wheel adapters?

[chitownSHo]

Has anyone had any bad experiences with adapters because I have some wheels that need adapters and was wondering if that was a good idea. I suppose to get them tomorrow so someone please let me know asap thanx.

 

[olympic]

Adapters or spacers?

Adapters=bad idea. They will move your wheels outwards by however thick they are. 1/2" can make a big difference for tire/fender clearance and some adapters are 2" or more. Plus they change your steering geometry by increasing the scrub radius which will affect handling. Then there's always the danger of the bolts loosening up and the wheel falling off.

Spacers arn't quite as bad as long as they arn't very thick(1/4" or less) and longer studs are used.

 

[stangeater]

I had 1/4 inch spacers on my car at one time when I had Lincoln LS wheels on it, they worked fine......and you don't need longer studs as long as you use mag lug nuts(these were required for the rims I was using).

 

[Yamaha V6]

While adapters & spacers in general are a bad idea, I'd rather have a precision-machined (read: balanced) adapter w/ new proper-length studs than catch the spaced-out stud on fewer threads.

I'm running 1" adapters on the 911 with the later-years' larger offset wheels. I've run spacers on the SHO before, and required longer wheel studs (depending on the wheel type / lug nut relief). Adapters are much easier to get out of balance, and rely on "squeeze" pressure to hold everything in place; adapters bolt to the hub, and the wheel bolts to the adapter - much more secure.

 

[SHO92]

H&R spacers are hubcentric, so the balance issue isn't a problem, but they still are "squeezed" on, like Fred said. I think they make spacers for the T-bird, which should fit the Taurus.

 

[Minnesho]

if you have a wheel that has inproper offset for a taurus, and use an adapter that will give it the correct offset you should have no problems at all. I have 2" adapters on my 83 Z/28 because I am running wheels from an 02 Trans AM WS6. the WS6 wheels are 2" different in offset and the adapters correct that. I have had no problems with them, and neither should you provided you have the correct offset for the car when you are done.

 

[SHOSIG]

Wheel adapters/spacers are great things to make your wheel fall off.

 

[LookAtThatSHO]

Okay great, this is just getting better and better NOT. chitown, we have the same rims and essentially from what you say the rims don't fit the SHO correct? I still haven't put wheels on mine or tried installing the rims, but from what people are saying about spacers / adapters I'll send these rims back faster than 2 jiggles of a jackrabbits ***!

 

[chitownSHo]

have em cut

I recently learned of this right before I was to put the adapters on. I've had adapters on almost every car I've ever had and no problems. But for the front wheel drive I was told was a little more risky so what I did was had them cut to the sho's specifications. They feel normal look normal and even the new wholes they made look normal. try it.