overboost07

Ok so when I bought my car the wheels with the wider lip were on the front, well to me it just didn't look right. So I put the wheels that had the deeper dish on the back but now the front wheels are scraping the tie rod. I thought the deeper dish ones went on back? These are still the stock gta wheels. I've seen several pictures with them like this. Can someone tell me which ones go where?

1970 Buick

iTrader: (2)

Deep lip wheels go in the front or back. Slim lip wheels only fit in the back(although when I bought my GTA the owner had them on there backwards. I drove it from florida to MD with it like that and didn't have any issues. You can do what alot of us have done and buy four deep(front) lip wheels and mount them on all four corners for a good look.

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

the wheels are even marked on the back side, "front" and "rear"

but yes, you can use 4 fronts on all 4 corners with no issues

overboost07

what about using thin wheel spacer just so everything would clear?

GodSpeedGTA

iTrader: (1)

No, thin spacers are unsafe because they shorten your effective stud length. Adapters are going to be too thick for what you are wanting. I'm confused because it sounds like you have some incorrectly matched wheels. The set I had on mine originally had the step lip and pretty much the same dish (def not a noticeable difference).

Check the back of the wheels as said before and make sure you have your wheels set in the correct locations.

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

the lip is noticeably larger on the front wheels, thin spacers are not unsafe, so long as you still have adequate thread engagement, some cars came with little spacers from the factory. Of course, use you head here, dont be using 1/2" spacers on stock studs, if you really need spacers like that, change out the studs for something stronger and longer

GodSpeedGTA

iTrader: (1)

Take your car with spacers into Discount Tire or any respectable tire shop and your car will not be worked on. They have been proven unsafe, I have seen and heard of many people having wheel off situations because of them in my 6 + years working at discount tire.

Its not just because of the shorter stud length but also because of improper torque conditions are easy to achieve with spacers. Which vehicles came from the factory with spacers and used stud/lugnut style wheel fitment? I've worked on a lot of different vehicles over the years and I think the only stock equiped spacers I've seen are on BMWs or VWs with conical seated studded lugs that thread into the hub.

I looked back at my pics and the difference is on the inner lip is about .5-.75". The severity of that difference is a matter of opinion. Noticeable for you, sure, for anyone else just walking by the car in the parking lot, I bet not. Do whatever you'd like, but you ARE taking a risk with thin spacers!

Additionally, in correction to 86TAs analysis, at DTC, when putting after market wheels on Fords with brake clips (little clips that sit on the bottom of the stud; very thin) the brake clips MUST be removed...why??? Because there HAVE been accidents involving wheels coming off that have been determined to be caused by their lack of removal and therefore, improper torque. Now, some aftermarket wheel manuf. counter bore the stud bore on the back of the wheel to accommodate the said brake clips. Usually, when an investigation ensues because of an accident like this, it is because someone lost their life.

BigBadGTA

the wider looking wheels are supposed to be in the front, and the skinny ones in the back. I would put them back the way they were because the rear wheels look retarded on the front of the car anyways...

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

I am completely against spacers BUT.....

GM Part #14091902

Those are the ones that were referred to above. Only 4mm & are OEM ones. If Discount/NTB/whoever gives you grief over an ORIGINAL set of those thin spacers? They are being just plain stupid.

Why would GM give a warranty on cars with those, if that thin of a spacer was a danger? They wouldn't.

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

as for spacers, how does the lug know if the spacer is there, or if the wheel just has a thicker hub, would be the same as if you welded hte spacer to the wheel, (dont recommend this, but for arguments sake)? once its in there and torque down, properly, and again after a few cycles and so on, i can't see where it would be a saftey issue.

For that matter, i have 1/2" spacers on the rear of my 86, with longer ARP studs, and have never had an issue and beat the car pretty hard. Not trying to argue, but spacers have a bad rap because of a issues people have had who dont properly install the parts and follow up on the install by checking the torque. You cant control what people do, but that doesnt make the spacers bad.

Probably a horrible argument here, but if they were that bad, why do they still sell them? you can get them over 2" thick too! which is just stupid

GodSpeedGTA

iTrader: (1)

Exactly right, spacers aren't the problem; people are the problem. As I said, it is easier for a technician to install and improperly torque a wheel with a spacer. Torque is measured using a calculation that involves a coefficient. This coefficient is derived from many things such as material, friction, and possible lubrication (etc.). Beyond all of that, the spacer introduces a dynamic that was never initially intended by the design engineers. Regardless of GM's approval, it was not originally designed into the hub/wheel assembly.

So, how can those companies get away with selling these spacers? Well, I'll almost bet you that somewhere on the package, there is a disclaimer that says there is an immediate danger if not installed properly! That is the point, installed properly, there is probably no danger at all. However, it is VERY easy to install them improperly and run into wheel off situations.

How often do you return to the tire shop after having work done for a retorque? Additionally, DTC/NTB/etc. should still disapprove work on your vehicle because in the event that anything happens, who is liable? They are, and you can tell them all you want that GM approved them, but at the end of the day, if something goes wrong, it's their asses NOT GM's. So, it's actually pretty smart.

85Z28NOS

iTrader: (2)

Bear Brakes (pn#6260011) sells wheel spacers that are the exact offset difference between front and rear (16mm)! I bought these for my old GTA and used Moser longer wheel studs on the front so I could have the rear rims on the front and the front on the rear. Most people buy another set of front and run them on all four corners. It mostly matters on the 16" rims with the rear disc brakes

xurusaibobx

so your looking at a 4mm spacer for the fronts to run rear gta wheels on the front?

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

Yep

xurusaibobx

would you recommend longer studs with that as well?

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

I would try it first & see how much thread engagement you have. The minimum you really want to see, is at at least 3/4 of the lug nut on the stud. I like to see full thread engagement, but if you go too far, the lug nut covers (if you have those) might not fit in any more, depending on how much extra room there is inside them. Not sure how much there is, but probably plenty.

85Z28NOS

iTrader: (2)

The spacing is 16mm for the rear rims to fit the front which requires longer wheel studs. ( the front rims have a +0mm offset, and the rears have a +16mm offset) If you try it without the spacers and longer studs the rims will hit the struts. FYI ,16mm is just over 5/8" , hope this helps

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

FYI.....The GM OEM spacers aren't 16mm, they are only 4mm & no....Longer studs are NOT required.

85Z28NOS

iTrader: (2)

FYI, I never said the factory spacer was 16mm, I said the factory rear wheel spacing was 16mm difference from the front to rear rims ( re-read the posts). I was mearly stating that in order to have the rear rims in the same position that they would be with front rims you need to run a 16mm spacer. My spacer is from BEAR BRAKES and was made just for our cars. I am not arguing that GM made 4mm spacer, just that the correct offset difference is 16mm