Are the front and rear hub diameters the same??

[skeptikalone]

So I'm trying to purchase a set of hub centric wheel spacers and I'm finding most that say they are compatible with my truck ('98 ranger XLT 4x4 4.0L) have a center bore of 70.5mm (Everything I find says my truck is a 70.6mm) and then they say "does not fit front hubs". So, my question is are the front and rear hub diameters different? I was under the impression they were the same all around. I have the pulse vacuum automatic locking hubs (they still work too, miraculously!) Any help with this info would be great, my truck is mostly stock as of now but I'm starting down the long road of a minor build. Thanks!

 

[franklin2]

Are your stock wheels hub centric? If you do not have a smooth machined area on the hub, then you can't use hub centric wheels or adapters.

 

[don4331]

'98 Ranger 4x4 should have same size smooth machined surfaces on both the front unit bearings and rear axle hubs.

I have that exact truck on driveway - well assuming yours is SuperCab and red ​

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The '93-97 Rangers 4x4 Rangers with Dana 35 TTB have 64.1mm rear axle pilots, and 70.6mm fronts and the hubs are tapered, so not good for spacers.

 

[skeptikalone]

I do have a red supercab. I thought they were smooth machined surfaces and I've heard hub centric spacers are the way to go for the safest results.

 

[skeptikalone]

I can't find any with a center bore of 70.6mm though, everything is 70.5mm, is that 10th of a mm going to kill it for me??

 

[superj]

It might not fit. But if your truck is not using hn centric wheels, I didn't think you could run hub centric spacers. I though you had to use lug centric

 

[skeptikalone]

It says they are 98 ranger compatible but says "may not fit front hub" and I don't know why because they look the same on my truck, I do have the vacuum lock hubs protruding out in front but they aren't any wider of a diameter hub than the rear, the wheels fit snug against the machined surface and tightly around the hubs on both front and rear, the only difference I see is that locking hub mechanism in front.

 

[franklin2]

Do you have a machine shop nearby? As long as they are a little bit smaller, they can open them up for you to fit.

 

[skeptikalone]

I sure do, I figured that would be my only option. Hoping they just snug right up

 

[skeptikalone]

Does anyone think 2" spacers will put too much leverage on the stock hubs/bearings and cause issues? Any experience with putting wheel spacers on a '98 ranger 4x4?

 

[Uncle Gump]

Yes

 

[Uncle Gump]

What's the end game?

Lifted... body lift... 33's... what wheels?

 

[skeptikalone]

Yes, lifted body, 33s and some custom bumpers maybe some lights. Slowly but surely...

 

[skeptikalone]

I'd like to keep it a decent driver as well, not anything strictly off road or anything but a nice lifted beefy look. It was my grandpa's daily driver for years and he willed it to me and before he passed I told him I'd fix it up.

 

[skeptikalone]

Yes

Yes they're the same hub diameter or yes those 2" spacer will be not a good thing for the bearings?