Hi,

just taken my old 15" ford alloy wheels off and replaced them with a set of 17" alloys I got from a mate. Although they look much better there is a bit of a problem

The front pair rub slightly when i go over a bump or pothole which isn't that bad tbh, the main problem is with the rear two! they are fine with regards to space between the top of the tyres but they are too wide! When I first put them on and done the nuts up I noticed that there was still about 5 threads left on the nuts (same as on front) and now, when I go round a corner you can hear the tyres making a squealing noise as they rub on the car body, this is i'm sure because the wheels flex slightly to the left and right as the weight shifts round left/right corners and a rear strut brace wont work because of the leaf spring suspension?

Am I right in thinking that I can get longer studs to replace the origional ones on my van and use spacers to push the wheels away from the place where they rub? If so, how much are they to buy approx and how easy are they to fit?

Thanks ;)

it sounds like they are not the right fitment for your van overstressing the studs with spacers could cause your wheeles to depart especially if you carry a lot of weight,also the boys in blue could be intrested if the wheeles stick out too far past the edge of the vehicle,you can get spacers but check if the wheeles are suitable for your van

As said above really. Its definately not the right wheels in my opinion, i had 17's on my van and they didnt scrub or rub anywhere, not even on the rear and that was lowered about 100mm!!!

Thanks for your replies, I'll have to look into it a bit further then, its a bit strange though cos the wheels came off my mates escort van and he had no scrubbing or rubbing and his van was lowered like you said vinny his was a 55D model just like mine too only his was a year or two older and a TD, why would it be different on my van???

Mine was a 75 model and fine, then my zetec van i had was a full GTi setup on the front and that hadthe 17's on with no prob.

This was mine on 15's,i then put the 17's on and had no problem.

Mine was a 75 model and fine, then my zetec van i had was a full GTi setup on the front and that hadthe 17's on with no prob.

This was mine on 15's,i then put the 17's on and had no problem.

still dont get why they fit fine on his van but not on mine :S

i found this by accident might be of help

http://www.nice-wheels.co.uk/pcdandoffset.html

i found this by accident might be of help

http://www.nice-wheels.co.uk/pcdandoffset.html

many thanks ;)