OK guys...i need some serious help from some experienced gear heads!

[96Saleen]

just got my wheels and tires today...they fit great, no spacers. (they are the 17" split-five spoke mustang wheels that came on the '96 mustangs, 7.5" wide.) there is no rubbing at full tilt, there is just one problem. the front center caps won't fit. the spindle sticks out too far! meaning that the center cap needs about another 1" maybe to fit flush and lock on to the rim. i took the grease cap off to see if it was just that part that was sticking out too far, but no chance, the spindle is right there, so there is no chance of just getting a smaller cap. SO HERE IS MY QUESTION: i am trying to avoid the wheel spacer senario because i like where the wheels are sitting now and they were meant to sit in that spot for a reason. is there any way to get a shorter spindle or maybe get a different hub and rotor that will offset the wheel or maybe is there a way to machine the spindle any shorter, as in cut some of it off so the center cap will fit? please help, i really like these wheels and i would like to keep them instead of having to go through the process of finding new ones again. thanks

 

[mdrut]

Not a chance on the spindle or hub, but you might be able to find an aftermarket centercap or spinner that looks good..

 

[jimbo74]

i am pretty experienced too....changing the spindle seems pretty unfeasible unless you know someone with a machine shop and you have way too much $ to burn...........the only thing i can think of is those spacers or different wheels...........sorry........

 

[blk mk8]

i have seen those rims i belive on a ranger which has the same hubs. he just cut a little hole out of the center cap for the the hub to fit through. it looked really nice on the ranger so i dont see why you can not do it the same way.

 

[914x4sport]

just trim the cap

 

[jimbo74]

that would work too. didnt think of trimming the cap

 

[blk mk8]

i think i just send trim it. it wont look that bad just make sure the piece that sticks throught the hole you cut is painted the same color as the center cap.

 

[96Saleen]

ok guys, i like the idea of trimming the center caps and i appreciate all of the feed back i have gotten. ONE MORE QUESTION THOUGH: does anyone know of another center cap that might possibly fit that wheel, or anything close to that, where it would also clear the hub in the front? any suggestions would be appreciated. i am thinking about maybe trying to find some other center caps if i can find any that will work. again, thanks for all the help, you guys are great. i should be posting some pics pretty soon of the explorer. also, got my exhaust put on today it sounds great and runs even better.

 

[tbomb]

i dont know of any specific centercaps off the top of my head, but why dont you go to your local wheel/tire place? they usually have a ton of possibilities for "minor inconveniences" like yours (i.e.: center caps made for the spindle sticking out.)

also, im assuming you have a 91-94 X (cuz those rims will fit normally on a 95+ i think), but i *think* mud***** had cobra r's (i know yours arent cobra r's, but its the same deal with the spindles) on his truck at one time and i dont think his spindles stuck out (he had a 91-94 too.) im not 100 % sure it was mud*****, or that the spindles didnt stick out, but try doing a search when the search function is back up and operating.

hope this helps.