15x8 wont fit?

[4runner15]

Hello everyone - new to this forum and love my 4runner. My first post isn't a build thread but a problem i'm having with wheel fitment..

I recently bought some 15x8 American Racing wheels with 32x11.5 tires. The rim is not clearing my calipers up front and curious if anyone has any information on why? Stupid question, i know, answer is because the rim doesn't fit (duh). But I've seen plenty of folks here rock 15x8s and had no issue. I have the 97 SR5 4x4 model and don't think my calipers were upgraded to Tundra calipers. Is the issue that not all spacing with rims, regardless of 15x8, will fit? Hoping to find a solution to possibly make these fit with a spacer or something, any one ever have this problem?


getting a picture ready to post but any help would be greatly appreciated.


Update with pic: not a good shot but just a quick snapshot of the wheels.

 

[4ever4running]

First off, welcome to the forum! There is tons of useful information on here so check it out and enjoy it.

This is a pretty common problem that guys run into...For whatever reason, Toyota decided to make 3rd generation 4Runners with 15" and 16" wheels. My 4Runner came from the factory with 15" wheels so I was able to swap out the stock ones easily. However, if your 4Runner came with 16" stock wheels (which I assume it did), the brake calipers are slightly larger and you can't fit 15" wheels without modification. In order to fit the 15" wheels, you would have to grind down the brake calipers. I'm sure there are threads on here about guys who have done it without any issues at all and if I can find one, I will post it up.

 

[4runner15]

4ever4running, thanks for the help and i so far, i've found this site very very useful, especially the sticky posts. Couldn't find anything specifically relating to my issue though but maybe i didn't search hard enough. =)

i appreciate the help and clarification. It does make sense and heard of the wheel fitness scenarios but wasn't entirely sure. I guess i know now. If you can find the thread with the modifications, that'll be awesome. If it doesn't look tough, i may go for it, otherwise.. i'm going to have to sell really nice looking wheels i got at a good price. =(

 

[4runner15]

 

[4runner15]

that's my runner up top. i love the look and size of those wheels.

*let me know if you can't see the pic, hope i uploaded it correctly.

 

[Hepar]

Some 4Runners came with larger brakes and calipers. And even if your 4Runner came with 15's stock some other 15's won't clear the stock calipers. Best thing you can do if you really want those 15's to work is to see where they are rubbing and then do some trimming. You can trim both the caliper and the inner part of the rim.

 

[02running]

that's my runner up top. i love the look and size of those wheels.

*let me know if you can't see the pic, hope i uploaded it correctly.

the best way to put pics on here is upload them to imagshack.com and then embed them in your reply.. just letting you know thats how i post all my pics

 

[Doug18]

the best way to put pics on here is upload them to imagshack.com and then embed them in your reply.. just letting you know thats how i post all my pics

tinypic.com is a good site too thats what I use

 

[4ever4running]

4ever4running, thanks for the help and i so far, i've found this site very very useful, especially the sticky posts. Couldn't find anything specifically relating to my issue though but maybe i didn't search hard enough. =)

i appreciate the help and clarification. It does make sense and heard of the wheel fitness scenarios but wasn't entirely sure. I guess i know now. If you can find the thread with the modifications, that'll be awesome. If it doesn't look tough, i may go for it, otherwise.. i'm going to have to sell really nice looking wheels i got at a good price. =(

So I can see why you haven't been able to find anything on the topic...The thread that I was thinking of is actually a build thread and its on Yotatech...Here is a link to the thread where traxxi2003 shows how he had to grind down his calipers so he could go from 16" wheels to 15" wheels: http://www.yotatech.com/f200/1997-4runner-sr5-2wd-buildup-231846/#post51684631. Hopefully this helps. Good luck and post some pics when you get those wheels installed!

 

[4runner15]

So I can see why you haven't been able to find anything on the topic...The thread that I was thinking of is actually a build thread and its on Yotatech...Here is a link to the thread where traxxi2003 shows how he had to grind down his calipers so he could go from 16" wheels to 15" wheels: 1997 4Runner SR5 2WD Buildup - YotaTech Forums. Hopefully this helps. Good luck and post some pics when you get those wheels installed!

thanks for the help! I'll take a look at my calipers and see what itll take to grind them down. Maybe based off of the yotatech thread, i'll see how much i need to grind. If i get it done, i'll post it as my first build thread.

thanks!
:cheers: