Skinnies and spacers??

[Real-slo98]

The search engine must have took a hit cause nothing came up. Anyway..I just got of the phone with Wells Performance out of Florida. They said that you have to run a 1/2" spacer with the skinnies on a 98. Then the guy also told me that even with 3" studs....they will break?? WTF?? I have seen tons of 98's with skinnies. Also I was told it was a 7/16"(had to edit..I had 3/8" here before) spacer from other Mustang owners....I'm sure some one can straighten me out......thanks

Adam

[RacerGT]

I was told to use a 7/16'' spacer on my car and I think our brakes are relatively the same. I could be wrong though.

[Real-slo98]

I think our front brakes are different..but I too could be wrong?? Do you have the skinnies on now??

[jimfitzgerald]

I think my spacers are 7/16"

[RacerGT]

Originally posted by Real-slo98
I think our front brakes are different..but I too could be wrong?? Do you have the skinnies on now??

No, but I ordered prostars about 3 months ago and was going to put them on, but changed my mind. I believe Kurgan has a 7/16'' spacer on his front skinnies.

You may want to check out this thread on Stangnet.

http://members.pro3i.com/forums/showthread.php?t=336996&page=1&pp=25&highlight=spacer

Sorry, it used to be posted here but we lost the info.

[fst blk pony]

you need 7/16" spacers and on the 94-98's you have to grind the caliper down a little

[96GTS]

7/16 spacers only work on 99+ GTs. You can use the 7/16 on the pre-99s, but you will have to grind the caliper down a little...

Not sure which spacers dont require grinding....an no, they will not break the 3" studs...
Darren

[Bill Putnam]

A 7/16" spacer will work on the 99+ cars using weld wheels but on the 96-98 cars you have to grind the calipers to make them fit. Now with 3" studs you might get away with a thicker spacer but I wouldn't recommend it because you are pushing the wheel outside the fenderwell too far. As for the studs not holding I don't see 1/16" making that much difference that a 3" long stud wouldn't hold.

Bill

[Flo Bee]

I'm going to just pay the cash and get XPs. A local friend of mine did it and it was simple and effective. His stud length doesn't give him any issues or anything.

[Bill Putnam]

Personally I like the look of the XPs but they kind of defeat the purpose of having a cheap race wheel. They are expensive (anything over $200 a wheel is too much in my book), heavier than your standard pro-star or drag lite and tire options aren't as good.

Oh and in regards to studs when you get to a certain point in racing or to a track that really techs they will require longer studs all around.

Bill

[Flo Bee]

Originally posted by Bill Putnam
Personally I like the look of the XPs but they kind of defeat the purpose of having a cheap race wheel. They are expensive (anything over $200 a wheel is too much in my book), heavier than your standard pro-star or drag lite and tire options aren't as good.

Oh and in regards to studs when you get to a certain point in racing or to a track that really techs they will require longer studs all around.

Bill

I'm going all 3". No more stock wheels/center caps. It's just nice not to think about the weight being carried out on the end of a stud in my opinion.

I agree that the purpose of the cheap race wheel is gone, but what are you gonna do? You know. I'm not going to buy Bogarts quite yet. I've got a lot more mods I'd rather buy first.

[Kurgan]

I thought the 96-98 GT brakes had smaller calipers than the 99+ :scratch:

That would mean you wouldn't need to grind down the caliper, and a smaller spacer would fit, right?

And yes, I have a 7/16" spacer on mine.

[Bill Putnam]

Originally posted by Kurgan
I thought the 96-98 GT brakes had smaller calipers than the 99+ :scratch:

That would mean you wouldn't need to grind down the caliper, and a smaller spacer would fit, right?

And yes, I have a 7/16" spacer on mine.

I believe the piston size is smaller but the overall size of the caliper is larger in places.

Bill

[Bill Putnam]

Moving this over to the drag racing forum...

Bill

[stangman98]

I thought that you only needed the spacers on the Cobra and not the GT.

[Bill Putnam]

Originally posted by stangman98
I thought that you only needed the spacers on the Cobra and not the GT.

The Cobra is even worse. They need lots more grinding.

Bill

[stangman98]

I take it that there isn't much griding on the GT's then

[Bill Putnam]

Originally posted by stangman98
I take it that there isn't much griding on the GT's then

More than I would want to do but yes not too much.

Bill

[Real-slo98]

but..oh well. The price for speed knows no boundries. Once again thanks to everyone for there responses. This place kicks ass....:headbang:

Adam

[96GTS]

If you don't want to greind, you can always do like I did and just buy some 99+ calipers. Guys always upgrade to Cobra/Brembos and will let them go for cheap.

