Fitting 17" FJ Alloys on a 3rd gen

[mastacox]

So, I'm going to make my own thread since I should stop jacking other peoples' threads...

Anyway, I got a set of 17"x7.5" FJ Cruiser Alloys, and am figuring out what to do about fitting them with 285x70r17's...

The backspacing on the FJ rims is 4.84" according to FJCruiserForums.com -

Wheel Backspacing / Offset Explained (http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/wheels-tires/47207-wheel-back-spacing-offset-explained-illustrated.html)


...so our 7.5inch wheel is actually 8.5" and the center line is 4.25" from the back, the center line is always the 0 offset point on any wheel. our wheel is +15 offset, +offset is added to the back space of the wheel so our back space is 4.25inches plus 15mm = 4.25" + 0.59" = 4.84"

I'm currently running 5-spoke 4Runner alloys, which AFAIK have 4.375" backspace, giving a difference of .465". If I run 285's (which I will) they will rub the UCA unless I space the rims. Ideally, I think I would like a 0.5"-1" spacer, but it seems that those may not be available. Spidertrax spacers have been suggested to me, but at 1.5" I'm afraid that they will be too wide since my 4Runner doesn't have limited flares (and I'll be ditching the SR5 flares eventually). 1.5" spacers will stick the edge of the tire out a total of 1.5" wider taking into account the wheel being 0.5" wider than the 5-spoke 16x7's.

So, what say you guys? Do you know of any spacers that are smaller than 1.5"? Maybe a 0.75" spacer that uses shortened studs for use in the spacer-hub connection, and then has full-length studs for the wheel? Don't make me just design my own up... :confused:

[xonetruthcrewx]

It wont stick out too far. Just go with the Spidertrax spacers. They are quality. I wouldnt go with any other spacers. If you run small spacers you wont have enough of the wheel studs showing. I guess you could change all the wheel studs so they do. That would be a huge waste of money though. The spidertrax spacers are wide for a reason. They are thick enough so that the existing studs are now used to bolt on the spacer, and the spacer has new studs. They are also hubcentric. If you got something else you would have to make sure that they are hubcentric. If they arent, you will have major balance issues that will only be able to be solved by taking them off. The spidertrax spacers are made for our trucks. They are done right. Quit driving yourself crazy already and just order them.

[mastacox]

Pictures...

Here's where the 285x75r16 Revo's sit right now:
http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/4RunnerSide-3279.JPG

Here's vertical pictures showing how far the tires would stick out... 1.5" wider is WAY outside the flares... Too ghetto for me I'm thinkin; I mean half inch more is one thing, but an inch and half more?

Rear
http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/4RunnerSide-3282.JPG

Front
http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/4RunnerSide-3283.JPG

[mastacox]

It wont stick out too far. Just go with the Spidertrax spacers. They are quality. I wouldnt go with any other spacers. If you run small spacers you wont have enough of the wheel studs showing. I guess you could change all the wheel studs so they do. That would be a huge waste of money though. The spidertrax spacers are wide for a reason. They are thick enough so that the existing studs are now used to bolt on the spacer, and the spacer has new studs. They are also hubcentric. If you got something else you would have to make sure that they are hubcentric. If they arent, you will have major balance issues that will only be able to be solved by taking them off. The spidertrax spacers are made for our trucks. They are done right. Quit driving yourself crazy already and just order them.


Do you mean lug centric?

I'll bet I could design up a set of spacers like the spidertrax that uses smaller studs for the inner, and standard length for the outers; but I'm not sure I could get them made for under $200... How tall is a standard lug nut (not acorn style)? Half inch?

[xonetruthcrewx]

No, hub centric.

[mastacox]

Gotcha, because the FJ wheels are hub centric...

It appears the Spidertrax hub-centric spacers are 1.25", a bit better...

[mastacox]

So, it looks like the absolute minimum thickness spacer I could design myself would be 0.75".

http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/4RunnerSide-3284Resized.JPG

You can see the splined press-fit portion of the stud is about .7", and the nut is about 0.7", so there ya go. Custom would be cool and all, but they would be a lot more expensive than the Spidertrax- probably more than twice as much. Several hundred more, for half an inch, isn't enough to justify it... I'll talk to the machine shop tomorrow, but it's looking like Spidertrax.

