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Putting 6 to 5 Lug adapters is this safe

A

allwhiteavy

Full Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2004
Messages
57
Location
Abilene, Texas
I just traded in my 98 Lincoln Navigator check for an 02" Avy. I have a set of 22" wheels on the navi but they are the ford 5 lug pattern. They sell adapters to change the avy from a 6 to 5 lug but how safe is this. Has anybody done this. Please help me. Check out my old navi the wheels are for sale they will fit Expo, F-150, Naviagtor.

http://www.cardomain.com/id/guccigator
 
i have seen these adapters in Truckin' magazine for sometime now. i have even looked for a 6 to 5 lug adapter just for fun. they have so many pictured. i was just curious to see if i could find one. well, i never did. i am sure they could make one though. as far as how safe they are i could not tell you. i have never had a set. nor do i know anyone who has.
the first thing that comes to mind when i think of this idea is the additional rotational weight the wheels and tires will add to the truck. this is a lot of stress on the OEM brakes. an upgrade would be needed to prevent premature failure of the brake system. by adding adapters to the scenario, along with mounting hardware, this stress on the OEM braking system would increase. i would definitely say it would need to have upgraded brakes at the very least. as far as the adapters themselves go... as long as they are made with good workmanship the adapters should be okay to use.
if someone knows any better please jump in. i would think it would be a good idea to sell the wheels you have to get money towards the proper pattern for the new AV. just my $.02.
 
Well I have ordered a pair from my local shop. They should be here on friday. I will put some pics & comments about ride quality then. thanks for the fast responses. I figured they should be okay but I dont know anybody with this setup.
 
allwhiteavy said:
Well I have ordered a pair from my local shop. They should be here on friday. I will put some pics & comments about ride quality then. thanks for the fast responses. I figured they should be okay but I dont know anybody with this setup.
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definitely let us know. i am very curious myself.
 
Wheel offset and thickness of adapter may change moments on axle and could lead to premature wheel bearing failure.....

Also since reducing the number of bolts..will lower shear area for studs....so wheel torque could snap these studs....etc etc....

these would be extremes...but also since these are large wheels....the profile will be less so the tires will absorb less shock loading from bumps and holes which will increase loading mentioned above....

Also Gm will not warranty any problems from this installation......

HTH
 
ygmn said:
Wheel offset and thickness of adapter may change moments on axle and could lead to premature wheel bearing failure.....

Also since reducing the number of bolts..will lower shear area for studs....so wheel torque could snap these studs....etc etc....

these would be extremes...but also since these are large wheels....the profile will be less so the tires will absorb less shock loading from bumps and holes which will increase loading mentioned above....

Also Gm will not warranty any problems from this installation......

HTH
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i agree on the wheel bearings as well. good point. i think the general concensus is to get the 6 X 5.5 bolt pattern wheels and be done with it. the safest thing to do.
 
I'm agreeing with these guys on all the problems that you may cause for yourself switch to a 5.

On another note . . . that Navi was sweet and I can just imagine what you are going to do to the AVy.
 
I just talked to somebody that had 6 to 5 adapters on a tahoe. They said they have not had any problems. They have had them almost a year now. They said they used blue loctite on the adapters & check them on each oil change. Well Im trying to sell the wheels but I hate to let some 22" wheels just collect dust in my house when I could be riding in style. If they were really unsafe would they be so widely advertised in Truckin Mag & other reputable sources. I know that may sound stupid but it makes me feel a little better about doing it.
 
Let me start by saying that I am no expert on this. However after some research done this past summer before buying my 18 inch rims, I did not find one local dealer that did not strongly recomend that I buy a hub centric rim. (ie. one designed to specifically fit the contores of your hub. ) I find it hard to beleive that any adapter would be hub centric to your vehicle and then in turn to your rim.
I know on my 18inch 305s that the finding the perfect tire inflation and wheel balance made a hugh difference in ride and vibrations. I just don't see how this would be a good idea with a adapter.

I would sell the old and buy new, I just think you'll be happier and safer in the long run. Just my 2 cents worth :)

Enjoy the new ride!

Paul
 
If you trash the wheel bearing - I know a front one cost $222 for the part - had one replaced last week - must have been something I did off road - LOL
 
Piece of mind, sell them on ebay or wherever and buy new ones
 
allwhiteavy said:
I just talked to somebody that had 6 to 5 adapters on a tahoe. They said they have not had any problems. They have had them almost a year now. They said they used blue loctite on the adapters & check them on each oil change. Well Im trying to sell the wheels but I hate to let some 22" wheels just collect dust in my house when I could be riding in style. If they were really unsafe would they be so widely advertised in Truckin Mag & other reputable sources. I know that may sound stupid but it makes me feel a little better about doing it.
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yes. if i can make some money it will get some publicity. that's not to say their product sucks. i, we, just think that there is a safer way of achieving your goal. but, it sounds like you have your mind made up. you just needed a little boost by having others agree with your decision. most of us don't. i think the large majority of the group here hate to alter the AV in such a way it will alter it's intended use to the point it would lose most of it's characteristics, or specifications. most members like to add to the capability rither than take away. you surely would take away should you continue down the avenue you are headed. just MHO. no harm intended. to each his, or her, own. you ask for opinions. you will get opinions. ;D it's all good! :love:
 
Amen Punisher, couldn't have been said better. you ask, we give.
Heavy D
 
No offense taken. I love to see people off roading & everything but I could never imagine taking my baby anywhere near all that dirt. This is just a temporary solution not a permanent decision. I just hate to let over $3000 just sit & collect dust when I can be riding in style. I plan on getting the correct fitment as soon as I sell my wheels. Im in to the show truck scene not off roading.
 
for temp use it should be ok.....just watch them potholes.....

but I would not make it permanent on my truck....but that is me...

