Any way to make Sport wheels work on SR5?

pudzley

New member
So I learned the hard way that the 6 spoke Sport Edition wheels do not clear the SR5 calipers (at least on the left front). Is there any way to make these work without upgrading to the bigger brakes from the Sport model? Spacers seem like the obvious answer, but I don't know if I want to push the wheels out an inch or two... is it possible to run thin spacers without compromising safety?
 
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So I learned the hard way that the 6 spoke Sport Edition wheels do not clear the SR5 calipers (at least on the left front). Is there any way to make these work without upgrading to the bigger brakes from the Sport model? Spacers seem like the obvious answer, but I don't know if I want to push the wheels out an inch or two... is it possible to run thin spacers without compromising safety?

IMO the best spacer to run is the spidertrax. They are 1.25" but they are wheel center and hub centric which is very very important when running spacers. I run them and they are great, my balance is perfect.
 
So I learned the hard way that the 6 spoke Sport Edition wheels do not clear the SR5 calipers (at least on the left front). Is there any way to make these work without upgrading to the bigger brakes from the Sport model? Spacers seem like the obvious answer, but I don't know if I want to push the wheels out an inch or two... is it possible to run thin spacers without compromising safety?

you sure you got the right sport wheels?
its 17s and it should work on all 6 lug toyotas
experts please correct me if im wrong.
 
Hmm … [MENTION=180521]pudzley[/MENTION] we need some more information to help you out.

First, what size are the wheels you are putting on? Are they 16 inch or 17 inch? Should be stamped inside the rim (e.g., 17x7J) Some pics would help.

Second, what size are the brake calipers on both the front right and left? There should be a stamping on them.

Some threads to help clarify:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...imited-rotor-size-will-16-inch-wheel-fit.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/engin...accessories/2480-brakes-sport-vs-limited.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/118161-how-upgrading-sport-brakes-319-338mm.html

My suspicion would be that the "sport" wheels that you have are 16 inch, and at some point someone put the larger brake caliper on your left front.
 
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The Sport Edition wheels should fit, something else is going on. The Sport Edition comes standard with larger brakes, so the wheels should clear your smaller SR5 brakes with no problems.

Can you post pictures of the Sport Edition and SR5 wheels? And did you take any pictures of where/how the SE wheel is hitting the caliper?
 
Thanks for all the replies. Here are pictures of the sport wheels I have (mounted on the rear) and the original SR5 wheels (mounted on the front). Both sets are 17" but the sport wheels have a slightly lower offset.

[MENTION=114745]YetiX[/MENTION] - It's a little bizarre but the smaller rotors (and the fact that the calipers are closer to the center of the wheel) are exactly what causes the issue because the spokes of the sport wheels have more clearance farther out towards the edge of the wheel, if that makes sense. So with the SR5 brakes, the inside of the spokes just catches the caliper and scrapes it (see picture). Funny thing is that this only happens on the front left; the front right just barely clears the caliper. I'm guessing the design of the calipers is slightly different left vs right which would explain that.

If I installed a spacer that literally pushed the wheels out 5mm or so, they would clear just fine... but I doubt it's a good idea to do this being that there will be fewer threads on the studs for the lug nuts to grab. Any suggestions? Thanks guys!

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The front wheel you have depicted is a 17" TRD wheel, I had the same wheel come OEM on my Tacoma TRD Sport.

I do not believe it is considered a SR5 wheel. :whistle:

You have managed to confuse a few folks with this particular T4R...
 
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seems like another thread around here where the user found out he had different calipers, also just make sure the wheels are the real deal, there is a copy cat version.
 
The front wheel you have depicted is a 17" TRD wheel, I had the same wheel come OEM on my Tacoma TRD Sport.

I do not believe it is considered a SR5 wheel. :whistle:

You have managed to confuse a few folks with this particular T4R...
yup. these are the SR5 16s...

2007_toyota_4runner-pic-17076-640x480.jpeg
 
yup. these are the SR5 16s...

2007_toyota_4runner-pic-17076-640x480.jpeg

For the later model years maybe... the front wheels in my picture above are SR5 wheels for 2004. Anyway, not relevant... main question is: are there thin spacers available for the 4th gen 4Runners that can allow me to *safely* run the sport wheels I bought? Thanks :thumb3:
 
I’ve had a similar issue with other vehicles in the past, and was able to just grind the needed clearance from the caliper, or bracket where the rubbing occurs. Usually it’s not a whole lot of clearance needed, and sometimes it’s just casting flash on the bracket or something that causes the issue. It’s just cast iron, so you won’t hurt it by removing a little material.
 
A few different things could be going on here. A failng wheel bearing can cause the wheel to contact the caliper. The wheel bearing could have been replaced in the past, possibly the hub was pressed on too far. The brake caliper may have been replaced in the past, some of the aftermarket castings are way different. Could be the wheels are cast a little different, possibly an aftermarket version? Or a combination of things. The sport wheels should fit just fine. I ran the OEM sport wheels for a few years without any issue on my SR5. They were close to the calipers but never hit them.

IMG_0347-XL.jpg
 
A few different things could be going on here. A failng wheel bearing can cause the wheel to contact the caliper. The wheel bearing could have been replaced in the past, possibly the hub was pressed on too far. The brake caliper may have been replaced in the past, some of the aftermarket castings are way different. Could be the wheels are cast a little different, possibly an aftermarket version? Or a combination of things. The sport wheels should fit just fine. I ran the OEM sport wheels for a few years without any issue on my SR5. They were close to the calipers but never hit them.

Very helpful... thanks. I'm gonna check the markings on the calipers as others suggested. I thought it was odd that only the left side made contact and not the right. Maybe I should just upgrade to the Sport Edition calipers/rotors... I hear the SR5 ones have seizing issues anyway.
 
Very helpful... thanks. I'm gonna check the markings on the calipers as others suggested. I thought it was odd that only the left side made contact and not the right. Maybe I should just upgrade to the Sport Edition calipers/rotors... I hear the SR5 ones have seizing issues anyway.

Just an FYI, ALL T4R calipers have seizing issues not just the SR5, it's more of an issue in the snow/rust belt but can also happen anywhere.

That being said I also think you most likely have a aftermarket caliper that has slightly different dimensions on the left side.
 
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you probably have the wrong caliper if its only one side. find the real problem first i think non sports are stamped wl and wh for sport in the back of the caliper. maybe a loose caliper too where the pads are holding it together. but a lot of gear heads smooth out their cast calipers so grinding it shouldn't be a problem.
 
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For the later model years maybe... the front wheels in my picture above are SR5 wheels for 2004. Anyway, not relevant... main question is: are there thin spacers available for the 4th gen 4Runners that can allow me to *safely* run the sport wheels I bought? Thanks :thumb3:
well i'll be damned. nevermind!

bcaf941afda1d82c2aee164f2d5acd55.jpg
 

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