Anyone using wheel adapters?

[epashhans]

I have heard both sides of the stories...they aren't safe...oh, I've used them and haven't ever had a problem. Anyone out there running any to convert from a 6 lug to a 5 lug? I know its a poor solution, but I have some nice 18's and don't want to spend the money to convert over everything to a 5 lug for wheels.

[68jewel]

You asked, so I'll give my honest opinion. DON'T USE THEM!! You said yourself they aren't safe and are a poor solution. A lot of wheel places won't even install them if you take them to them. I know it's not rocket science and can do it yourself, but that's goes to show you how dangerous they are. Yeah, some guys will say I've used them and have never had a problem. And that may be very true. But that's like equating it to someone who has smoked cigarettes for 30 years and never had any lung problems. As soon as you smoke one cigarette you get lung cancer. So it's up to you if you want to chance it, but I wouldn't. I would just save my money for the 5 lug swap.

[snaus32]

you could have changed over to five lugs for 1/2 the price you paid for the 20s

[prostreetC-10]

So what do you want to hear? You have already stated that you have heard both sides of the story. You just heard 2 negatives....and 2 positives might be just around the corner. Make sense? It sounds like you want and or need to run them and you want just enough "yes, it's fine" to make you more comfortable. I've been there and I know. They do work and they are not the ideal way to solve your problem. I would imagine that it's like anything. There are good ones and not so go ones. Just make sure you try and get the hubcentric ones that will put the load on the hub and not the lug studs. Also....don't have any loved ones in the truck! lol


When these types of questions come up....I always like to quote the great Chris Rock: "Sure you can drive your car with your feet....but that don't make it a good F**king idea!!!!"

[rwolf9653]

I have used them on off road only vehicles and I have never broken one yet on 40"tires 6lug to 6lug 2.5" spacer. They seem to be pretty durable, but I still dont think I would use them on the road at speed. I really have no factual reason for this preference but that is just wat I think. Just thought I would throw in my $.02

[epashhans]

Thanks for all the input guys...you actually reassured my thinking of not using them...I just thought since I just have the 18's laying around it would be a nice way to use them and spruce up the old truck until I can find some 6 lug 20's that I like. I am thinking I will just wait! I would hate to mess up all the hard work I have done already by putting it in the ditch or wrecking it!

[retodd7711]

I had 1 1/2" spacers on my '69 to keep the tires from rubbing.
I never had any problems.
But, it was a slow, 'round-town truck.
I would actually like to see proof of spacers failing.
You hear "Oh,no, they'll put you in the ditch"
Well, has anyone actually seen one break?
I'm not being a d***, I've just never seen one.

[paaw]

I have a set on my truck 1inch and half to keep wheels from rubbing. Do alot of interstate driving 70- 85 mph and haven't had any problem.

[c10addict]

I run them with no issues... Seriously if they were that dangerous wouldn't they be harder to find/buy... I have never seen a disclaimer that they are for off road use only.... BUT for the cost of a set of spacers you can find a machine shop to redrill your axles for the same money... The guy we use to redrill axles charges $40.00 each

[epashhans]

Well now I really don't know what to think. Seems to be mixed opinions, which is what I have always heard. Thanks for all your input guys. My truck is just a cruiser...no track...no hauling...so I am back to where I was before.

[dan42]

I put them on my '67 to widen the stance in the back a little. I stayed with 6-lug and got some nice ones - they're fine and I don't see any problems with them.

[Longhorn Man]

i drove a 1980 chevy monza for 2 months with only one lugnut on the right rear wheel... never had a problem.

[Longhorn Man]

(the above is 100% TRUE)

[mr48chev]

The problem is that in the past there have been some really junk adapters sold.

From what I remember the ones that caused the most problems were some that were sold for the old VW bugs way back in the late 60's or early 70's. Some of those were cast aluminum and others were pretty light weight stamped steel.
I've seen some since then when I was working in a parts house that I wouldn't want to have sold to anyone. They were poorly made and didn't look anything like what Dan32 showed above.

Figure that you are going to put that much extra stress on the lug bolts on the axles and you are going to put more stress on the front wheel bearings.
It might be easier and better to try to trade the 5 lug wheels for a similar set of 6 lug wheels the same size with maybe throwing in a bit of cash to boot.

I'd throw an add on the local Craigslist offering them up for trade and see if you get a decent offer.

[rwolf9653]

Originally Posted by rwolf9653

I have used them on off road only vehicles and I have never broken one yet on 40"tires 6lug to 6lug 2.5" spacer. They seem to be pretty durable, but I still dont think I would use them on the road at speed. I really have no factual reason for this preference but that is just wat I think. Just thought I would throw in my $.02

I just thought that it was ironic, after saying how I haven't broken one yet I destroyed one today. The whole spacer broke into three pieces and took off all of my studs! Needless to say it was a creative three wheel drive off of the trails.

[Wideopenracing15]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

i drove a 1980 chevy monza for 2 months with only one lugnut on the right rear wheel... never had a problem.

It may have worked but i would never have done it.

[Shane]

I prefer to purchase wheels that actually fit.

[71 super]

I have a friend at work who put a set on a 70 model ford truck so he could run a set of wheels he had laying around, after three tries at getting the adapters to stay on he finally gave upon the junk and the idea. They are not safe.

[OhioDan]

oops

[OhioDan]

Originally Posted by dan42

I put them on my '67 to widen the stance in the back a little. I stayed with 6-lug and got some nice ones - they're fine and I don't see any problems with them.

I used some like these on my 3/4 ton to space out the hubs to use the center caps on a Dana 60. Works great. Also, don't they use wheel spacers/adapters on drag cars?

[unclewatts]

Originally Posted by 71 super

I have a friend at work who put a set on a 70 model ford truck so he could run a set of wheels he had laying around, after three tries at getting the adapters to stay on he finally gave upon the junk and the idea. They are not safe.

What's a Ford?

[Boog]

If you go for a nice forged piece and stay within reason in how you use it you shouldn't have a problem. I have used adapters on two of my first vehicles and no problems. I will say whenever you can get a hub centric fit instead of lug centric I believe it is safer.

[bigbadchev72]

Originally Posted by rwolf9653

I just thought that it was ironic, after saying how I haven't broken one yet I destroyed one today. The whole spacer broke into three pieces and took off all of my studs! Needless to say it was a creative three wheel drive off of the trails.

Could have just been the fact that you had 40" tires on a 1/2 ton

[2tons of fun]

9/10 it is no tthe spacer tha tbreaks, it the numbnuts owners not check the torque on them regularly..............

but what you are looking for is a bit of a problem. when you keep the same pattern and just want a spacer it is not a big deal. the patterns will land evenly and everything will be equal all the way around.

you are wanting an adapter, which brings a whole new set of problems. not only are you going to a smaller bolt circle but also a different lug count. you will wind up with over lapping studs, which means it will have to be thick, 2" minimum. and it will llok like swiss cheese after all the milling and drilling are done.

[harshard]

I use them on my '71. Drag race my truck at the track from time to time and have never had a problem one. Went from a 5 on 5 to a 5 on 4.75. Used a TransDapt billet aluminum model from jegs. They are made for racing and heavy app.