I am just wanting to know the best way to convert to a 5x4.75 bolt pattern front and rear? My truck is becomming more of a track truck only and I am looking to convert to 5 lug for racing rim options. I know they have spacer out there but how safe are they? would there be any problems welding and retapping myself (with a buddy's help) I have been reading some info found using the search but not really what I was looking for.

 

if it were me just send your front hubs and axles and your rotors front and rear to a machine shop have them redrill the rotors and axles and then weld up the old holes then have them drill out the rotors done or call moser or strange and have'em make you a set of axles for the rear

btw i would not feal safe running those spacers IMO

 

x2 dont run spacer's under heavy loads weld and re dril or get new axles. fronts have to be welded and re-drilled. GMCRacer Did that on his build in the build section.

 

do you think welding and redrilling will take away from the strength, as for as the rear goes? I have a spare set of axles to work with. Should I just buy axles?

 

IMO, Its not so much the welding as it is putting another set of holes in it. how ever if you put to much heat in to it could weaken it also.

I am not really good at explaining how the metalurgy works when you re heat things like this but if your questioning the strength of having this done, contact a few axle manufactures and explain the load you want to put your axles under and the will be able to tell you if it's a good Idea or not. always contact more then one company and pick there brain. some times one company may try and sell you something wether it will work or not. If you get atleast 2 opinions and your still not satisfed call another company and see what they think.

One company specifically told me not to run there race axles on the street because they would not last 5 miles and they would not stand behind the warranty. I called another company and they asked me why I would even consider the other brand if there "race axle" could not handle up to mild street driving... after that we discussed there axle designs and the loads the axle will see under stress... after researching axle faliures and seeing were the other company's axle was falling it was obvious why the other company would not stand behind there product... It was an Inferior design prone to failure. They wanted to design a universal axle Blank to save money and cut down on Machine time unfortunitaly that comes at a higher risk to the customer....

 

BTW you never mentioned what axle this was for...

 

I brought up welding and redrilling axles on fsc and thought I was going to get hunted down and shot or something. There were a few guys that don't like the idea of welding and redrilling.

Personally I don't see it being much of an issue. The axle flange is extremely thick hard metal. I would take it easy on the plug welding of the old holes. Maybe do a series of several smaller welds allowing it time to cool and not get too hot. Redrilling should be easy enough. I want to do a 14 bolt SF swap on my 95 and redrill it from 6 lug to 5 lug. I would just use a wheel since its hub centric, use a transfer punch and mark the hole locations perfectly and drill them. A unibit, step drill bit, whatever you want to call it should eat right through even that hard steel.

 

what does it usually cost for this procedure? i have some 5x4.375 pro stars tha i could throw on...

 

Go to Mosers site, under shop services, VERY reasonably priced

 

my 02 silverado, stock 10 bolt. I wanting to do front and back