[mastacox]

On another topic, I'm going to paint these things, and am trying to decide on color. I was thinking either a dark charcoal (close to the 4Runner's color) or semi-gloss black.

So, probably a 400 or 600 grit sand, a primer coat, and then 3-4 coats of the color (each layer a little light so they don't run). Any suggestions on paint brand? I've seen "appliance epoxy enamel" paints, are they tough enough to be worth it, or maybe just a regular paint will do... I don't really care if they get scratched up (I expect they will), just don't want the stuff to start flaking and bubbling in 300 miles.

[xonetruthcrewx]

Our trucks are hub centric. The 1.25" spacers are the only ones for our trucks.

As for painting the wheels. Auto Zone as well as many other places sells actual wheel spray paint. Its pretty good. 400 grit is good to scuff the wheels. One coat of primer is good enough. I usually use automotive primer, brand dosent really matter. A few light coats is the way to go. Dont worry about clear coat cause if/when the wheels get some rock rash, its a lot easier to touch things up if there is no clear coat. Just throw on some quick paint and be done with it. Dont worry about flaking or bubbling, just take your time and do it right. I have spray painted A LOT of wheels. Never had one flake or peel.

[mastacox]

So I modeled up a prototype spacer on my lunch break and took it down to get quoted at the close by machine shop. Tried to keep the tolerances tight where needed and loose where allowed.

We'll see how much they would be, I'm not expecting anything under $200 for 4 though... :tapedshut: Only way to get a price close to Spidertrax I suspect would be to make a lot of them on a single set up...

[mastacox]

Just got the quote back from the machine shop...


$30 each or $100 for 4!!! Much to my suprise, they are very close to the same price as the Spidertrax spacers (the only difference being I have to buy studs and lug nuts, a small addition at about $20)! Edit- correction, they are half what the Spidertrax spacers cost...

So, I'm going to carefully measure up the hub-centric locating boss on my hubs, and the counter-bore on the FJ rims when they come in, and I'm thinking this will be the route I take. :clap:

[xonetruthcrewx]

Whatever you want, but the Spidertrax spacers have been proven over and over. Spacers are something you have to be 110% about. This is for your safety and more importantly, the safety of others. Is the machine shop going to stand behind their work if something goes wrong? Think about it man.

[mastacox]

Whatever you want, but the Spidertrax spacers have been proven over and over. Spacers are something you have to be 110% about. This is for your safety and more importantly, the safety of others. Is the machine shop going to stand behind their work if something goes wrong? Think about it man.


While I see where you are coming from with the safety aspect, there's nothing magic about the Spidertrax spacers. They are billet Aluminum 6061-T6 (same stock and alloy I had quoted), and they have M12x1.50 class 10.9 studs pressed into them. I trust the machine shop perfectly. The owner is a stand up guy and they do excellent work; I use them for making mechanical parts for my work all the time, so I have first-hand experience with their products.

I am also going thinner than the Spidertrax, which means less stress on the inner studs due to reduced lever arm; so less chance of overstressed studs and breakage. These will be custom-designed spacers based on direct measurements on my 4Runner and rims; the risk is the same as buying from Spidertrax and far less than the ghetto Ebay specials IMO. The most common failure on any wheel spacer is the studs, not the spacer itself.

... after reading a little more it appears that I also misinterpreted Spidertrax's prices; they are $100/pair, not $100 per set... so that's a $100 savings if I can live without blue anodize and press my own studs in.

Thanks for the concern, I definitely do value your opinion. In this case I'm going out on a limb and making up my own parts. :thumbup:

[mastacox]

Alrighty, time for an update...

