Stock TA rims deeper in the front than in the back?
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From: Mendota IL
Car: 1989 Pontiac Trans AM GTA
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700r4
Stock TA rims deeper in the front than in the back?
I have an 89 GTA with the stock rims still on it, and i noticed the front rims have a deeper inlay than the rear. i took it to a shop to have the wheels switched so the front ones are on the back and vice versa and they told me they couldnt do it because i have drum brakes in the back and disk in the front. is this true or did i just come across a lazy mechanic?
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Central NJ
Car: 86 Trans Am
Engine: 408 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser full floater m9, 3:70 trutrac
Re: Stock TA rims deeper in the front than in the back?
thats the way they are. the "front" wheels will fit on the back no problem. the "rear" wheels will NOT fit on the front, the wheels will hit the tie rod end, unless you change the front brakes to the 1le setup, then the rears will fit the front
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,812
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From: Central NJ
Car: 86 Trans Am
Engine: 408 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser full floater m9, 3:70 trutrac
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From: Central Texas
Car: GTA
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Aussie 9-bolt/3.27 posi
Re: Stock TA rims deeper in the front than in the back?
#1...You took your car to a mechanic just to swap they wheels? Just jack up one side, swap front & rear, drop the car. Jack up the other side & do the same. Just be sure to use jack stands & do NOT just try to balance the whole side of the car on 1 jack while your doing this.
#2.....He is pretty stupid if he thinks disk/drums have anything to do with them fitting. I sure hope he was just being lazy & is not actually that stupid.
#3...Rears will fit the front IF you get some small slip-on spacers, like the factory aluminum drum spacers. GM Part#14091902 They are 0.030" thick (just over 1/4"). Any aftermarket spacer will also work.
#2.....He is pretty stupid if he thinks disk/drums have anything to do with them fitting. I sure hope he was just being lazy & is not actually that stupid.
#3...Rears will fit the front IF you get some small slip-on spacers, like the factory aluminum drum spacers. GM Part#14091902 They are 0.030" thick (just over 1/4"). Any aftermarket spacer will also work.
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From: Conroe, TX
Car: 1987 GTA
Engine: LS1
Transmission: 4L60e
Re: Stock TA rims deeper in the front than in the back?
I don't think it's specifically spelled out - but our GTAs came with a set of wheels that were meant to have 2 fit on the front and 2 fit on the back. If you're hard set on having the lip be the same on all 4, some people run 4 front wheels.
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From: Central Texas
Car: GTA
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Aussie 9-bolt/3.27 posi
Re: Stock TA rims deeper in the front than in the back?
And I did physically confirm yesterday that just by using the OEM aluminum drum slip-on (or equal thickness) spacers, that the rear crosslace wheels bolt up just fine to the front. Sets them out just like a 1LE brake hub does. So rear wheels WILL fit the front with just the thin spacer I mentioned before.
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,812
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From: Central NJ
Car: 86 Trans Am
Engine: 408 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser full floater m9, 3:70 trutrac
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From: Central Texas
Car: GTA
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Aussie 9-bolt/3.27 posi
Re: Stock TA rims deeper in the front than in the back?
Is a 13.10 1/4 mile run "just over" a 13 second, or not because of 13.01/13.02/13.03/13.04/13.05/13.6/13.06/13.08 & 13.09?
I think a .05 variance is acceptable since people commonly say that a 1/4" spacer is needed. Who knows? 1/4" may be all that is really needed & still be safe clearance?
I haven't seen this car in 10 years & now it is coming back home to its builder! (yes, i'm buying it back)
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,812
Likes: 110
From: Central NJ
Car: 86 Trans Am
Engine: 408 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser full floater m9, 3:70 trutrac
Re: Stock TA rims deeper in the front than in the back?
I think a .05 variance is acceptable since people commonly say that a 1/4" spacer is needed. Who knows? 1/4" may be all that is really needed & still be safe clearance?
where are these numbers coming from? how does a .05 variance relate to the spacer needed for fitting these wheels? you need, apparently, a 6mm or 1/4" spacer (factory size spacers were 6mm) to get the rears to fit on the front. .030 will never work. .050 will never work, add them together and they still wont work. .080 is less than a 1/8"
unless you meant .3, which would work.
Last edited by //<86TA>\\; Jul 17, 2011 at 05:40 PM.
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,812
Likes: 110
From: Central NJ
Car: 86 Trans Am
Engine: 408 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser full floater m9, 3:70 trutrac
Supreme Member
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Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Central Texas
Car: GTA
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Aussie 9-bolt/3.27 posi
Re: Stock TA rims deeper in the front than in the back?
im lost now....must be some new-age math going on here.
where are these numbers coming from? how does a .05 variance relate to the spacer needed for fitting these wheels? you need, apparently, a 6mm or 1/4" spacer (factory size spacers were 6mm) to get the rears to fit on the front. .030 will never work. .050 will never work, add them together and they still wont work. .080 is less than a 1/8"
unless you meant .3, which would work.
where are these numbers coming from? how does a .05 variance relate to the spacer needed for fitting these wheels? you need, apparently, a 6mm or 1/4" spacer (factory size spacers were 6mm) to get the rears to fit on the front. .030 will never work. .050 will never work, add them together and they still wont work. .080 is less than a 1/8"
unless you meant .3, which would work.
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just messing with you, im sure its a typo
