4 lug vs 5 lug

[eric]

Ive found the wheels Id like to get and they offer them in a 4 lug version. Im looking for some feed back as to why I would want go to a 5 lug set up on my car. The only advantage i see is having a wider selection on wheels for my car, which doesnt justify the additional funds needed to switch it out. This is going to be a daily driver with a slight bit more power than stock. Any thoughts? All comments welcome. Thanks.

[FoxRodStang]

As you mentioned, Wider wheel selection is one. The bigger advantage (for me anyway) is better braking. If you can find a donor sn95 & get all the brake parts off of it, you can do the swap dirt cheap. The SN95 brakes are light years ahead of fox brakes. Think about it, you can make your car faster, but, can you stop it faster? Its also a safety issue...you have better braking, it can prevent a crash. Some guys have even gone as far as retrofitting the sn95 abs system into they're foxes....something that's not possible with fox brakes.

Welcome to SEFB btw!

[NOTCHED]

,,,why I would want go to a 5 lug set up on my car. The only advantage i see is having a wider selection on wheels for my car, which doesnt justify the additional funds needed to switch it out.

I'm CERTAIN it could be argued either way, just as some will swear AT Penzoil, and some will swear BY Penzoil :)

I've seen a good number of exTREMELY fast 4 lug cars screamin' down the 1/4 mile track. That being said, I'd dare say you could justify the $ difference. Oh by the way...they stop @ the end of the track too :)

Seriously...esPECially for a daily driver, you tell me...can YOU justify the added cost?

You might get someone blindfolded inside a car and be able to tell if they're runnin' such and such springs, but you can't get them to tell you if they're riding in a 4 lug car or a 5 lug car after starting/stopping.

Hey...it's a matter of BUDGET no doubt, and there will be PLENTY of other "goodies" to open your wallet for beyond a conversion kit. Bottom line however is it's YOUR choice.

Opinions are like noses...e/one has one & they're worth what you pay for 'em...nuthin! :)

PS: Just curioius, what wheels are you considering?

[Notch93]

Like what has been said already, change over to 5 lug if you want a more selection of wheels, and are going to add bigger brakes. If not, and you found 4 lug wheels you like, then just stick with the 4 lugs.

[eric]

The bigger advantage (for me anyway) is better braking

Ah didnt think about that. Though I think I should be alright for my application I should definitely read up on this...

Welcome to SEFB btw!


Thanks. Glad to be on board! [no pun]


Just curioius, what wheels are you considering?[/COLOR]

I think Im pretty set on replica 03 cobra wheels. I saw a few members with the same style on their cars and imo looks awesome! Thanks for all the input guys.

[ALMOST STOCK]

My thoughts are; stock brakes are minimal at best, so why not upgrade from 4 lug to 5 lug and get a better selection of both wheels and brakes.

But that's just me.

[Slonotch]

I'm CERTAIN it could be argued either way, just as some will swear AT Penzoil, and some will swear BY Penzoil :)

I've seen a good number of exTREMELY fast 4 lug cars screamin' down the 1/4 mile track. That being said, I'd dare say you could justify the $ difference. Oh by the way...they stop @ the end of the track too :)

Seriously...esPECially for a daily driver, you tell me...can YOU justify the added cost?

You might get someone blindfolded inside a car and be able to tell if they're runnin' such and such springs, but you can't get them to tell you if they're riding in a 4 lug car or a 5 lug car after starting/stopping.

Hey...it's a matter of BUDGET no doubt, and there will be PLENTY of other "goodies" to open your wallet for beyond a conversion kit. Bottom line however is it's YOUR choice.

Opinions are like noses...e/one has one & they're worth what you pay for 'em...nuthin! :)

PS: Just curioius, what wheels are you considering?Very well put.....Also by the way I would consider my notch to be somewhat fast and I am STILL using 4-lug and I still stop pretty well and they make drag-lites in 4 lug.....so I just stick with what works for me!!!!

[Wayne's 88 GT]

In regards to your question of 4 lug vs 5 lug.......if it a daily driver/pretty much stock no road racing or heavy drag racing and you found the wheels you like in 4 lug-stay with it. I just don't see the justification of going through that kind of upgrade unless there are wheels you like than don't come in 4 lug or the performance of your car outgrows the stopping power of the stock brake setup. Just my .02...........

[Blacksheep]

Im goin 5lug with mine. i want 04's also, and i HATE they way they loook 4-lug. Pretty much every wheel you can find in 5 for a mustang, you can find in 4, except bullits. thats the only wheel i havent seen 4-lug. if your looking to upgrade your brakes, it might cost you a lil extra than goin 5 lug, cuz Bear, Brembo etc. to my knowaldge they dont make a brake kit for 4 lug mustangs, i know brembo dosent. i want cobra brakes on mine, thats on reason and the other is like i said i dont like 4 lug 04 cobra wheels. but thats just me. i was always against 5 lug also, then i chose what rims i wanted and i was like yea, i wanna upgrade my brakes as well, yea im goin 5 lug

[greypony89]

The biggest diff is in a bigger selection wheel choice I know some very fast stangs sitting on 4 lug drag and road racers and like stated above bigger brakes go with 5 lug. I like 03 cobra wheels you have choosen thats what I want for my stang as well.

