Firts post, looking for help on wheels and hubs??

[GDUB]

Hi guys, I am trying to spit shine a 94 Explorer for my sons first car. I got a little anxious and purchased some newer maybe 06 Explorer wheels with the small center cap... Sorry if this is redundant, I have been searching for a couple of weeks now but can't find the exact answers.

Questions are:

1. These wheels have about 1.75" different offset, can I go with 2" spacers and will the hub sit behind the snap in center cap or will I have to machine the center hole out?

2. Are the manual hubs about the same size as the autos in length and diameter?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Anime]

Welcome to the site.

What's the matter with the wheels that are already on it?

You can use spacers, but generally I advise against them, as they put additional stress and strain on the wheel bearings and drivetrain, and they are also just another expense. Generally it's best just to get the right size wheels with the right offset and stick with that. If the vehicle has stock wheels, I'd suggest keeping those and concentrating on making sure the tires are in top shape instead of worrying about fancy wheels for cosmetic purposes on a first car.

The hubs should sit behind the center cap with the spacers, though some members have had to do a little trimming inside the cap depending on the particular application.

The auto and manual hubs have the same size alloy housing, the only difference is the hole on the end of the manual hubs to house the locking switch.

 

[GDUB]

Thank you very much for the help.. The stock wheels are 15" and I found these 16" wheels with pretty good tires on them, so thought I would try to see if I could make them work. I don't want to do this to cause possible other longevity issues though, after all this is for my boy and I don't want it to be a safety concern.

 

[Anime]

15" tires cost a lot less than their 16" counterparts, I would say personally that you'd be better off selling or returning the 16" wheels/tires and just spending the money on all new quality 15" tires in the stock size, both from a monetary and a safety perspective.

 

[GDUB]

15" tires cost a lot less than their 16" counterparts, I would say personally that you'd be better off selling or returning the 16" wheels/tires and just spending the money on all new quality 15" tires in the stock size, both from a monetary and a safety perspective.

Thanks again, you have helped me decide!

 

[GDUB]

I would like to re visit this please... If I am not actually moving the tire from the stock location, but rather compensating for the offset, am I really stressing the wheen bearings? The wheels turned out so good, that I would love to use them!!

 

[ricersrule]

Yes it will still be harder on the bearings. Having said that i have run 2 inch spacers on a crown victoria for years with no problems.