Got a good deal on FJ Wheels from a guy in California :clap: They arrived today, and I got right to work:

The paint, got at Lowes. The selected color is Rustoleum "Hammered Finish" Dark Bronze-
http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/FJWheels-3423.JPG

Wheels straight out of the boxes-
http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/FJWheels-3420.JPG

Sanded and cleaned, ready to paint. Sanding was a royal PITA by the way.
http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/FJWheels-3421.JPG

Primered- used 2 light coats of Rustoleum White "Clean Metal Primer."
http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/FJWheels-3424.JPG

First coat of paint. If that isn't a dead match for Anthracite I dunno what is! I'll probably be doing a second coat tomorrow for good measure, and then the wheels are ready. Will be getting tires and wheel spacers in a couple weeks.
http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/FJWheels-3426.JPG

[YotaFun]

Sweet Looks great!
Can't wait to see them on the truck

[mastacox]

Thanks!

For the center caps, I think I'm going to tape off the little chrome toyota symbol before painting, so they will have the chrome toyota symbol and dark "anthracite" caps. Should look pretty sweet...

I got lug nuts with the wheels too... haven't decided what to do about them yet, I'm not sure paint will work with them getting torqued down and stuff. They are chrome finish, so they could in theory match the toyota symbol on the center caps, we'll see how ambitious I'm feeling later on.

[Rock Slide]

Project looks good thus far :thumbup:

Really looking forward to seeing them mounted :drool:

[YotaFun]

Thats what i did for my center caps, i tapped off the Toyota Symbol and after I primer the caps, then painted them black.
I will be doing it better later since I kinda f'ed up the first time.

[mastacox]

Oh man, these things are going to look good...

http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/4RunnerFJRimComparison.JPG

Good look at the "reflectiveness" of the wheels after coat #2. Kind of a semigloss shine, I like it. The "Hammered" finish started to come out more after coat 2 too, so I might go for a 3rd coat to help it out.
http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/WheelResized.JPG

2 cans wasn't enough either, I'm going to go get 2 more to cover wheel touch-ups and the center caps.

[mastacox]

Sanded, primered, and painted the center caps. Turns out the little Toyota symbol pops off the caps, so I removed all of them, and then put them back after painting. Turned out really good looking IMO.

http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/CenterCaps.JPG

"Final" picture of the wheels, they have about 2.5-3 coats of paint on them, I did my best to make sure they all have similar texture and all. They look REALLY good!

http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/WheelFinal.JPG

Now, I just need to get spacers and tires and these things go on!

[YotaFun]

Thats going to look really hot!
If I could do spacers I would run these,
but of course they are illegal in this state...

*hijack* what ca gonna do with your 5 spoke? :D *end hijack*

[mastacox]

*hijack* what ca gonna do with your 5 spoke? :D *end hijack*


I will be selling them here :thumbup:

I don't think I'm willing to hand out "dibs" just yet, but keep your eye out in about 3 weeks...

[YotaFun]

*hijack* what ca gonna do with your 5 spoke? :D *end hijack*


I will be selling them here :thumbup:

I don't think I'm willing to hand out "dibs" just yet, but keep your eye out in about 3 weeks...


Will do! :thumbup:

[Good Times]

wow that came out awesome!!!

[iceman601]

wow that came out awesome!!!


x2....getting tempted to follow :chair:....I got the same set of wheels for my dad's black tundra

[JWBehm]

Looks really good man, someone on here had those same ones i think.

Correct me if i am wrong, but i thought the stock OEM alloys had 4.75" backspacing? If that is the case you would probably be fine without spacers since the wheel is half and inch wider.

I may be completely wrong but i would at least look into it/ try it without the spacers first

[neliconcept]

Looks really good man, someone on here had those same ones i think.

Correct me if i am wrong, but i thought the stock OEM alloys had 4.75" backspacing? If that is the case you would probably be fine without spacers since the wheel is half and inch wider.

I may be completely wrong but i would at least look into it/ try it without the spacers first


the half inch is inside so technically it doesnt help

[mastacox]

Correct me if i am wrong, but i thought the stock OEM alloys had 4.75" backspacing? If that is the case you would probably be fine without spacers since the wheel is half and inch wider.

I may be completely wrong but i would at least look into it/ try it without the spacers first


Yeah, there are differing opinions on what the stock alloys' backspacing is, but I'm going off the assumption they are 4.375". When I get the 5-spokes dismounted I'm going to measure with my caliper to once and for all solve the question.

