Hey all - just got my first XJ, it's a 95/AX15 on 35s with a 6.5" lift. I'm replacing both the front and rear ends, and when I pulled the front tires I discovered what I thought were wheel spacers, but turns out they're actually lug adapters. I wasn't able to find any info on them except "5.45 TO 5.5". I know there's a lot of divided opinion on wheel spacers, and I suppose these would basically function the same way, but my plan is to clean all the mating surfaces, use a torque wrench at 100 ft/lbs and blue loctite on the adapters. Then I'll use a paint pencil to mark where they all are and visually check them in 100 miles - does that sound reasonable?

Second question - I put a wire brush on a drill to clean the mating surfaces and immediately scratched one of the adapters, as you can see at nine o'clock in this pic:



So how am I supposed to get these clean? Also, any idea of the brand? Would like to be sure what I have isn't complete garbage. Here's some more pics:




Also, about cleaning mating surfaces, does that mean I need to get whatever this is called - the part with the studs coming out to the far left of this picture - totally clean before the rotor goes on it? And both inside and outside of the rotor?



Thanks a lot, all - I really want to do this right and I truly appreciate your advice!

 

Do it right and lug adapters do not belong in the same sentence... IMO
I would use those as a doorstop and buy the correct size wheels with proper backspacing.
Adding 20 more lugs, plus the weight of the spacers along with the increased leverage on the hubs should be enough to steer anyone away...

I believe you are supposed to use red loctite on wheel adapters...another reason to avoid.

 

Ok - you're right. Why would I spend all the time and effort on doing this right and then have wheel spacers/adapters. I'll look for new wheels. In the meantime, am I OK to just bolt all this crap back together without cleaning mating surfaces to drive it 2-3 miles to get some welding done? Not a DD.

 

Should be fine....
Hit everything with some brake cleaner....I would use a single drop of red loctite on each of those adapter bolts though... no more.... no less....
cheers

 

Smart. One more question - just measured everything, my wheels have 4.25" backspace, and the spacers are 1 7/16" wide - and I still get rubbing when the wheel is turned all the way. I've never even heard of 3" backspacing or less. Maybe I'm starting to understand why the PO had the spacers on....what are my options here? I'm in the process of swapping the front end and I think the new front is about an inch wider but that's not much...

 

A 6.5" lift. and 35" tires are your problem.... at that point it is a trail rig... you will need to push the axle forward with adjustable contol arms and cut the fenders....

 

It's not a DD - will drive it on road occasionally but I'll do whatever I need to for this to work and be safe and strong. Fenders are already cut, so even if I could just get back to where I was but without the spacers/adapters I could adjust my steering stops and be happy. So you're saying adjustable control arms would help?

 

Ok news update, looks like it does have adjustable control arms! I'll probably have to double check they're the right length. That makes me feel better.



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EXACTLY!

 

Fact vs Fiction.

https://iscsuspension-na.com/wheel-s...-spacers-best/