Car rims ensure safety while driving on the road. They are basic elements of the car structure whose absence makes movement impossible. Have you ever wondered whether you can use Chevy rims on a Ford? Perhaps you’re wondering which ones.
It’s possible to use Chevy rims to fit Ford using a wheel adapter. Each wheel comes with a particular bolt pattern making it specific to that car. However, the adapter makes it possible to use Chevy rims such as 8 on 6.5 inches on a Ford.
Rims determine the dynamic properties of your car. Those made of light alloy lessen the load on the suspension. Body load considerably reduces while driving leading to a smoother ride. A car with aluminum wheels consumes less fuel compared to one with iron ones.
Factors To Consider When Picking Rims For Your Car?
Let’s look at some considerations when picking car rims.
Bolt Pattern
The bolt pattern also known as the lug pattern is a two-number system. It measures the imaginary circle formed by the lug holes at the center of the wheel.
The first figure indicates the number of bolt holes on the wheel while the second is the diameter of the imaginary circle around the holes. A bolt pattern is similar to a wheel pattern and can’t be changed.
Calipers
The caliper is the part of the disk brake system usually found in the front brakes. A brake caliper harbors the pistons and brake pads. It slows the wheels by creating friction with the brake rotors.
Center Hole
Also known as the center bore, it’s the machined opening in the center of the wheel for centering the wheel properly on your car. The wheel must be hub-centric to lessen the chances of vibration. Your car’s wheel hub must match perfectly with the wheel’s center bore.
Lug Nuts
These are fasteners with rounded or conical ends for steel or aluminum wheels. Lug nuts secure a wheel to threaded studs and to the vehicle’s axles. Types of lug nuts include conically tapered flat seat or ball radius. Aftermarket wheels need various lugs to match a new wheel.
Offset
Wheel offset is the distance from the hub mounting surface to the wheel centerline. Proper offset ensures enough clearance so nothing rubs against the suspension vehicle body or brakes. Offset is essential for vehicle safety and the wrong offset lessens stability and braking.
A positive offset is when the hub-mounting surface is nearest to the wheel’s outboard side and creates more backspace. Negative means the outboard is closer to the inboard side and reduces backspace.
Appropriate backspace offers ample room for suspension, brake, and steering systems to work without interference from the wheels.
Will Chevy Rims Fit Ford?
Yes, Chevy rims can fit Ford. You must check that the spacing is correct to fit over the brake calipers and won’t rub the inside of the wheel. If it’s a 4×4, check that the front locking hubs fit over them. You must ensure that calipers clear the spokes.
Alternatively, you can clear the calipers using a hub-centric adapter. The wheel bolt pattern, offset, and backspacing must match. You must also consider the center hole and use the correct lug nuts. Poor-fitting may encourage loosening the wheel or cause vibration.
The Chevy rims must clear the brake calipers and have an offset for clearing the fender wells when turned. This is necessary when using them on the front. The wheel center must be large enough to clear the protrusion of the hub center for proper wheel mounting.
Which Chevy Rims Fit Ford?
You can use a Chevy 8 lug wheel on Ford or another car manufacturer’s wheel mounting surface with a different bolt pattern size. There are aftermarket companies that make wheel adapters. Alternatively, you can get creative and do it yourself.
Historically, all ¾ ton trucks have an 8-lug interchange but you must confirm with your mechanic. New body style Fords have an 8 on 170mm lug pattern while the old body style ones share a common pattern with Chevy’s 8 on 6.5 inches.
What Are The Steps To Installing Chevy Rims On Ford?
Each car rim has a different pre-drilled bolt pattern. The patterns are specific to a particular car and don’t crossover. Installing wheel adapters makes using Chevy rims on a Ford seamless. Installing a set of rims takes about two hours through the following steps.
Step One:
Place the Ford on jack stands to get all the wheels off the ground. Remove the wheels using a tire iron before setting them aside.
Step Two:
Install wheel adapters on the Ford using specialty wheel lugs that come with the adapter kit. Label the threads of the car’s wheel studs using a paint marker to make a line above the wheel lugs. Remove the lugs and adapter.
Step Three:
Install the lugs again on the Ford rotor manually. Place the cut-off wheel edge on the grinder on the mark made in the last step. Trim the threads on the Ford stud at the mark using an angle grinder. Afterward, remove the lugs using a tire iron.
Step Four:
Reinstall the adapter on the hub. Install the 3 lug nuts on the adapter using the tire iron. Ensure that the adapter centers on the rotor and hub.
Additionally, ensure that no threads stick out along the studs beyond the adapter surface. Install the remaining two nuts on the adapter. Torque them to 90 ft/lbs using a 1/2-inch torque wrench.
Step Five:
Install the Chevy rim on the adapter using the tire iron. Afterward, lower the Ford of the stands using the jack.
Final Thoughts
You can use Chevy rims on Ford. Each car has particular rims that come with pre-drilled bolt patterns. However, using an aftermarket adapter makes switching rims between a Chevy and a Ford easier.
