Wheel Mounting Surface Check

Replace any wheels that are bent or dented, or have excessive lateral or radial runout. Wheels with runout greater than specified may cause objectionable vibrations.

Fig 1: Checking Wheel Mounting Surface

Courtesy of SUZUKI OF AMERICA CORP.

1. Thoroughly clean the wheel mounting surface with a clean shop towel and denatured alcohol, or equivalent.
2. Use a straight edge 203-229 mm (8-9 in) long. Place the straight edge on the wheel inboard mounting surface.

   Try to rock the straight edge up and down within the mounting surface.

3. For aluminum flat-mount wheels, repeat the procedure in step  2 on at least 3-4 different positions on the inboard mounting surface.

   If you can rock the straight edge, the mounting surface is bent and you must replace the wheel.

4. Inspect the mounting wheel/nut holes for damage caused from over-torquing the wheel/nuts. Inspect for collapsed wheel/nut bosses. Inspect for cracked wheel bosses.
   Fig 2: Using Straightedge To Check For Bent Mounting Surface

   Courtesy of SUZUKI OF AMERICA CORP.
5. For steel wheels, repeat the procedure in step  2 on at least 3-4 different positions on the inboard mounting surface.
   • The outer mounting ring is designed to be raised slightly above the inner mounting ring.
   • If you can rock the straight edge, the mounting surface is bent and you must replace the wheel.
     Fig 3: Identifying Rock Straight Edge

     Courtesy of SUZUKI OF AMERICA CORP.
6. Inspect the mounting wheel/nut holes for damage caused from over-torquing the wheel/nuts. Inspect for collapsed wheel/nut bosses. Inspect for cracked wheel bosses.
   CAUTION:

   The use of non original equipment wheels may cause:

   • Damage to the wheel bearing, the wheel fasteners and the wheel
   • Tire damage caused by the modified clearance to the adjacent vehicle components
   • Adverse vehicle steering stability caused by the modified scrub radius
   • Damage to the vehicle caused by the modified ground clearance
   • Speedometer and odometer inaccuracy
   NOTE:

   • Replacement wheels must be equivalent to the original equipment wheels in the following ways:
     • The load capacity
     • The wheel diameter
     • The rim width
     • The wheel offset
     • The mounting configuration
   • A wheel of the incorrect size or type may affect the following conditions:
     • Wheel and hub-bearing life
     • Brake cooling
     • Speedometer/odometer calibration
     • Vehicle ground clearance
     • Tire clearance to the body and the chassis
7. Replace the wheel if the wheel is bent.
8. Replace the wheel if the wheel/nut boss area is cracked.

   Identify steel wheels with a 2 or 3-letter code stamped into the rim near the valve stem. Aluminum wheels have the code, the part number, and the manufacturer identification cast into the back side of the wheel.