Help with wheel and spacer fitment with APEX EC-7/ET52

[J. P. B.]

Hi,

I am looking for advice.

I just tried fitting my new APEX 18X11 wheels (EC-7 ET52) with 315 tires with a 25mm spacer, and sadly it does not fit in front on my car (S550). There is very hard contact with the strut.

I have Ford Performance struts and BMR handling springs. I am not sure if that is the cause of the problem, but something must be different on my car as this wheel and tire setup is recommended by APEX.

Anyway, I have played around with washers and determined that an additional 5-6 mm would give me the clearance I need (so, a 30mm spacer). But, with an extra 5-6mm I am not getting the min thread engagement (I do have the extended studs). I calculated a min=9.33 and I am only getting a little over 8 turns if I add 5mm to the spacer.

I really don't know what to do next. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,
J.P.B.

 

[biggsy]

Hi,

I am looking for advice.

I just tried fitting my new APEX 18X11 wheels (EC-7 ET52) with 315 tires with a 25mm spacer, and sadly it does not fit in front on my car (S550). There is very hard contact with the strut.

I have Ford Performance struts and BMR handling springs. I am not sure if that is the cause of the problem, but something must be different on my car as this wheel and tire setup is recommended by APEX.

Anyway, I have played around with washers and determined that an additional 5-6 mm would give me the clearance I need (so, a 30mm spacer). But, with an extra 5-6mm I am not getting the min thread engagement (I do have the extended studs). I calculated a min=9.33 and I am only getting a little over 8 turns if I add 5mm to the spacer.

I really don't know what to do next. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,
J.P.B.

I have the same dampers and spring. Interesting note on the strut contact. The only fix I can think about is getting GT4 or the full thread length studs from OP Mustang to fit a larger spacer

 

[Egparson202]

I have the same dampers and spring. Interesting note on the strut contact. The only fix I can think about is getting GT4 or the full thread length studs from OP Mustang to fit a larger spacer

That’s the exact combo I’m running. Perfect fit.

 

[flyhalf]

GT4 STUDS. 30mm SPACERS.
fyi i run 28mm spacers. on CORTEX JRi for future reference. )with 315 A7
honestly then 25mm spacer i think was made for the 305 tires.

 

[biggsy]

Also I just want to add that there was a time I wanted more clearance with my 305 tires so I tried to see if I could fit a 28mm spacer. I stacked a 25mm and 3mm spacer but wasn’t comfortable with the amount of thread engagement. This was on ARP 100-7733 studs.

 

[OPMustang Tim]

Hi,

I am looking for advice.

I just tried fitting my new APEX 18X11 wheels (EC-7 ET52) with 315 tires with a 25mm spacer, and sadly it does not fit in front on my car (S550). There is very hard contact with the strut.

I have Ford Performance struts and BMR handling springs. I am not sure if that is the cause of the problem, but something must be different on my car as this wheel and tire setup is recommended by APEX.

Anyway, I have played around with washers and determined that an additional 5-6 mm would give me the clearance I need (so, a 30mm spacer). But, with an extra 5-6mm I am not getting the min thread engagement (I do have the extended studs). I calculated a min=9.33 and I am only getting a little over 8 turns if I add 5mm to the spacer.

I really don't know what to do next. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,
J.P.B.

14MM GT4 Mustang Type Racing Wheel Studs - Compare to M-1107-F

Specializing in performance upgrades for the 2015+ S550 Ford Mustang.

www.opmustang.com

Run a 31mm spacer which gives you 6mm additionally over a 25. Our studs provide plenty of spacer capacity.

OPRacing 4th Generation Hub And Wheel Centric Slip On Wheel Spacer - SET OF 2 SPACERS

2015 2016 2017 Ford Mustang Wheel Spacer

www.opmustang.com

Do you have camber set at the knuckle? This will change your tire to strut clearance.

 

[J. P. B.]

Thanks everyone, this is all VERY helpful.

For reference, the tires are Nitto NTO1 and camber is set at the knuckle.

A question for OPMustang Tim... A complication is that I live in Canada; Does your shipping restrictions include Canada? (Many thanks for the specific suggestions!)

 

[JAJ]

...camber is set at the knuckle...

Well, no wonder you've got interference. Camber bolts tilt the top of the tire inwards.

You should plan on having a minimum of 5mm of gap between the sidewall and the strut to make room for the tire to move in and out on the rim when cornering.

 

[ArizonaBOSS]

You need to reduce camber at the knuckle and add camber plates. And/or larger spacer and studs.

 

[bc95]

Does anyone know if you can install 14mm studs in an s197 hub? I’ll be running a 31mm spacer as well and the arp studs I have are going to be too short

 

[biggsy]

Didn't realize you had camber bolts. Yea that is most likely your issue.

Do you have camber plates also? If not, I guess you can decide if you want to switch to plates and keep your studs or switch to longer studs and keep the camber bolts. At least longer studs allows you to play with different set ups in the future.

 

[xr7]

Does anyone know if you can install 14mm studs in an s197 hub? I’ll be running a 31mm spacer as well and the arp studs I have are going to be too short

14mm on a S197 will require you to drill out the hubs OR use the S550 hubs have 14mm studs. if I recall correctly the S550 hubs will fit on the S197, fronts only, of course, you would need to drill out the rear axles or replace the axles to run 14mm studs on the rear.

 

[J. P. B.]

Didn't realize you had camber bolts. Yea that is most likely your issue.

Do you have camber plates also? If not, I guess you can decide if you want to switch to plates and keep your studs or switch to longer studs and keep the camber bolts. At least longer studs allows you to play with different set ups in the future.

Got it. It's good to know the cause of the problem.

I have only camber bolts, as I am getting -2.5 with them alone. I need to think a little now (I can install the longer studs, but I can't install camber plants on my own); but, it's good to have options.

Thanks.

 

[k_z]

Got it. It's good to know the cause of the problem.

I have only camber bolts, as I am getting -2.5 with them alone. I need to think a little now (I can install the longer studs, but I can't install camber plants on my own); but, it's good to have options.

Thanks.

You can definitely install camber plates on your own - little more work than camber bolts but infinitely better (and safer) solution for camber adjustment.