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I have a '99 Expy that has the 14mm stud rims and 12mm studs. The rims are stock. Does anyone know if this was common? Is there some kind of spacer that should be used?
Why do you think you have 14mm wheels? Did you get them off of another vehicle? None of the factory wheels fit the lugs closely. In fact with the wheel on the center hub you can rotate the wheel back and foward quite a bit. Ford uses the hub to center the wheel and the lugs to hold it in place.
If you have stock wheels/lug nuts you'll see that the lug nuts are coned where they contact the rim. Most, if not all, lug nuts are like this. In order for some of the cone to fit inside the rim the hole needs to be larger than the lug nut stud. Hence 14mm hole and 12 mm stud. The larger the hole the more the cone goes in. Me thinks some engineer thought it works best that way for that type application. That and the fact that the cone forces the rim to be centered on the stud. If there was no cone you could probably skew the wheel off center, ending up with wheel balance issues.
If you have stock wheels/lug nuts you'll see that the lug nuts are coned where they contact the rim. Most, if not all, lug nuts are like this. In order for some of the cone to fit inside the rim the hole needs to be larger than the lug nut stud. Hence 14mm hole and 12 mm stud. The larger the hole the more the cone goes in. Me thinks some engineer thought it works best that way for that type application. That and the fact that the cone forces the rim to be centered on the stud. If there was no cone you could probably skew the wheel off center, ending up with wheel balance issues.
ALL '97-up F-150 based trucks/SUV's have flat "washer shoulder" lugnuts,and are hubcentric-the lugs simply hold the wheel in place. NONE of them have conical seat lugs.
JL
ALL '97-up F-150 based trucks/SUV's have flat "washer shoulder" lugnuts,and are hubcentric-the lugs simply hold the wheel in place. NONE of them have conical seat lugs.
JL
Yes, you're right. I'll edit my post. Was thinking about all the other vehicles in my fleet/family that I do tire rotations for. The Expy lugs are unique. Ever do a rotation in your driveway with a rusty spare tire center hub - if you don't clean off the rust first, the tires stuck on the hub.
If you have stock wheels/lug nuts you'll see that the lug nuts are coned where they contact the rim. Most, if not all, lug nuts are like this. In order for some of the cone to fit inside the rim the hole needs to be larger than the lug nut stud. Hence 14mm hole and 12 mm stud. The larger the hole the more the cone goes in. Me thinks some engineer thought it works best that way for that type application. That and the fact that the cone forces the rim to be centered on the stud. If there was no cone you could probably skew the wheel off center, ending up with wheel balance issues.
FYI - This does not apply to the Expy. Most every other vehicle, but not Ford. See Johnny Langton's post.
The lugs are flat and the hub holds it centered. That is great. I thought it could be a big problem. I have seen other Fords with the standard tapered lug. Now I can get on with the break job. Any recommendations for rotors? I am going with cermic pads for non sqeak and better breaking. I plan on towing so maybe some drilled or slotted rotors?
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