From what I have heard from other people, you can run FJ alloys with 265's without problems, but as soon as you get into 285's they will rub the UCA. Judging by the amount of room I have between the UCA and my 285x75r16's right now, any increase in backspace will screw me over so I'll need to run a spacer no matter what.

[mastacox]

Update! All done!

Some delays put me behind here and there, but they're all mounted up and look awesome! Got the custom 0.75" wheel spacers fabbed at the machine shop, and pulled studs into them. Sizing is perfect, and they fit snugly on the hub-centric mount. I had to shave my wheel studs down about an 1/8" in the front, and about 0.25" in the rear, which was no big deal with the help of the trusty Dremel tool.

I measured the runout of the hub-centric mount and then with the spacer with a dial indicator; the measured runout before and after was exactly the same. There is no perceptible vibration at 60, 70, or 80 mph so the spacers' tolerance callouts worked beautifully.

I painted the lug nuts as well, but as you can see their paint didn't hold up too well to the torque (which I sort of expected). Anyway, they look ok for now, I might decide to go with black lugs later. I plan to inspect the torque on the inner and outer nuts for the next 1000 miles or so, to make sure nothing is loosening up on me. Overall, I'm very happy with how everything went together.

And so, on to the pictures that everyone I'm sure is itching to see-

The spacers, ready for mounting:
http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/Spacers.JPG

Front spacer mounted up, with shaved studs:
http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/FrontSpacers.JPG

Rear spacer mounted up, also shaved studs:
http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/RearSpacers.JPG

You can see the spacers mounted in there:
http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/FrontSpacerMounted.JPG
http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/RearSpacerMounted.JPG

Mid-way through, you can see the difference in look between the alloy 5-spokes and the painted FJ alloys. I love the new look, my wife describes it as borderline military/industrial.
http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/ComparisonFR.JPG

How far the front tire sticks out. Compared to the pics in the first post, we can see they are just a little bit wider, perfect IMO:
http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/Front.JPG

... and they clear the UCA nicely too:
http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/TireUCASpacing.JPG

And finally, the finished product:
http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/MountedTires.JPG

http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/4RunnerSide.JPG

http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/4RunnerSide2.JPG

[ADH8796]

Looks great!

[YotaFun]

Thats soooooooooo Sexy.
I want those now!
Did you use Wheel Spacers?

[mastacox]

Did you use Wheel Spacers?


LOL, did you even look at any of the pictures in my last post?

[Vermejo]

That last pic of your truck reminds me of another NM Runner. Looks Good

[ttora4runner]

Looks good. :thumbup:

[YotaFun]

Did you use Wheel Spacers?


LOL, did you even look at any of the pictures in my last post?


It was late when I posted and when I woke up to check the thread I did the :asshat: thing..
Cause I remember discussing it before D'Oh!

[mastacox]

Another couple of pictures for your pleasure...

http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/4RunnerHDR2.JPG

http://pictures.strikeforceniner.com/wp-content/gallery/photobucket-pictures/4RunnerHDR1a.JPG

[Rock Slide]

color matches nicely to that of your 4Runner. Nice work.

[97kurt]

Looks great and good call on the spacers. The 04+ taco/fjc rims need them to get the stance right on our trucks.

[Henrythewound]

I'm curious how the paint will hold up. i used the same on my sliders and it's scratched and pitted after less than 1 year. Nice thing is you can always touch it up.

[fenrisx]

At first I didn't think it was going to look good, but after seeing the picture with all 4 wheels on it looks great! Nice work.

[mastacox]

Thanks for the feedback guys! I should have some better off-road pictures with sidewall flex and stuff at the end of August. Gotta fix the 4Runner first though!

[YotaFun]

So now that your engine is all fine tuned.
And you have put some miles on the truck (hopefully)

How are the rims holding up?

