Rim Questions
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
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Rim Questions
I had to fix a leak in one of my tires last week and when I was repairing the hole, I noticed the rim said 14 MM. I have 16" swirl aluminum rims. Isn't my truck supposed to have 12 MM rims? Also that rim had enlarged stud holes. Looked like they were stretching. I don't abuse my truck at all. What would make the stud holes stretch?
When did Ford use the 12 and 14 MM rims? I'm confused on this.
Thanks!
When did Ford use the 12 and 14 MM rims? I'm confused on this.
Thanks!
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 252
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From: North Pole, Alaska
Are you sure you have 16" wheels? I thought there was only 3 different wheels for the 97's . There was a 16" steel wheel that I think had 7 angled slots, a 16" aluminum 5 spoke wheel (that what I have) and then there was a 17" aluminum wheel that had 5 triangle shaped slots that swirlled around the wheel.
Anyway I believe there was/is a recall on the 97's with the aluminum wheels because as you correctly stated before the 97's have 12mm lugs and the aluminum wheels have 14mm holes. Ford shipped all the early 97's with 12mm tapered lug nuts which is what the steel wheels used because they are lug centric meaning the tapered lug will center the wheel on the hub when it is tightened, well the aluminum wheels are hub centric not lug centric because aluminum is a lot softer than steel. Once Ford realized this they issued a recall to have the tepered lug nuts swapped out with a different lug nut that has a lock washer pressed on it.
I would go to the closest dealer and get the correct lug nuts, its hard to believe that for as long as the tapered lugnuts have been on there that they didn't crack the rim.
Anyway I believe there was/is a recall on the 97's with the aluminum wheels because as you correctly stated before the 97's have 12mm lugs and the aluminum wheels have 14mm holes. Ford shipped all the early 97's with 12mm tapered lug nuts which is what the steel wheels used because they are lug centric meaning the tapered lug will center the wheel on the hub when it is tightened, well the aluminum wheels are hub centric not lug centric because aluminum is a lot softer than steel. Once Ford realized this they issued a recall to have the tepered lug nuts swapped out with a different lug nut that has a lock washer pressed on it.
I would go to the closest dealer and get the correct lug nuts, its hard to believe that for as long as the tapered lugnuts have been on there that they didn't crack the rim.
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I have the 5 spoke swirl rims. I think the previous owner swapped out the steel rims for these. He probably got them off a 99-03 F-150. Yes, they're 16". It's a XL, and I bought the truck with these rims 4 years ago. Haven't had a problem until now. I have the original lugnuts with the lockwashers. The truck was built in April '97.
Would the 14 mm rims be why it shakes a bit when I brake and when I drive 70 on the highway? If so, it must be why they were stretching a bit.
I work for my hometown Ford dealer, so I can get the parts for cost.
Thanks!
Would the 14 mm rims be why it shakes a bit when I brake and when I drive 70 on the highway? If so, it must be why they were stretching a bit.
I work for my hometown Ford dealer, so I can get the parts for cost.
Thanks!
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 12,340
Likes: 4,357
From: SW VA
If it shakes a little bit while braking, I would suspect the brake rotors and not the wheels. There are several people on here running the '99+ 14mm wheels on their '97-'98 12mm trucks. Since these trucks use hub-centric wheels, the job of the wheel studs are basically to turn the tire. They don't support any weight.
