The F150 is Ford's entry-level vehicle in its F-Series line of trucks. The F150 offers a smooth ride and creature comforts that would put any luxury car to shame, but can still haul heavy or bulky items in its rear cargo bed. Truck ownership brings new and different responsibilities when it comes to maintenance. Changing the tire on your 2002 Ford F150 requires a little more know-how and patience than performing the same task on a compact car.
Park your F150 on a level surface and apply the parking brake. Open the hood. Remove the jack handle from the radiator support at the front of the engine bay. Remove the jack and lug wrench from under the front passenger seat on regular cab and super cab models, and from the passenger side storage compartment on crew cab models.
Locate the spare tire key, normally stowed in the glove box. Insert the key into the jack handle by pushing it into place until it is fully seated. Insert the jack handle with the key facing forward into the hole in the rear bumper near the license plate. Turn the jack handle counterclockwise to lower the spare tire. Stop turning the handle when the tire is on the ground.
Spin the threaded spare tire retainer at the center of the wheel in a counterclockwise direction and remove it. Slide the tire from under the rear of the truck and roll it to near the location of the tire to be changed.
Chock the wheel on both sides that is diagonally opposite the tire that you will be changing to keep your F150 from rolling when it is jacked up.
Remove the wheel trim on the tire to be changed by placing the flat-edged side of the lug wrench into the notch of the trim and twisting it slightly. Set the trim aside. Loosen the five lug nuts with the lug wrench in a counterclockwise direction 1/2 turn. Do not completely remove the lug nuts yet.
Place the jack under the frame rail on the side from which you will be removing a front tire, or place the jack under the rear axle housing on the side you want to raise if you are changing a rear tire. Remove the spare tire key from the jack handle. Insert the handle into the jack and turn it in a clockwise direction until the wheel is off the ground.
Finish removing the lug nuts with the lug wrench, turning in a counterclockwise direction. Remove the tire and wheel assembly from the hub. Place the spare wheel onto the hub, making sure to line up the holes with the wheel studs. Replace the lug nuts with the tapered side facing inward, and tighten with the lug wrench in a clockwise direction.
Turn the jack handle in a counterclockwise direction to lower the truck. Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern to insure the wheel seats fully to the hub. Press the wheel trim back onto the wheel until it snaps into place. Stow the wheel and tire changing tools in the reverse order of above. Close the hood and remove the wheel chocks.
