I bought a set of 17" oem rims from my neighbor. We both own '99 F150's.

The rims will fit on my axle, and nuts can be bolted down, but now the oem center caps won't attach. It's like they have nothing to grab on to. Even my old 16" oem caps won't work! Are the lug bolts too short? Do I need different lug bolts? What's the answer?

Thanks,

Colin

 

Welcome to FTE!

The stud diameter changed right around 99, not sure if this is the problem. Are you using the same lug nuts that were on your truck or the one's from the new wheels?
There was a similiar problem posted here a little while back, and the problem was the spring clips on the caps where too open and had to be tightened up for them to grab the lug nuts.

 

Thanks for your reply!

I am using the same lug nuts from my 16" oem (polished aluminum) rims.

Is changing the stud diameter difficult? Do you go into Ford and buy them and install them yourself? Is this costly?

Will changing these allow me to use newer Ford oem rims (say a 2003)?

Thanks!

Colin

 

The studs were changed in Nov 99 so that shouldn't be your problem.

 

prior to 1999 Ford used 12 mm studs, after that 14 mm studs. possibly your lug nuts are the smaller size and clips will not grab them. about 2003 ford changed to 6 lug wheels so no, they will not fit. you could check the stud size on your budys truck and compare size of the wrench used to remvoe the wheels.

 

I'm pretty sure the 6 lug wheels are on the 2004+ (new body style) trucks, 97-2004 (heritage, old body style) are still 5 lug.

 

Do they make "larger lug nuts" for the 12mm studs?

Can one upgrade to the 14mm studs? IS that pricey? Difficult?

Thanks for your replies.