1996 Mercury Sable Owner's Manual - Page 254

2. Remove the lug nuts by using a lug wrench. Never loosen the hub nuts. See the picture later in this section if you are not sure where to find the lug nuts. RWARNING Your vehicle has been built with metric (12 mm) threads on the wheel studs and lug nuts. Make certain, during wheel removal, the same nuts removed are reinstalled, or if replaced, nuts with metric threads and the same chamfer configuration are used. Installation of an improper thread nut on a metric stud will not properly secure the wheel to the hub and will damage the stud so that it must be replaced. Damaged studs may result in wheel separation and personal injury. 3. Replace the flat tire with the spare tire, making sure that the air valve stem is facing outward. Reinstall the lug nuts, tightening until the wheel is snug against the hub. The beveled edges on the lug nuts face inward. Do not fully tighten the lug nuts until you lower the vehicle. If you do, you could force the vehicle off the jack. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle counterclockwise. Remove the jack and fully tighten the lug nuts in the order shown in the following illustration. As soon as possible, have your dealer or a qualified service technician check the lug nuts for proper torque specifications. 227 4. 5. 6.