How to Install Wheel Adapters
Installing wheel adapters can be a simple process if performed correctly. Improperly installed wheel adapters can lead to an accident while driving. Here is a general guide on how to install wheel adapters.
Before You Begin
Wheel adapter installation should only be done by those with proper training and experience, so employing a professional mechanic is highly recommended. These instructions are a general guide and may not be specific to your vehicle.
Confirm Wheel Adapters Fitment
Make sure your new wheel adapters properly fit your vehicle and wheel application. Failure to use the correct wheel adapters will result in unsafe driving conditions that can lead to wheel loss while driving.
For press-on wheel adapters, check the following specifications:
- Vehicle and wheel bolt pattern
- Wheel adapter width
- Center bore or hub bore
For bolt-on wheel adapters, check the following specifications:
- Vehicle and wheel bolt pattern
- Wheel adapter width
- Center bore or hub bore
- Thread size and pitch
Prepare for Wheel Adapter Installation
After confirming your wheel adapter fitment, prepare your vehicle and wheels to install wheel adapters.
- Park your vehicle on a hard and level surface and apply parking brake.
- Using a lug wrench with a proper socket, loosen the lug nuts or bolts, but do not remove them from the wheel.
- Raise up your vehicle as per your vehicle owner's manual.
- Carefully remove the lug bolts or nuts, then remove the wheel.
- Clean the surface of the vehicle's hub and the back of the wheel to remove all rust and corrosion with a wire brush. All surfaces must be clean so the wheel adapter sits perfectly flat on the vehicle mounting surface and against the wheel to avoid wheel vibration.
Install Wheel Adapters
- Place the wheel adapter onto the hub, ensuring that it is centered and sits flush against the hub.
- For bolt-on wheel adapters, install the adapter by first finger tightening the supplied open end lug nuts in a star or criss cross pattern until you cannot hand tighten anymore. Once all lugs have been tightened to meet minimum thread engagement and your wheel adapter is sitting flush against the hub surface, use a calibrated torque wrench to torque the lugs to vehicle manufacturer specifications in a star or criss cross pattern.
- For 2-piece wheel adapters, install the bottom plate first and torque it to the manufacturer's wheel torque specs. Before installing the top plate, make sure the studs and lug nuts do not extend above the surface of the bottom plate. The top piece must sit flush to the bottom plate. Install the top adapter plate by lining up the dowel pins and bolt holes. Keep adapter pairs matched - failure to do so could result in vibration or other problems. Torque top adapter's lug bolts to 50-55 ft-lb.
- Place the wheel onto the wheel adapter, install lug nuts or bolts and tighten them with your hand in a star or criss cross pattern until you cannot hand tighten anymore.
- When you cannot tighten nuts or bolts with a hand anymore, use a wrench to tighten them to meet a minimum thread engagement.
- Once all lug nuts or bolts have been tightened and the wheel is sitting flush against the hub surface, lower the vehicle to ground and tighten all lug nuts or bolts using a calibrated torque wrench to the proper torque specifications as indicated in your vehicle owner's manual. Apply torque evenly by repeating the criss cross or star pattern until the desired torque is reached.
After Installation
During the first 100 miles, check and re-torque as many times as necessary for your wheel adapters to seat properly to ensure a safe and comfortable drive.
Learn how to install wheel spacers.
All listed guides, data and/or calculations are for informational purposes only. LugBoltPattern.com does not warrant or make any representations regarding the accuracy of or the results of the use of this information.