Tire Balance

This procedure covers the removal, balancing, and reinstallation of tires on a 2015-2020 Ford F-150 with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine to eliminate vibrations and ensure even tire wear.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Wheel weights (adhesive or clip-on) × 1 — As required per balancing results

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels if working on front, or front wheels if working on rear
3. Loosen all wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while vehicle is still on the ground
4. Verify tire balancing machine is calibrated and operational
5. Ensure adequate workspace around balancing machine for all four wheels

Procedure

1. 1

   Raise and support vehicle
   Using the hydraulic floor jack, lift the front of the vehicle at the designated front jacking point on the frame. Place jack stands under the frame rail jacking points on both sides. Repeat process for rear of vehicle. Ensure all four corners are securely supported on jack stands before proceeding.
2. 2

   Remove wheels from vehicle
   Remove the lug nuts completely from all four wheels in a star pattern. Carefully pull each wheel straight off the hub studs. Inspect wheel mounting surfaces and hub faces for corrosion or debris, cleaning with wire brush if necessary. Keep track of which position each wheel came from if different tire sizes are used front to rear.
3. 3

   Deflate and mount first tire on balancer
   Remove the valve stem cap and deflate the tire completely by removing the valve core or depressing the valve stem. Mount the wheel onto the tire balancing machine according to the machine manufacturer's instructions, ensuring proper centering cone and securing hardware is used for the F-150's wheel specifications. Input wheel diameter, width, and offset distance into the balancing machine.
4. 4

   Clean and prepare wheel for balancing
   Remove all old wheel weights from both the inside and outside rim flanges using wheel weight pliers or a scraper. Clean the weight mounting areas thoroughly with a degreaser or alcohol to ensure new weights will adhere properly. Inspect wheel for damage, cracks, or bends that could affect balance.
   ℹ️F-150 aluminum wheels may have clear coat damage if old adhesive weights are removed improperly.
5. 5

   Spin and measure imbalance
   Lower the balancing machine hood and initiate the spin cycle. Allow the machine to complete its measurement cycle and display the weight amount and location needed for both inside and outside planes. Note the imbalance readings before correction.
6. 6

   Install corrective wheel weights
   Install wheel weights at the positions indicated by the balancing machine. For the outside position, use clip-on weights on steel wheels or adhesive weights on aluminum wheels. For inside positions, use adhesive weights placed in the drop center area of the rim. Press adhesive weights firmly for several seconds to ensure proper bonding.
7. 7

   Verify balance and re-spin
   Perform a verification spin to confirm the wheel is now within acceptable balance tolerance (typically 0.25 oz or less per plane). If still out of tolerance, adjust weight placement or amounts as indicated by the machine and re-spin until proper balance is achieved.
8. 8

   Inflate tire to specification
   Reinstall the valve core if removed and inflate the tire to the recommended pressure listed on the driver's door jamb placard (typically 35 PSI front and rear for F-150, but verify for specific load conditions). Install valve stem cap. Remove wheel from balancing machine.
9. 9

   Balance remaining three wheels
   Repeat steps 3 through 8 for each of the remaining three wheels, ensuring each is properly cleaned, balanced, and inflated to specification before removal from the balancing machine.
10. 10

    Reinstall wheels on vehicle
    Place each wheel back onto its respective hub (or rotate positions if performing rotation service). Thread all lug nuts by hand to prevent cross-threading. Using a star pattern, snug all lug nuts with a wrench but do not fully torque while vehicle is on jack stands.
11. 11

    Lower vehicle and final torque
    Carefully raise the vehicle slightly with the floor jack to unload the jack stands, then remove all four jack stands. Slowly lower the vehicle completely to the ground. Using a calibrated torque wrench, torque all wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern, making at least two complete passes to ensure even torque distribution.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts140 Nm (103 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. All wheel lug nuts must be torqued in a star pattern to 140 Nm (103 lb-ft)
2. Verify all valve stem caps are installed to prevent moisture and debris contamination
3. Double-check that no tools or wheel weights have been left in the work area

Verification

• Test drive vehicle at various speeds up to highway speed to verify vibration has been eliminated
• Listen for any unusual noises from wheels or tires during test drive
• After 50-100 miles of driving, re-torque all lug nuts to specification as aluminum wheels may settle
• Verify tire pressures are correct after balancing and adjust if necessary
• Inspect that all wheel weights are still properly attached after test drive

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