Good luck and show us some pics.....hehehe
 
I picked up the adapters today they look really heavy duty so it made me feel allot better. I also bought some blue loctite to secure them a little better. THe cladding is being painted right now hopefully everything will be done tommorrow by lunch time. I will try & take some pictures of it then. Thanks for all the comments & help so far I love the Avalanche & I havent even brought it home yet. I never owned any car that people were so dedicated & excited about. Everybody tried to talk me out of trading my Navigator For the AVY but theres something about I just love. So I have allot to prove & plan on doing that.
 
Welcome to the club! Well tell us a little about your Avalanche and what you plan on doing to her.

Butch
 
allwhiteavy said:
No offense taken. I love to see people off roading & everything but I could never imagine taking my baby anywhere near all that dirt. This is just a temporary solution not a permanent decision. I just hate to let over $3000 just sit & collect dust when I can be riding in style. I plan on getting the correct fitment as soon as I sell my wheels. Im in to the show truck scene not off roading.
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that's understandable. i got into the show truck stuff awhile back with the purchase of a '95 Tahoe. then i went from there. been following the scene for awhile. the only thing that has really changed in my opinion are the wheels. many new styles and larger, much larger, sizes. wheels can make, or break a vehicle. so i feel your pain on this topic. it's important to have the right set of rollers on your ride. i think if you suck it up for awhile you will see the AV does not look bad with the stock wheels. but, she does look a lot better with some bling in the wheels wells. i agree with you hands down on that.
although i have a Z71 i will never go thrashing through the mud just for fun. that's just me. i mainly bought it for snow, and that occasional tow for others that are stuck in snow, or mud. i have a 30ft. tow strap so hopefully i will not have to travel too far in the mud. >:D the members who have seen my truck at GTG's know i like it to be spotless. i have nothing against off-roading/ off-roader's. i have gone a few times with friends. i had a blast. they all had dedicated vehicles for that stuff. none were vehicles they were making payments on. none were their daily drivers. if i were going to do heavy off-roading i would have a vehicle for it like they do.
i just stated what i did because i would hate to see you invest money money into those adapters, and have one fail, or cause something on your vehicle to fail prematurely. good luck with your mod. oh yeah, post some pics of the wheels mounted on the AV.
 
allwhiteavy said:
I also bought some blue loctite to secure them a little better.
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just thought i would mention something else. it's about the loc-tite. i used some loc-tite on some after market wheels i had on my Tahoe. i needed it to hold the screws on my center caps tight. if i tightened the screw down they would stress the plastic cap to the point of cracking them. back off a little and the screw would work themselves loose to the point where they would hang frm the wheel.
:0:. blue loc-tite. put a dab on the screw. installed them. no more problem. ;D this guy was interested in my wheels. he made me an offer i could not refuse. when it came time to remove the wheels i could not get the center caps off. :7: :8: remember i only used a dab of loc-tite. i had to use an easy-out to remove the screws. one was so tight i had to beak the cap off. use vice-grips to remove the screw. then glue the broken portion back to the center cap. :7: :8: :E:
when i sat down to think about what happened the only logical solution i could come up with was the heat from the wheels set the loc-tite to the point of no return. there was no other reason why so little loc-tite should have set so hard. i use this stuff in on aviation grade bolts/ parts. when it's time to remove them i never had such a problem. just keep this in mind. use the adapters. maybe not the loc-tite. it's not normally used on any of the steering, suspension, or wheel components now. so you should not need it for the extra hardware.
 
It must not be meant for me to put those adapters on. I picked it up from the paint shop looking it was to beautiful for words to describe with the cladding painted they even painted the running boards. Went to get the wheels put on & the adapters were backwards. They went from a 5 to 6 instead of a 6 to a 5 lug like I need. So they had to reorder from Cali so it wont be until mon-tue until I get them. I might just not put them on there after all & just wait. Im ordering some 22" spinners in the very near future. But thanks for everybodies concern & comments. Im going out of town for the weekend maybe it was luck I did not have those adapters on.
 
THanks for the info that sucks that you had to break your cap. Did you still sell the wheels. I also use loctite on aircraft im an avionics technician. I have a set of 20" spinners for sale on ebay right now they are on my mustang. I want all the money for my avy right now though my other cars can wait. check them out

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2453037382&ssPageName=ADME:L:DS:US:8
 
those spinners are pretty sweet. unfortunately i do not have anything they would fit. not that my wife would let me get them anyway.
as far as that cap was concerned... i learned a valuable lesson. in the future i would never buy another aftermarket wheel with center caps. i tend to lean toward the wheels that have exposed lugs now.
make sure you let us see those 22's. >:D
 
Here goes the pics fresh out the paint shop Click or paste the link below. Adapters will be in tuesday hopefully. LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!!!!

http://325customs.com/avy.htm
 
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