Buick LeSabre 1965 Service Manual page 442

CHASSIS SUSPENSION SERVICE PROCEDURES 7 - 1 5
In isolated cases loss of air may
result from porous welds.
CAUTION: Under no condition
should porous welds be brazed,
or welded.
d. Demounting and Mounting
of Tubeless Tire
When demounting a tubeless tire
use care to avoid damaging the
rim-seal ridges on tire beads.
A "bead breaker" is recom-
mended for loosening the beads.
DO NOT USE TIRE IRONS TO
FORCE BEADS AWAY FROM
WHEEL RIM FLANGES. After
both beads are broken loose from
wheel rim flanges, remove tire
in usual manner, starting at the
valve stem, and using care to
avoid damaging rim-seal ridges.
When tire is removed, inspect it
carefully to determine whether
loss of air was caused by punc-
ture or by improper fit of beads
against rim flanges. If improper
fit is indicated, check wheel as
follows:
(1) Straighten wheel rim flanges
if bent or dented.
(2) Clean rims thoroughly, using
No. 3 coarse steel wool, to re-
move all oxidized rubber, soap
solution, etc. Remove rust with
wire brush.
(3) Inspect butt weld and other
areas of rim contacted by tire
beads, to make certain there is
no groove or high spot. Remove
any groove or high spot by filing
smooth.
(4) Inspect valve stem and re-
place it if damaged. Make certain
that valve stem is properly in-
stalled to provide an air tight
joint.
Before mounting a tubeless tire
on a wheel remove cardboard
spacer, if tire is new. Moisten a
cloth with mounting compound or
solution and wipe rim-seal ridges
of both beads to remove a l l
foreign substance. Moisten base
of both beads with mounting com-
pound or soap solution to help
beads snap into place when tire
is inflated. Start tire over rim
flange at point opposite valve
stem, so that valve stem cannot
prevent bead from dropping into
the well as last section of bead is
forced over the rim flange. Align
balance mark on tire with valve
stem.
Either a tire mounting machine or
tire irons may be used; however,
parts of tools contacting t i r e
beads must be smooth and clean
to avoid damaging rim-seal
ridges. Take small bites if tire
irons are used. DO NOT USE
HAMMERS.
WARNING: Due to the extremely
heavy pressure under which the
outer tire bead seats to the rim,
it is recommended that an exten-
sion gauge with a clip-on check
be used for mounting inflation.
This will allow the operator to
remain at a safe distance.
Remove valve core to increase
flow of air during inflation. Hold
tire and wheel assembly in verti-
cal position and bounce on floor at
various points around cirQumfer-
ence to snap beads out against
rim flanges. If seal cannot be
effected in the foregoing manner
with the rush of air, apply a tour-
niquet of heavy sash cord around
circumference to tire and tighten
it with a tire iron to force beads
outward.
Inflate tire until both beads are
firmly seated against rim flanges,
then remove air chuck, insert
valve core and temporarily inflate
to 50 pounds pressure. Leak test
wheel and tire assembly under
water, and if satisfactory reduce
to r e c o m m e n d e d p r e s s u r e
(par. 1-2).
e. Interchanging Tires
Tires tend to wear unevenly and
become unbalanced as mileage
accumulates. Uneven tire wear is
frequently the cause of tire noises
which are attributed to rear axle
gears, bearings, etc., and work is
sometimes needlessly done on
rear axles in an endeavor to cor-
rect the noise.
Tire life will be increased and
uneven wear and noise will be
less likely to occur if the tires,
including the spare, are balanced
and interchanged at regular in-
tervals of approximately 5000
miles. The recommended method
of interchanging tires is shown in
Figure 7-8.
Figure 7-8—Method of Interchanging
Tires
f. Use of Tire Chains
Do not use tire chains on the front
wheels under any circumstances
because they will interfere with
the steering mechanism. Any of
the conventional full-type non-
skid tire chains can be used on
the rear wheels.
Tire chains should be l o o s e
enough to "creep" but tight en-
ough to avoid striking fenders
or other parts. If chains remain
in one position the tire side wall
will be damaged. Tension springs
(either metal coil springs or the
rubber band type) must also be