Tire Rotation

Rotate all four tires on a 1972 Ford F-100 to promote even treadwear, following the rear-wheel drive rotation pattern (front-to-rear, cross-rear-to-front).

Warnings

Tools required

Preparation

1. Park the vehicle on a level, solid surface with adequate working space around all four corners
2. Engage the parking brake firmly
3. Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels
4. Loosen all lug nuts on all four wheels by 1/2 turn while the vehicle is still on the ground (do not remove)
5. Verify you have identified the wheel type (steel or alloy) for proper torque specification

Procedure

1. 1

   Lift front of vehicle
   Position the floor jack under the front axle or frame crossmember. Lift the front of the vehicle until both front wheels are clear of the ground. Immediately place jack stands under the frame rails on both sides, positioned securely on solid metal. Lower the vehicle onto the jack stands and verify stability before proceeding.
2. 2

   Lift rear of vehicle
   Position the floor jack under the rear axle housing near the differential. Lift the rear of the vehicle until both rear wheels are clear of the ground. Place jack stands under the rear frame rails or axle housing on both sides. Lower the vehicle onto the jack stands and verify all four corners are stable.
3. 3

   Remove all four wheels
   Remove the lug nuts completely from all four wheels and set them aside in a clean area (keep front and rear sets separate if different torque specs will apply). Remove all four wheels and place them on the ground in their current positions to track the rotation pattern.
4. 4

   Clean hub mounting surfaces
   Use a wire brush to clean rust, dirt, and debris from all four hub mounting surfaces where the wheel mates to the hub. Clean the corresponding mating surface on the back of each wheel. This ensures proper seating and prevents runout that can cause vibration.
5. 5

   Rotate tires following RWD pattern
   For rear-wheel drive rotation pattern: move the rear left tire straight forward to the front left position; move the rear right tire straight forward to the front right position; move the front left tire diagonally back to the rear right position; move the front right tire diagonally back to the rear left position. This is the standard cross-rotation for RWD vehicles.
6. 6

   Install wheels and hand-tighten lug nuts
   Mount each wheel in its new position. Thread all lug nuts by hand to ensure proper thread engagement. Hand-tighten all lug nuts in a star pattern (tighten one, then skip to the opposite side) to center the wheel on the hub. Install lug nuts on clean, dry threads; do not apply anti-seize or lubricant to wheel studs, as this alters clamping force and can lead to over-torquing.
7. 7

   Lower vehicle to ground
   Raise the vehicle slightly with the floor jack to unload the jack stands. Remove all four jack stands. Carefully lower the vehicle completely to the ground so all tires are supporting the full vehicle weight.
8. 8

   Torque lug nuts to specification
   Using a torque wrench, tighten all lug nuts to the correct specification based on wheel type. Torque all lug nuts to approximately 85 lb-ft (115 Nm) for the 1/2-20 studs used on this truck. If aftermarket alloy wheels are fitted, follow the wheel manufacturer's torque specification. Follow a star pattern when torquing: tighten one lug nut, then move to the opposite side, continuing in a star pattern until all are torqued. Make a second pass in the same pattern to verify all are properly torqued. Verified detail (These torque specifications appear too high for 1972 F-100 lug nuts. Factory specification for this era is typically 75-85 lb-ft, not over 100 lb-ft. Modern specs are being applied to a vintage vehicle.): Torque to 75-85 lb-ft (102-115 Nm) for both steel and alloy wheels (factory specification for 1972 F-100).
   Torque spec

   Lug Nuts - Steel Wheels140 Nm (103 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Store the floor jack and jack stands properly
2. Remove wheel chocks
3. Mark the date and mileage of this rotation in your maintenance log

Verification

• Test drive the vehicle at low speed and verify no vibration or unusual noise from the wheels
• After 50 miles of driving, re-torque all lug nuts to specification to account for wheel settling
• Visually inspect that all lug nuts are present and tight
• Check tire pressure in all four tires and adjust to the specification on the driver's door jamb placard

More procedures for this vehicle