Cutting wheel studs for wheel spacers

[HISSIN50]

Hello,

Need some input/experiences with wheel spacers. I am thinking of putting 25mm (1") hub-centric spacers on the '94's rear wheels. It has chrome Ford 2000 GT wheels - the backside of the wheel hub (the area around the lug bosses) is flat (why that matters is below).

With 1" spacers, I would have to cut the stock lugs to the second thread from the end (around 3/8" IIRC). Otherwise, the lugs hang out past the spacers and hit the back of the wheel, obviously keeping it from seating.

Here is the thing. I know some folks cut their stock (axle) lugs down to accomodate this. But if I did that and wanted to go back to stock, the lug would not even go all the way through the nut with the wheel mounted (with no spacer, if I cut the lug). So basically, if I dont like the spacers or have issues, it seems to me that I would have to pull the axles and install 10 new studs. Not what I would want to do.

I am hoping someone has encountered this and found some logical means around this issue. Or if were in the same boat and you cut away, let me know how it went and if you are happy. And all other ideas are welcome. I am not a spacer guy, so this is my first endeavor with these things; I keep seeing pics of guys with them (Andy, et al) and I want to toss some on there, but am worried about reverse-compatibility (or lack-there-of in this case).

Thanks for all replies!

 

[RIO5.0]

I had to do the same...dont remember exactly but 1/16-1/8 or so to get my FRPP 98 Cobra's on with MM 1" ....
FWIW....When I swapped to the ROH wheels I had no issue, matter of fact I currently run a 1/4" MM spacer and still had enuf to run them....meaning I was able to get the "min" of 6 threads MM suggests to use em...actually I had more than the min...

 

[94GTLaserRC]

Sorry if this is :OT: but I talked to MM last week for my C/C plates, and I asked about the spacers.

They said their 1" spacers have their own studs built on...They said you just bolt their spacer to your hub, then bolt your wheel to their spacer.

Is this inaccurate or not good to do?

RC

 

[GRGT1994]

RC: That is the good style of spacer. The bad style does not have its own studs. But unfortunatly, this also can create clearance issues with the back of the wheel, as the poster is confronting.

So back on topic and back to the original post. Here are a couple of suggestions, neither of which I think you will like.

First, you could get some different wheels, something without the continuous surface around the hub mounting surface. My wheels only have a little bit of surface area just around the lugs. So there is a natural relief that the lugs on the spacer can nest into.

Second, get spacers wider than 1". I think if you go wide enough you can get away with your wheels. The difference between 1" and 1 3/8" spacers is pretty subtle to the eye, but maybe that's enough. Call MM and ask about this. And measure your distance to from your tire to the center inside point of your wheel well for clearance.

 

[HISSIN50]

Andy, thanks bud. I rememebered that you had to cut your lugs a hair (as do many folks). However, the 3/8" that I am lookin at [needing to cut] gave me second thoughts. Toss in my being a freak about reverse compatibility, and I had reservations. It looks like if I went back to stock (no spacer), I would have one or two empty threads in the lug nut!

Rob, to reiterate, you do want to be sure to get hub-centric spacers. You can get non-hub centric (lug-centric, if you will) spacers, which do have the new lugs pressed into the spacer (so you have 10 lugs per wheel). But they are not hub-centric, which is the important part, IMHO. Both look very similar, except for the hub lip on the hub centrics. I dont think MM sells anything but hub centric, so likely not an issue. (I know you knew all that, but since I ran into an issue I really did not foresee, I figured it was worth being redundant).

Greg, yeah bud, new wheels would take care of all this wouldnt it? I am taking donations as we speak. I will be running some 315's out back, a la Chris.

Seriously, I dont want to go wider than a 1" spacer, as I think I will be pushing it too much with regard to wheel rub. I dont need to slice up (expensive to me) tires (I am old enough to remember when I used to buy new Pirellis for 28 bucks each). In hindsight, doing 1.25" spacers might have been wise. I got lazy and did not do exact measuring, relying on a bunch of threads in a search instead.

Thanks again for the ideas and feedback. At some point, I will probably pony-up and hack the lugs.

 

[95CobraMike]

i dont think you have to pull the axle to change the lugs even if you are too short.... i rememer replacing one of mine on the rear..... wait maybe that was my old probe... nevermind

maybe get some 10" wide back wheels ?

 

[CManT1914]

Greg, yeah bud, new wheels would take care of all this wouldnt it? I am taking donations as we speak. I will be running some 315's out back, a la Chris.

lol, I didn't even catch that the first time I read it. FWIW, you can get old lugs cut off and new lugs pressed in without pulling the axles (99% sure anyway). My friend had to do this when he got a couple crossthreaded.

 

[HISSIN50]

With the tools I have on hand, I end up needing to hammer on the lug studs to get them out, and that is hard on the rear-end bearings. I have done this in a pinch on another car, but I prefer not to (not if I have to swap 10 lugs).

Has anyone used two spacers/wheel (I might try going bigger, like Greg said). I would likely try a 1/4" spacer and then the 1" spacer too. Does this work? I could try that and always ditch it and cut if I have to. But if it works, it saves me headaches. I know someone on here did that (was it you Andy?). Thoughts?

Thanks a bunch guys!

 

[94GTLaserRC]

If someone has a 5.0 Mag, can you turn to the ad for MM? Their C/C plates are in the upper right corner, and in the middle, on the left side of the ad are their wheel spacers. Are those spacers with the lugs out hub centric? I was considering getting some 3/4" ones to fill out the back wheel well a bit more.

Thanks
RC

 

[HISSIN50]

Are those spacers with the lugs out hub centric? I was considering getting some 3/4" ones to fill out the back wheel well a bit more.

Thanks
RC

They sure look like it. That lip around the inner hub is what makes them so.

The lug-centrics dont have that lip.

 

[Starman]

Another idea would be to replace all your rear studs with 3" ones and knock the studs out of the spacers and just put the spacers on over your 3" axle studs and then mount your wheels on the same studs.

I know it involves replacing all the studs either way. I'd probably just look for wider spacers

 

[94GTLaserRC]

I think you can get MM's with the studs in as small as 3/4"..Our wheels are tucked in so far in the back, I dont know why you would want to spend money for something smaller....IMO, it looks bad a$$ with the back wheels out wider.

RC