wheel adapters

[Jsafarz]

Has anyone out there had problems with installing rear wheel adapters (1") on their Cobras with the IRS? Cosmetically, it bugs me that the rear wheels are inset so far. I am trying to get the rear wheels pushed out so they don't look like they are underneath the car being consumed by it with dropping a ton of cash if I don't have to.
The guys at Ford Racing say it is not good and applies undue stress on the lugs and that the proper fix is to go to a wider wheel (go figure $$$). I have also heard (maybe from no so educated sources) that this puts more stress on the IRS as with the spacer you change the lever arm distance / telemetry of the suspension.
Any insight would be appreciated.

[Ken 01-Cobra]

I've run the H&R Wheel spacers (link on my site in my sig) for over a year. They've been to the drag strip and through exhuberant driving through our mountains with nary a compaint.

The FR guys are probably speaking of the spacers that fit on over the studs, and I would agree with them. The H&R spacers are hub concentric and are held down to the original studs with their own lug nuts, then you put your wheel on over the H&R studs. This is a much stronger setup than the ones that just fit over the studs.

There was some talk early on that the 1" H&R spacers might even HELP the geometry of the IRS in that there was less wheel hop after installing them. I did notice this with the 3.27 rear gears, but after going to the 4.30's, it wasn't as obvious. In other words, I don't think there is that much advantage/disadvantage to them in terms of the IRS geometry. They may help a little. I don't think they hurt any...at least on my car.

There is a before and after pic of these installed on my 01 on my site in my sig. I think they make the back wheels look a lot better, So bottom line is they look good, don't seem to hurt anything, and may even help if you're running the stock rear gears. Sounds pretty good to me.

[Jsafarz]

Thanks for the input.
I did purchase the concentric hub style with their own lug bolts but the 1st time I put them on the car shook like crazy. Turns out the rear end needed aligned and had worn the rear tires out - I put the spacers on with unevenly worn tires. Now that things are all even I will be trying again, hopefully with better results. I just wanted to make sure it was the tires being worn uneven and not the IRS.

[Ken 01-Cobra]

Originally posted by Jsafarz
Thanks for the input.
I did purchase the concentric hub style with their own lug bolts but the 1st time I put them on the car shook like crazy. Turns out the rear end needed aligned and had worn the rear tires out - I put the spacers on with unevenly worn tires. Now that things are all even I will be trying again, hopefully with better results. I just wanted to make sure it was the tires being worn uneven and not the IRS.

I had mine aligned after I put the spacers on. This helps to be sure that everything is aligned properly for the extra length, or so I was told. All I know is my tires wear evenly and there have been zero issues with the spacers. Be sure to re-torque them a week or two after installing them the first time.

[Lumpydogs]

Ken talked me into getting the 1" wheel spacers. Install was
piece of cake. I have re-tightened as recommended but
I have yet to find a lug or nut that had loosened up. The
car looks much better and wheel hop was slightly reduced.

No problems yet. Had the spacers on for about five months.

Great looks, cheap price.

Thanks again Ken!

[Ken 01-Cobra]

Originally posted by Lumpydogs
Ken talked me into getting the 1" wheel spacers. Install was
piece of cake. I have re-tightened as recommended but
I have yet to find a lug or nut that had loosened up. The
car looks much better and wheel hop was slightly reduced.

No problems yet. Had the spacers on for about five months.

Great looks, cheap price.

Thanks again Ken!

Whew! Glad you like them then if it's going to be all my fault!

Yeah, I re-torqued as recommended by H&R, but everything was spot on. After many trips to the track and through the mountains, they are still spot on every time I check.

[99svtcobra202]

I ran the h&R spacers for a while as well. I bought them to improve the side profile. However, I did not like the way the car looked from the rear - the stock tire and wheel combo was just too skinny looking - I felt like it made the car appear cheap.

But what made me remove them was the rear steer - I really hated it - once removed the rear steer problem was gone.

I now have a KB suspension and maybe with the rear steer kit and rear shock tower brace it would be OK.

Let me know if you guys feel any rear steer especially when taking turns hard and when merging from on ramps. Several other cobras with spacers have had this problem.

[Ken 01-Cobra]

If by rear steer, you mean the rear end tries to track on a different line than the car itself, I have zero. I drive the car hard through the mountains, which requires turning in both directions, and I've noticed nothing untorward about the rear of the car other than it will get a little light on you if you pull negative g's on it. (fast downhill turn with a reverse or no bank) Of course, MOST cars I've owned would do the same thing.

The car does tend to push some if you hit a turn hard, but that is more due to it's heavy pig weight than anything else I think, and it is fairly easy to control.

[Lumpydogs]

I have noticed no rear steering problems, however I had the car lowered approximately 1.25" shortly after adding the wheel spacers. My Cobra now has very little body roll through corners.
The closest thing to compare it too would be like riding the
old wild mouse ride at the country fair. When I turn, it's like being on a rail. Power sliding through a turn is much more
difficult now. Either the rear end sticks through the turn or
it's coming around right now! (only downside to the spacers on my lowered cobra).

In the future, I'll will most likely get wider wheels and remove the spacers, but not because I don't like them, just won't need them anymore.

[VetEtr]

I had more rear steer without the spacers than with. I had the H&R 1" spacers for over a year and no problems. I'm going to get rid of them as I just installed 9" wheels and I only installed them for cosmetic reasons.