Changing Wheels - Mercedes-Benz 380 SL 1985 Owner's Manual

Wheels Tires Changing Wheels
Should the tire pressure decrease
constantly, check whether foreign
objects have penetrated the tire or
if the rim or valve allows air to leak.
Thoroughly clean the inner side of
the wheels any time you rotate the
wheels or wash the vehicle's
underside.
Dented or bent rims cause tire
pressure loss and damage to the
tire beads. For this reason, check
rims for damage at regular intervals.
The rim flanges must be checked
for wear before a tire is mounted.
Remove burrs, if there are any.

Changing Wheels

1. Set parking brake.
2. Move selector lever to position
»
" P "
3. Prevent vehicle from rolling
away by blocking wheels with
wheel chocks: When changing a
wheel on a hill, place chocks
behind each wheel of the axle
opposite to the axle to be
worked on; on a level road,
place one chock in front and
66
one behind of the wheel that is
diagonally opposite to the wheel
being changed.
4. Using the combination wrench,
loosen but do not yet remove
the wheel bolts.
5. Clean jack supporting tube, if
necessary. (Jack tubes are
behind the front wheel housings
and in front of the rear wheel
housings.)
6. Insert jack arm fully into the
tube hole up to the stop. Posi­
tion the jack so that it will
always be vertical as seen
from the side, even on inclines.
Jack up the vehicle until the
wheel is clear off the ground.
7. Then unscrew wheel bolts
completely. Keep bolt threads
protected from dirt and sand.
While removing last bolt, hold
wheel against axle to avoid
paint damage on rim.
8. Remove wheel.
9. Adjust the jack to allow the
wheel to be slipped on without
being lifted.
10. Slip on spare wheel and press
against wheel mounting flange.
Screw in wheel bolts.
To avoid paint damage, place
wheel flat against hub and
hold it there while installing
first wheel bolt.
11. Lower car and remove jack.
Tighten the five bolts evenly by
tightening every other bolt until
all the bolts are tight. Observe
a tightening torque of 110 Nm/
80 Ib-ft.
12. Correct tire pressure.