What would it take.....
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,018
Likes: 210
From: SoCal
These look like 1996 Cobra wheels, 17*8. They may or may not fit without the use of spacers, but you will not be able to any tires to fit the van; the combination is just too big. As tempting as it is to think about, these wheels are not going to work on an Aerostar.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 348
Likes: 11
From: Longmont, CO
They are 17 x 8" Mustang Cobra wheels with a 40-ish offset, same bolt pattern/center bore as an Aerostar. I know they will hit the control arms in the front and body in the back if placed on a stock Aerostar. I'm hoping to find information from someone who modified an Aerostar to fit 9" (overall width) wide wheels withOUT using spacers. If anything I will use spacers but would rather not as they put a LOT more stress on vital parts.....
For reference I have 16 x 7.5" (8.5" overall width) Mustang GT wheels on my rear wheel drive `87 Aerostar and they fit without spacers. The front wheels have 215/60r16 tires and the rears had 225/60r16s. The tires fit without rubbing but are within a 1/4" inch away from the control arms in the front and body in the back. Here is a picture of the 16" wheels I'm currently using.....
http://www.sharpcars.cc/97MustangGTcvtRed.jpg
I might prove you wrong.....
For reference I have 16 x 7.5" (8.5" overall width) Mustang GT wheels on my rear wheel drive `87 Aerostar and they fit without spacers. The front wheels have 215/60r16 tires and the rears had 225/60r16s. The tires fit without rubbing but are within a 1/4" inch away from the control arms in the front and body in the back. Here is a picture of the 16" wheels I'm currently using.....
http://www.sharpcars.cc/97MustangGTcvtRed.jpg
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 5
From: Washington state
aero has small control arm bushings to put that much wide wheel offset strain on the suspension. too much strain on the small front wheel bearings also
dangerous to drive.
the peanut butter rear wheel bearings that ride on the soft axle as a race would wear out quickly with the high offset strain forces.
dangerous to drive.
the peanut butter rear wheel bearings that ride on the soft axle as a race would wear out quickly with the high offset strain forces.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,018
Likes: 210
From: SoCal
I would welcome that...
For years, I've tried to figure out a way to install bigger brakes on the front of my Aerostar, but that would require replacing the stock spindles. It would be the same if you wanted to install these wheels without using spacers. I would guess anything you come up with that can handle these wheels will also handle bigger brakes. Definitely let me know what you come up with.
My 87 Mustang GT (as all Mustangs since then using the HO v8 engines) used the same 8.8" rear axle as the 2WD 4 liter Aerostars. They all have the same hardened surface over that 2" section of the axle shaft that forms the inner bearing race. It seems to work, as I have not had any problems with it.
What really makes me shiver is that this same setup is used in some F150 trucks, and the axle shafts hang out even further from the bearing. They do, however, use the thicker shafts (31 splines vs 28) and bigger bearings, but the overhang is scary.
For years, I've tried to figure out a way to install bigger brakes on the front of my Aerostar, but that would require replacing the stock spindles. It would be the same if you wanted to install these wheels without using spacers. I would guess anything you come up with that can handle these wheels will also handle bigger brakes. Definitely let me know what you come up with.
Originally Posted by 96_4wdr
the peanut butter rear wheel bearings that ride on the soft axle as a race would wear out quickly with the high offset strain forces.
What really makes me shiver is that this same setup is used in some F150 trucks, and the axle shafts hang out even further from the bearing. They do, however, use the thicker shafts (31 splines vs 28) and bigger bearings, but the overhang is scary.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 348
Likes: 11
From: Longmont, CO
The question now is what other Ford products came with similar spindles and a higher offset. I'm surprised no information is available about upgrading brakes on Aerostars, thought doing so would be relatively easy with all the related platforms.....
