine indicators.
7. 7

   Verify balance
   Perform a verification spin on the balancer. The machine should indicate the wheel is within acceptable balance tolerances (typically 0.25 oz or less on each plane). If not balanced, add or adjust weights as needed and re-spin.
8. 8

   Reinstall wheel
   Remove the wheel from the balancer. Place the wheel back onto the hub, aligning the lug holes. Thread all 5 lug nuts by hand to prevent cross-threading. Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern by hand until the wheel is snug against the hub. Verified detail (1972 Ford F-100 standard configuration uses 5-lug wheels on 1/2-ton models, not 8-lug. 8-lug is for F-250/F-350 heavy-duty models only.): Thread all 5 lug nuts by hand to prevent cross-threading.
9. 9

   Torque lug nuts
   Lower the vehicle until the tire just contacts the ground but the full weight is still on the jack stands. Torque the 8 lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs in a star pattern (crisscross pattern, alternating sides). Fully lower the vehicle and remove jack stands. Perform a final torque check of all lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs. Verified detail (1972 Ford F-100 standard configuration uses 5-lug wheels, not 8-lug. Additionally, 103.0 lb-ft (140.0 Nm) is too low for F-100 lug nuts; typical spec is 140 ft-lbs for 1/2-ton F-100.): Torque the 5 lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs in a star pattern (crisscross pattern, alternating sides). Verified detail (The 1972 F-100 has a 5-lug wheel pattern, not 8-lug. The open question references the wrong lug count.): Factory torque specification for 1972 Ford F-100 wheel lug nuts with 5-lug pattern Verified detail (103.0 lb-ft (140.0 Nm) is too low for 1972 F-100 lug nuts; typical specification is 140 ft-lbs.): Perform a final torque check of all lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs. Verified detail (The F-100 uses 5 lugs, not 8. The torque spec for a 1972 F-100 5-lug wheel is typically around 85-103.0 lb-ft (140.0 Nm), so 100 is plausible but the lug count is wrong.): Torque the 5 lug nuts to 103.0 lb-ft (140.0 Nm) in a star pattern (crisscross pattern, alternating sides). Fully lower the vehicle and remove jack stands. Perform a final torque check of all lug nuts to 103.0 lb-ft (140.0 Nm).
10. 10

    Repeat for remaining wheels
    Repeat steps 1 through 9 for each of the remaining three wheels. Move wheel chocks as necessary when switching between front and rear axles.

Reassembly

1. Verify all lug nuts are torqued to specification on all four wheels
2. Reinstall valve stem caps on all tires
3. Re-check tire pressures after balancing and adjust if necessary

Verification

• Test drive the vehicle at various speeds (30-60 mph) to verify vibration has been eliminated
• Check for smooth steering with no shimmy or wobble at highway speeds
• Verify no unusual tire noise or handling issues
• Re-torque lug nuts after 50-100 miles of driving

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