OEM Bullitt wheels on Lincoln rotors?

[Kerpal]

Can anything be done so that factory Bullitt wheels will fit 5-lug Lincoln rotors?

I know there are clearance issues with these wheels (and I think '99 Cobra wheels too?)... is it possible to use wheel spacers or machine the rotors so that they will bolt up?

I can get a really good deal on a set of Bullitts locally, but I can only afford to do the cheapie 5 lug conversion right now...

 

[7upPony]

I'm going through the same thing with my stang right now. Spacers are possible - but they looked like they were about $100. A good friend suggested that since this was going to require like an 1 in spacer that it might not be good (question of safety). So I've decided to go the "real fix" - the 94/95 SN95 spindles/rotors/calipers. I just found them at a junk yard today for $130.

 

[old_blue]

you can do some grinding to the rotor or run without the wheel cap. I would stay away from running spacers. A few guys on here have had wheels coming off from lug bolts breaking. Some guys will tell you spacers are ok but I will never chance it, too much at risk. I am very cautious though since i have a 3 year old in the car sometimes.

 

[speedytang]

About every custom wheel you look at has a spacer but it is welded to the back of the rim so no difference putting it on the rotor instead. Just put longer harder studs on the rotors. ARP or Moroso make them. I have used spacers on my Vette for 20 years on a car that is beaten on a Road Course at over 150mph and has been hit on the track and never a problem as long as you use studs made with the correct length to get full nut contact.

 

[93-331-29psi]

you can do some grinding to the rotor or run without the wheel cap. I would stay away from running spacers. A few guys on here have had wheels coming off from lug bolts breaking. Some guys will tell you spacers are ok but I will never chance it, too much at risk. I am very cautious though since i have a 3 year old in the car sometimes.

I wouldn't run with out the dust cap. Over time the grease will dry out and the bearing/race will tear up the rotor. I learned the hard way, with an old malibu, and the wheel and rotor came off the spindle as a unit leaving the bearings, washer and spindle nut on the spindle. Luckily I was in a parking lot going about 5mph when this went south. I'd do the sn95 upgrade first or buy the wheels and use them later.

 

[srothfuss]

edit

 

[tunedin302]

Just flatten the dust cap with a hammer. It'll still cover the bearings and it will allow you to fit the wheels.

Edit: I can't type

This is just bad advice.

The SVO/Lincoln front rotors will NOT work with the Ford '98 & '99+ Cobra, Y2K Cobra R wheels, and '97+ GT 17" wheels. Most of the wheels will mount up ('98 cobra and the Bullitt wheels will not), but you will not be able to mount the center cap due to the larger dust cap on the rotor. To run these wheels, you need to convert over to the SN95 front brakes (this includes spindles, rotors, hubs and calipers). Alternatively you can use a wheel spacer, but it is not recommended. The Lincoln/SVO rotors will work for the' 95 Cobra R wheel, 16" SN95 Pony wheel, and '99+ 15" & 16" wheel since they have a different center design and cap. If the center of the wheel is recessed, the Lincoln/SVO dust rotor will most likely be to large for the center cap of the wheel.

Check here to:
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=408575&highlight=bullitt+lincoln
http://www.corral.net/forums/showthread.php?t=570023&highlight=bullitt+lincoln

If you really want to see how much they don't fit then just grab yourself a lincoln rotor or fox rotor (must bang out the studs on the fox), put the dust cap on and then try to fit the center cap on. They don't fit ... should really just run the sn95 94-95 spindles in the front.

 

[srothfuss]

edited

 

[tunedin302]

I mean because you yourself say that it will mount up but the center cap interferes with the dust cap.

Where do I say that? Please re-read my post.

The dust cap can only be flattened about 1/8" before it hits the spindle. The fox spindle is the problem, unlike the sn95 spindles. Is this enough room for the Bullitt wheel?? Well since a 3/8" spacer is required to fit the Bullitt wheel w/o dust cap modifications, I would conclude most likely not. However, I told him a cheap way to find out for sure .. punch out the studs in a fox rotor, put on the dust cap and then put it into the wheel. I don't have FIRST HAND experience with this wheel and Lincoln rotors so I can't say the wheels will fit. I just don't understand, again, how you can tell someone that their wheels will fit if you have no first hand knowledge:

It'll still cover the bearings and it will allow you to fit the wheels.

As you also do in this post:
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=607125

 

[srothfuss]

That's it, you discovered my secret! I am here only to increase a post count? You are 100% right and I am 100% wrong. I know nothing about mounting wheels on Mustangs and my post should be deleted.

 

[tunedin302]

That's it, you discovered my secret! I am here only to increase a post count? You are 100% right and I am 100% wrong. I know nothing about mounting wheels on Mustangs and my post should be deleted.

Look man, I am only trying to save a couple people some serious headaches by investing a lot of money to find out that stuff doesn't fit. I have absolutely nothing personal against you, I don't even know you. However, from the posts mentioned above I wonder where you get this information. Is it first hand experience or just stuff you heard?
If it's not first hand experience and you're not absolutely sure about a "yes" or "no" answer then just let the poster know that. Unfortunately, I think Stangnet has lost some credibility in their tech section because people are so anxious to give answers that the answer may lack any factual basis (which the original poster is usually looking for anyway).

 

[turboeeyore]

yes, they make spacers...but....

te bolt pattern's different cause of independant rear suspension, i have a pic of my friends 93 mark 8 with cobra r's on it i can sent you the pic...i think the spacers were $55 cdn each through keystone.

 

[old_blue]

I wouldn't run with out the dust cap. Over time the grease will dry out and the bearing/race will tear up the rotor. I learned the hard way, with an old malibu, and the wheel and rotor came off the spindle as a unit leaving the bearings, washer and spindle nut on the spindle. Luckily I was in a parking lot going about 5mph when this went south. I'd do the sn95 upgrade first or buy the wheels and use them later.

ummmmm,
I wasn't referring to the dust cap, infact I never said anything about the "dust" cap. I was talking about the cap on the wheel.

 

[PRO50SC]

You can make them work

3/8" spacer
lug nuts that have tappered shoulders that reach inside the lug cavity
Beat the dust cap flat while it's on the car
cut the center of the center cap out, it will still secure on the wheel.


I speak from experience. Been like that for 2 years. No problems. The sad part it I bought all the stuff to change to the sn 95 set up, just never got around to it.

 

[stang8urimport]

You know what? I think I'm going to fix this problem. My brother in law is a microwelder and fabricator. I'm going to get a couple dust caps for the Mustang and have him modify them to just barely fit over the spindle nut... cut off the top and weld on a flat plate... sell them and make some money, eh? It'd be a great idea, seeing this is a real big problem with Lincoln rotors. Whatcha guys think?

 

[stang8urimport]

Or maybe even mill down some spindles, seeing the end of the spindle isn't used.

 

[tunedin302]

You know what? I think I'm going to fix this problem. My brother in law is a microwelder and fabricator. I'm going to get a couple dust caps for the Mustang and have him modify them to just barely fit over the spindle nut... cut off the top and weld on a flat plate... sell them and make some money, eh? It'd be a great idea, seeing this is a real big problem with Lincoln rotors. Whatcha guys think?

You'd make $1,000,000.00 .... you know, like that guy that invented the pet rock ...... he made $1,000,000.00 too.

 

[venom97]

moroso makes longer studs,i used them with a 7/16 or next step bigger spacer to run my 98 cobra wheels. no problems