They stop a little better and no grinding. I did it b/c I had the whole front end apart anyways...

Darren

[Whitestang98]

Im gonna have the same issue....so is it possible to run skinnies on a 98 without grinding the caliper....anyone have any idea what a set of 99+ calipers would cost?

[Whitestang98]

Well the new thread i started got locked up bc of this thread which i already posted in but got no real answer soooo ill try again.....where is the best place to get a set or 99+s calipers and is anyone sellin a set....i have seen a bunch of different opinions on wheel spacers so does anyone have personal experince with solving the problem with wheel spacers?? Thanks


-Paul

[Real-slo98]

It looks like the only way to prevent grinding on a 96-96 is to run 99+ calipers. BUT..even the 99+ are using spacers. The draglite XP wheel doesn't need any spacers..but it is twice the money for one wheel.

Adam

[Bill Putnam]

Basically if you want to run without any spacers you have to look at other wheels or the 99 calipers with a 7/16" spacer and race studs. Far as I know there is no way to put a 15" weld racing wheel on the 94-03 cars without grinding or spacer or both.

As to where to buy them I'm sure you can order new ones from the dealer, www.stangparts.com should have them, post in the wanted section or look online there are a few online junkyards that can look for used parts.

Bill

[Real-slo98]

thanks Bill.

[stangman98]

I think I will just have to get the XP or start grinding then

[johndeerrm]

If anyone needs them i have a spare pair of billet aluminum .500" wheel spacers i will sell for $50 shipped.

[GI Joe]

Anyone have an opinion on which is safer: The 7/16 in spacer on the stock studs...or a 1" adapter/spacer on the stock studs and then mounting the wheel to the new studs provided on the adapter. I have upgraded to the Bullet/cobra brakes on my GT so the problem gets even worse. The 7/16 spacer still will not clear the 13" rotor. choices are to use the adapter/spacer from H&R for $150 and 2 15X3.5 welds for $114 each...or...run two 17X8 XP's because thats the thinnest they make in 17" which is required to clear the 13" rotor...and it defeats the purpose. Oh and they are $279 each in that size...
GI Joe

[Bill Putnam]

Personally I think it will look funny because the tire is going to be sticking half way outside of the fender with a 1" spacer.

Bill

[GI Joe]

Bill...I dont quite understand:dontknow: Do the wheels with a 7/16" spacer stick out. The 1" spacer would only be 9/16" or @1/2" wider...
Dave

[Bill Putnam]

The tires on my car sit 100% flush with the fender lip on my car anything wider would put the actual tread of the tire outside the fender. On the 94-98 cars the fender actually sits in closer to the suspension so just the 7/16" puts the tire outside the fender...that is why some racers use fox body A arms which are shorter to pull the tire back in some.

Bill

[GI Joe]

I see...thanks for the explanation.

Dave

[Whitestang98]

So with 99+ calipers, 7/16 spacers, and 15x3.5 skinnies i should be fine??

[slosvt]

Originally posted by Bill Putnam
The Cobra is even worse. They need lots more grinding.

Bill

And they need a 1/2" spacer on top of that. My tires sit pretty flush with the wheel well, but I wish that they were tucked in a little more. Maybe the tubular front end pulled the wheels in a little? I also have the 3.5" long Baer studs that pressed in without drilling of the hubs, but they cost $7.99 ea.

Lloyd

[Real-slo98]

Originally posted by Whitestang98
So with 99+ calipers, 7/16 spacers, and 15x3.5 skinnies i should be fine??

Yes you shouldn't have to grind.

[Real-slo98]

Just an update. I started grinding on my calipers and the draglite was STILL rubbing. I decided I had enough of the grinding( I thought it was too much)...so I put on my 7/16 spacer, then I put a washer (1/8") over the studs..then I put on the wheels..no rubbing. I don't think that 1/8" is gonna make much difference. For the record I am going to see if a total of 1/2" of spacer will work. Right now I have 9/16" of an inch of spacer. Keep in mind I drove my car about 2 miles on this set-up and don't drive it everyday either. So if you have an everyday driver....you might not want to take this suggestion. IMO you have to grind off too much on a 94-98 caliper to make the wheels work with a 7/16" spacer. Its not just the skinnies either....my 15X8's rub on the front too.

Adam

[1FAST46]

The spacer's are for the skinnies only correct? I hava 02 GT and getting draglites for the rear. 15x8 so I dont need any spacrer on the rear correct?

[Real-slo98]

If your 15x8's are 5.5"BS you'll be fine on the rear. 02's have a wider rearend than 94-98's. I run 28/10.5/15's with quad shocks and have NO problems with 15X8's with 5.5bs.

Adam