This is the easiest job on a DS-generation Ram 1500, and it's the same on every engine from the 3.7/4.7 early trucks to the 5.7 Hemi and 3.0 EcoDiesel: 22 mm lug nuts, 130 ft-lb, five or six studs depending on year and trim. The only real work is safely lifting a truck that weighs 5,000-6,500 lb, which means a 3-ton jack and stands, not the little aluminum jack from your car.
The thing people get wrong is the lug nuts themselves. Ram used two-piece chrome-capped nuts for most of this generation, and the caps swell from heat and moisture until a 22 mm socket won't go on. Forcing it rounds the cap. Keep a 21 mm or 7/8 in six-point handy, and if you find swollen nuts, just replace the set with solid one-piece nuts. Second mistake: loosening lug nuts only after the wheel is in the air, then spinning the wheel instead of the nut.
| Item | Type | |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel chocks Pair, truck rated Block the wheels that stay on the ground before lifting a 5,000+ lb truck. | Safety | shop |
| Breaker bar 1/2 in drive, 24-25 in Loosens 130 ft-lb lug nuts before the wheel is off the ground. | Required | shop |
| Lug nut socket 22 mm 6-point, 1/2 in drive (deep) Correct size for all DS Ram 1500 lug nuts, factory steel and alloy wheels. | Required | shop |
| Backup lug socket 21 mm or 7/8 in 6-point, 1/2 in drive Bites onto swollen chrome-capped lug nuts that a 22 mm no longer fits. | Recommended | shop |
| Floor jack 2.5-3 ton, 18+ in lift Raises the truck at the front lower control arm or rear axle. | Required | shop |
| Jack stands 3 ton pair, minimum Support the truck safely while wheels are off; never work under the jack alone. | Required | shop |
| Torque wrench 1/2 in drive, 25-250 ft-lb click type Sets lug nuts to the 130 ft-lb spec in a star pattern. | Required | shop |
| Tire pressure gauge 0-60 psi digital or dial Front and rear pressures may differ; reset all four after the swap. | Required | shop |
| Impact wrench 1/2 in drive cordless, 400+ ft-lb nut-busting Speeds up removal; still final-torque by hand. | Recommended | shop |
| Wire brush Hand brush Cleans rust and scale off the hub face so wheels seat flat. | Recommended | shop |
| Anti-seize or nickel lube Small tube, for hub face only Thin film on the hub center bore stops wheels seizing on; keep it off studs and seats. | Consumables | shop |
| Tread depth gauge 0-1 in / 32nds Check wear while wheels are off so you know if rotation is even worth it. | Recommended | shop |
| Torque stick set 1/2 in drive, 130 ft-lb Lets you run nuts up with an impact without overtightening. | Recommended | shop |
| Gloves Mechanic's Hot brake dust, sharp wheel weights, rusty hubs. | Safety | shop |
No difference between engines - 5.7 Hemi, 3.6 Pentastar, 4.7 V8 and 3.0 EcoDiesel all use 22 mm lug nuts at 130 ft-lb. Heavier-duty and 4x4 trims may have six-lug wheels instead of five, but the socket size and torque are the same. Trucks with the optional air suspension (2013+) need the system set to service/off height before jacking.
| Wheel lug nuts (all DS Ram 1500) | 130 ft-lb (176 Nm) |
| Spare tire winch / carrier bolts (if disturbed) | verify in the service manual |
The 22 mm lug socket and 130 ft-lb torque are standard across 2009-2018 Ram 1500 DS trucks with factory wheels; double-check your door-jamb placard for pressures and verify the size if you have aftermarket wheels or swollen capped nuts.
22 mm, six-point, on a 1/2 in drive. If the chrome cap has swollen and the 22 mm won't seat, a 21 mm or 7/8 in six-point socket will usually grip - then replace those nuts.
130 ft-lb (176 Nm) in a star pattern, done with the tires on the ground. Recheck after 50-100 miles of driving.
No relearn tool is required for a simple rotation. The Chrysler system on these trucks displays pressures and relearns sensor positions on its own after a short drive; just make sure all four pressures match the door-jamb placard so no light comes on.
Front: under the lower control arm near the ball joint, or under the front axle housing on 4x4. Rear: under the rear axle tube or differential housing. Support the frame rails or axle with jack stands before working.