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,018
Likes: 210
From: SoCal
The Aerostar shares some front end parts with certain model years of Rangers and Explorers. However, the spindle contains part of the caliper slide, and the 4wd version is unique. The only way to upgrade the brakes is to grind down parts of the spindle and make provisions to bolt on other calipers. I'm not ready to do that to my van.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 5
From: Washington state
put 4000 lbs in the trunk of your Mustang and pull Donner Pass or a 100 miles of rough logging road. we'll see how long those rear axle bearings and integral race last
or just hook up to a 5000 lb trailer to the back of the Pony, let all that tongue weight hammer the rear axle over the Alcan and back
on my third set of bearings and 2nd shafts.
My 87 Mustang GT (as all Mustangs since then using the HO v8 engines) used the same 8.8" rear axle as the 2WD 4 liter Aerostars. They all have the same hardened surface over that 2" section of the axle shaft that forms the inner bearing race. It seems to work, as I have not had any problems with it.
What really makes me shiver is that this same setup is used in some F150 trucks, and the axle shafts hang out even further from the bearing. They do, however, use the thicker shafts (31 splines vs 28) and bigger bearings, but the overhang is scary.
or just hook up to a 5000 lb trailer to the back of the Pony, let all that tongue weight hammer the rear axle over the Alcan and back
on my third set of bearings and 2nd shafts.
My 87 Mustang GT (as all Mustangs since then using the HO v8 engines) used the same 8.8" rear axle as the 2WD 4 liter Aerostars. They all have the same hardened surface over that 2" section of the axle shaft that forms the inner bearing race. It seems to work, as I have not had any problems with it.
What really makes me shiver is that this same setup is used in some F150 trucks, and the axle shafts hang out even further from the bearing. They do, however, use the thicker shafts (31 splines vs 28) and bigger bearings, but the overhang is scary.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,018
Likes: 210
From: SoCal
put 4000 lbs in the trunk of your Mustang and pull Donner Pass or a 100 miles of rough logging road. we'll see how long those rear axle bearings and integral race last
or just hook up to a 5000 lb trailer to the back of the Pony, let all that tongue weight hammer the rear axle over the Alcan and back
or just hook up to a 5000 lb trailer to the back of the Pony, let all that tongue weight hammer the rear axle over the Alcan and back
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 348
Likes: 11
From: Longmont, CO
I was bored tonight and decided to search Google for pictures of anything relating to Aerostars. To my absolute amazement the first pictures I see are these......
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/330991...-ford-aerostar
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/330991...-ford-aerostar
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 35
From: Kansas
[quote=Car Guy;11123104]I was bored tonight and decided to search Google for pictures of anything relating to Aerostars. To my absolute amazement the first pictures I see are these......
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/330991...-ford-aerostar
This would be for show only.
Look closely at the photo and WITH THE WHEELS SLIGHTLY TURNED, as in the photo, imagine going over a bump. I would imagine that it's possible the entire front fenders would be ripped off when the tire hits it, or at the very least, severely distorted. I use my Aero more for work than show, but to each their own.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/330991...-ford-aerostar
This would be for show only.
Look closely at the photo and WITH THE WHEELS SLIGHTLY TURNED, as in the photo, imagine going over a bump. I would imagine that it's possible the entire front fenders would be ripped off when the tire hits it, or at the very least, severely distorted. I use my Aero more for work than show, but to each their own.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 348
Likes: 11
From: Longmont, CO
That Aerostar has a complete air ride system. I do not know for sure but assume those pictures are taken with the air ride system completely deflated. I highly doubt he drove to this location, parked in a field (of all places), swapped on those wheels/tires for the show, and then swapped the ‘driver’ wheels/tires back on all with the body this low……
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,018
Likes: 210
From: SoCal
I think we've had the discussion of the Cobra wheels on Aerostars before. The wheels and tires would be way too wide to fit into the wheel wells, and there would not be enough rubber between the rim and the road to protect against bumps.
This suspension appears to be slammed as well, so it would be kind of self-destructive to drive around. Maybe it has air suspension, so it can be pumped while being driven.
This suspension appears to be slammed as well, so it would be kind of self-destructive to drive around. Maybe it has air suspension, so it can be pumped while being driven.