[mastacox]

I've put about 15,000 miles on them or so, and they're holding up great. No complaints whatsoever and I love the look. I have yet to see another vehicle other than an FJ with the rims, so that's a plus IMO. The 285x70r17's are a good tire size IMO, and have enough sidewall to flex when needed off road. I air them down to 18 psi or so for general off-roading, and 9 psi for the dunes; they work great and I haven't had any problems with scuffing the bead or anything.

It's been a year now and the paint has held up well. I have a few small chips here and there from tromping through underbrush and the like, but they just are too small to even bother patching up right now (although I do have a can of the same paint I used for when its needed). The rims do tend to build up some mud on the inside of the rim if you don't power wash them after some mudding, which can make a wheel feel slightly out of balance; but overall they might as well be factory rims.

The wheel spacers have also held up perfectly as well, no problems whatsoever. I took the tires off about 6 months ago to re-torque them, and the studs in the spacers hadn't settled at all. I torqued the wheel spacer lug nuts to 90 ft-lbs, and the wheel lugs to 70 ft-lbs and they're still perfect. Haven't had any problems with the aluminum oxidizing either, the spacers literally still look brand new.

[YotaFun]

Thanks for the update dude!
Good to hear, will be pm'ing you more :-)

[YotaFun]

Just doing a Little Hijack since you wanted to see my rims painted :-)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/New%20Rims%20and%20Tires/DSC04556.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/New%20Rims%20and%20Tires/DSC04557.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/New%20Rims%20and%20Tires/DSC04560.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/New%20Rims%20and%20Tires/DSC04561.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/New%20Rims%20and%20Tires/DSC04562.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/New%20Rims%20and%20Tires/DSC04563.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/New%20Rims%20and%20Tires/DSC04565.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/New%20Rims%20and%20Tires/DSC04567.jpg

[mastacox]

Dude nice :thumbup: That paint sure is a dead-on match for the Toyota Anthracite :drink:

[corax]

Looks good Avy,now show us some pics with dirt on them :flipoff:

I just picked up new rims myself (steelies) + I order my 33x10.5 KM2s tomorrow . . .
(BTW for anyone looking, I saw a set of 17" FJ steelies on Craigslist in PA near me for $80)

[mistaj0hnny]

Was linked here from t4r.org. Beautiful 4Runner, I may look into doing something similar to my '01 very soon! Care to share how much of a steal you got the alloys for? And by any chance do you have those same pictures in wall paper format(1920x1080)?

[mastacox]

Was linked here from t4r.org. Beautiful 4Runner, I may look into doing something similar to my '01 very soon! Care to share how much of a steal you got the alloys for? And by any chance do you have those same pictures in wall paper format(1920x1080)?


Welcome to UY, glad you like it! (I'm assuming you're talking about my 4Runner, but you could be talking about YotaFun's...) The FJ rims set me back about $300 shipped from a guy in Cali.

Either way, I do have full-resolution pictures that I could turn into wallpapers. Maybe I'll do that tonight if I'm bored.

[mistaj0hnny]

Thanks, yeah I was talkin' about your 4runner. Sweet ride. $300 shipped is a great deal

[jrock]

Hey Mastacox, curious if u ever came across my uncle out there in NM?...he was the main BLM ranger out there until abot a month ago- he retired. Jon Sering. He cleaned the place up pretty good with new signs, rid of trash, etc.Before that he was the main man at Moab.

[97Runner]

Mastacox, what lift do you have? I just bought a 97 4runner in that same color Anthracite. I'm going to replace my rims with the FJ's as well. As you can see mine needs a little work. Also, do you sell your custom wheel spacers? I would definitely be intersted in buying some from you. Thanks,

[mastacox]

All of my mods are listed here:
http://www.ultimateyota.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=672.msg4568#msg4568

In a nutshell the suspension is a 3" Revtek spacer lift, 1" body lift, longer shocks in the back, stock up front. Also, I removed both swaybars.

I'm willing to have another set of spacers made to the same prints by the same shop if you're interested, but I'll only have them fabbed with advance payment, and it would be probably around a 2-3 week lead time after they're ordered. PM me if you want to go for it.

:wrenchin:

[cHRiSCOe]

Looking good. Be sure to post pics, even though I know you already will. ;)

By the way, where did you happen to find a sport hood?