Cant get wheels to fit

stevesLX

Member
Nov 12, 2006
373
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16
cincinnati
I have a 89 LX with a 5 lug conversion. I am not sure exactly what the parts for the conversion came off because it was like this when I bought it. I bought a set of 1995 style Cobra R 16x8 from american muscle.com. they are +15mm offset and 5.02 back spaceing. I received the wheels today and took one and tried it on the back and the front and it sticks out of the wheel well about a 1/4 inch or so. More in the front than in the rear. In the rear its about dead even with the edge of the wheel well but up front the whole lip pretty much from where the bead of the tire would be to the outside edge of the wheel is hanging out. I was told by american muscle who only deals with mustangs that these would fit w/out any problems. Obviously they were wrong. I really dont have any xtra money to spare to go with a 17 I have no choice but to get either 16's or 15's. I need something because right now I have nothing at all except the ones I got today. I sold my others for money to get my motor back from the machine shop. So I am seeking the advise of you guys can someone please help me on this. I talked to a couple of tire dealers and a 2 of them told me that when I get tires mounted on them and put the car on the ground that the suspension will draw up and inward and the fronts should sit back in the whell well. However a 3rd dealer told me that the suspension will only draw up not inward and those wheels are going to hang out up front regardless.:bang: :shrug:
 
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so how can I tell if they used 96 spindles is there any measurements or anything I can do? I know when I got brakes calipers and rotors for the front I got everything for a 94 GT and it matched up to what was on there.
 
good point, I suspect your right with the control arms. My bro did the 5 lug swap on his 86, using the 94/95 front spindles, and the front wheels actually sit IN further than the rear wheels. If he had used the 96 stuff, it likely would have aligned them perfectly, and well within the fenders.

I know the 91-93 mustangs used wider fenders, but not sure if you want to go that route, or if it's enough clearance. sounds like parts swapping time :)
 
Well I just saw the pics and the curved steering arms mean they are 94-95 spindles correct me if i'm wrong.

Also, i notice the balljoint is an SN95 style with no spacer on top.

I can't tell if the control arms are fox or Sn95 from the pics. Those wheels do stick WAY out from the fender though. How do the rears fit?
 
It's ok. I'm leaning towards SN95 a-arms but i can't be 100% sure and i def don't want to make you pull them off for nothing.

What wheels were on there before and how far did they stick out?
 
Is'nt the stock backspacing closer to 5.75 or 79? I say go back to stock a arms (they work fine on mine) and get wheels with the right backspacing. With so many people installing tubular a arms you should be able to find stock ones cheap if not free.
 
The wheels on there before were welds pro stars. 15x8 on rear and 15x4 on the front with spacers. The rears were sitting right at the edge of the fender well. The fronts were in a few inchs but they were only a 4 inch width wheel. I listed another post on 5 lug swap if you want to read that. Some guy thats supposedly into nothing but mustangs that works at Jegs claims I need 86-92 spindles and Ranger rotors. He says the control arms wont affect anything. I wish someone had a measurement I could take on the control arms to figure out if they are still stock or if there from a newer year.
 
The wheels on there before were welds pro stars. 15x8 on rear and 15x4 on the front with spacers. The rears were sitting right at the edge of the fender well. The fronts were in a few inchs but they were only a 4 inch width wheel. I listed another post on 5 lug swap if you want to read that. Some guy thats supposedly into nothing but mustangs that works at Jegs claims I need 86-92 spindles and Ranger rotors. He says the control arms wont affect anything. I wish someone had a measurement I could take on the control arms to figure out if they are still stock or if there from a newer year.


The Guy at Jegs is wrong as SN95 Lower A Arms will increase your Front Track.