Thread: Six wheel studs to five wheel studs - why is it so hard?

The boss on my hubs are being machined the least amount that allows the BMW rims with their tapered seats to fit which will also act as a hub centering ring which would prevent possible wheel inbalance if LR rims are fitted.

Melbourne Trailer & Caravan Supplies believed they could supply a 1.6T 5x120 pcd 14mm stud parallel bearing (2 Ford inner bearings) 10" hub-drum for the current Discos. However the boss diameter is 76 mm and the locating ring 105 mm. They produce the 5x143.? Ford pattern in the parallel hub where the locating dia at the mounting face is 79 mm (for rims with 80 mm holes) but will not reduce the boss dia to 72.6 mm although will happily supply blank hub drums.

Due to the mounting costs of acquiring blank hub-drums and having them fitted-out, the uncertainty that parallel hubs can be machined without loosing crucial strength and the need to modify my van's guards to fit the larger and wider tyres, I suspect I'll stay with the current brakes and rims and purchase an axle for the new springs. It might be different if I had a dirt-road van and intended taking it into rougher areas.