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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

Front Wheel Spacers on Fox

  • Thread starter Thread starter Notch Guy Rob
  • Start date Start date Sep 28, 2022

Notch Guy Rob

Member
Aug 15, 2022
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Mooresville, NC
Sep 28, 2022
#1
  • Sep 28, 2022
  • #1
Wondering if anyone is using 1/4 inch spacers up front to bring their wheels out a little more. The rears on this car come out father than the front and I'd like to get it more beefy looking all around. Front wheels are 18x8.5 with 265/35 tires. Any photos of your setup? Any potential problems? Car has SN95 spindles, lowered about 1.5 inches, has bump steer kit.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
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Sep 28, 2022
#2
  • Sep 28, 2022
  • #2
The thing to watch out for is that as you push the front wheels out more, the arc that the wheel travels when you turn the steering wheel get larger in radius. That could potentially cause issues with the tire rubbing on the inner fender and also contacting the front and rear of the fender edges.

If you have plenty of room now, it prob won't be an issue with 1/4" but if you are close now you will definitely want to pay attention. Rack limiters may be needed.
 
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Notch Guy Rob

Member
Aug 15, 2022
11
3
13
Mooresville, NC
Sep 28, 2022
#3
  • Sep 28, 2022
  • #3
Mustang5L5 said:
The thing to watch out for is that as you push the front wheels out more, the arc that the wheel travels when you turn the steering wheel get larger in radius. That could potentially cause issues with the tire rubbing on the inner fender and also contacting the front and rear of the fender edges.

If you have plenty of room now, it prob won't be an issue with 1/4" but if you are close now you will definitely want to pay attention. Rack limiters may be needed.
Click to expand...
Rack limiters already installed by the previous owner, it rubs due to ride height and tire size. I wonder if I'll have to bring the front up a tad if I use spacers. Fenders have also been rolled.
 

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90sickfox

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands
SN Certified Technician
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#4
  • Sep 28, 2022
  • #4
That picture looks like the rear is an incorrect back spacing. The front seems to sit perfect. The back definitely sticks out.
 
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Notch Guy Rob

Member
Aug 15, 2022
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13
Mooresville, NC
Sep 28, 2022
#5
  • Sep 28, 2022
  • #5
90sickfox said:
That picture looks like the rear is an incorrect back spacing. The front seems to sit perfect. The back definitely sticks out.
Click to expand...
I bought it this way and I've heard from several armchair mechanics the reasons why the rear wheels stick out a little... the rear is out of an old Lincoln Mark III, the SN95 brakes on it cause them to stick out, the axles are wrong and should be changed to standard Fox axles, and the wheel backspacing is wrong (was told it is 20). So I'm not sure why they do,. I could change everything on the list to see.
 

2000xp8

SN Certified Technician
Aug 8, 2003
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Sep 28, 2022
#6
  • Sep 28, 2022
  • #6
You don't say what it's hitting.
In my experience ride height isn't that much of a factor for rubbing. A lowered car may rub more often, but the suspension still travels the same path over bumps.
I'm guessing you just have too much tire and if you push the wheels out i bet you have even more trouble. But that's easy to figure out, go to the autoparts store and buy a cheap spacer and install it. If it works you can buy quality ones.
I'll agree too, the front looks right, the rear doesn't.

Remember too a 265 is a lot of tire on the front of a fox, lowered or not.
 
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Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
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Massachusetts
Sep 28, 2022
#7
  • Sep 28, 2022
  • #7
Notch Guy Rob said:
I bought it this way and I've heard from several armchair mechanics the reasons why the rear wheels stick out a little... the rear is out of an old Lincoln Mark III, the SN95 brakes on it cause them to stick out, the axles are wrong and should be changed to standard Fox axles, and the wheel backspacing is wrong (was told it is 20). So I'm not sure why they do,. I could change everything on the list to see.
Click to expand...

A lincoln Mark 3? With SN95 brakes? Do you mean a Mark 7? There are offset brackets to allow you to run fox lenght axles to fix that. I would just confirm 100% what you have first before recommending parts.

Do you have a shot down the side to see how far the wheels stick out? I actually think the front is fine. I agree that it's the rear that should come in slightly. I imagine you are hitting the fender lips?
 
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TOOLOW91

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?
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#8
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  • #8
The car at a minimum does have the wrong length axles . You have any pics with wheel off to see the brakes and stuff . Worst case it’s an axle and a caliper bracket backing plate swap . Wheels are fine plenty have ran them

Beautiful car btw
 
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