[ALMOST STOCK]

Baer and Wilwood both make 4 lug brakes systems for 87-93, Baer also makes a 4 lug system for 79 -86. $$$'s


http://www.need-4-speed.com/baer.htm

http://www.need-4-speed.com/wilwood.htm

[Blacksheep]

i was not awear of that^^^^. good find. i looked on bears web site, or brembo one of the two, a couple months ago, but i couldnt find anything for a 87-93 mustang

[ALMOST STOCK]

That I know of Brembo does sell front 4 bolt rotors but not a kit to convert to 4 lug rear.

Stainless Steel Brakes Corporation (SSBC) has a 4 lug system for anyone who is interested.

[Blacksheep]

hmmm, thats cool, but i think imma stick with my choice to go 5 lug and cobra brakes all the way around

[eric]

Five lug ,though costing more up front, seems like it would be less trouble in the long run. there is a huge difference between 4 and 5 lug wheel selection. after searching a little I have seen several kits to upgrade the brakes on a 4 lug system -ranging in price- but appearing more costly than some 5 lug brake upgrades. also the kits to change from 4 lug to 5 lug ranges as well - used/junkyard parts up to $1,400 kits..
for my application i think 4 lug will do just fine. (though ill probably look back and wish i had gone with the 5 lug)

thanks again for all your input guys =)

[BadMoFo]

anyone get the resto kit for 399?

[93fakesnake]

Thats what I got on my car Josh!!!

I love the five lug conv. I went with the 50resto kit for 399. It uses the same brakes that you have and it was cheap and easy to instal.

[BadMoFo]

did you need anything other then just that kit?

[BDASPNY]

just like everyone else said. you get better options for rims. but the big thing for me at least is the barely passable stock brakes. they were barely good enough when the engine was stock after the mods its gets scary. i'm going w/ cobra brakes front and rear and i'm sure will never regret it. do it once right that way i won't have to do it again.

[93fakesnake]

did you need anything other then just that kit?

Nope comes with everything you need

[Notch93]

Nope comes with everything you need

True, but remember with the 50 resto kit, it is good for going to weld pro stars, etc. But a lot of the larger wheels won't fit with this kit.

[BadMoFo]

describe alot larger wheels? I am thinking of doing 17x9 bullits up front and 17x10.5 out back.

[93fakesnake]

I know I'm about to help a friend of mine put this kit on his coupe and he is gong with the 18 inch saleen's I will let you know

[Notch93]

describe alot larger wheels? I am thinking of doing 17x9 bullits up front and 17x10.5 out back.

Remember, that kit includes the 5 lug front rotor/hub combo, so you will not be able to run the newer mustang wheels like bullitts, FR500, etc.

Here is a list of wheels that will work with this kit without modification:

95 Cobra R Wheel
94-95 17" GT Wheel
94-98 16" Waffle Star Wheel
94-97 Cobra Wheel
94-04 15" V6 Wheel
94-04 16" V6 Wheel


http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/iwwida.pvx?;item?item_no=LRS-4234K%20%20%20%20%20%201&comp=LRS

[BadMoFo]

well that blows. so any kits out there that would allow me to run newer rims that doesnt cost an arm and a leg?

[SVTSkip]

I'll probably be 4 lug forever. I've had a newer Cobra, and so have been spoiled by a decent braking system with 4WDB and ABS, but for the limited street use my car sees the stockers that have been mildly upgraded appear fine so far. Besides with the little 165's on the front even if I had a good set of binders on there I'm pretty much limited by contact patch at this point LOL ! :)

[tripps88]

You can get 96 to 04 front spindles, rotors and calipers out of the salvage yard they bolt right up and a 94-95 rear abs or non abs is only .75 inch wider than stock, all of this is on the cheap to, that is what I did on mine and there have been zero issues with clearance but I am running 17x8.5 Bullitt's with a Ebach Prokit. There is room for a little more rim but not much. Just deppends on what you want I guess

[93fakesnake]

Well I know the 50resto kit will work with 18x9 and 18x10.5 saleen wheels!!!

[TV8M]

your fine with 4 lug.. is it an auto? that will make it better also

been pullin 1.23 60fts with 4 lug

[Blacksheep]

You can get 96 to 04 front spindles, rotors and calipers out of the salvage yard they bolt right up and a 94-95 rear abs or non abs is only .75 inch wider than stock, all of this is on the cheap to, that is what I did on mine and there have been zero issues with clearance but I am running 17x8.5 Bullitt's with a Ebach Prokit. There is room for a little more rim but not much. Just deppends on what you want I guess

94-95 front spindles :thumbsup1:

[JohnnyGMachine]

We all know that when it comes to modifying our cars, in the end you just need to do what you like and what will make you happy. Then you need to consider budget vs. your options. There's also considering whether the money is well spent if you spend a little more to go that extra mile with modifications. Do you wanna have something a little different than the rest of the crowd then usually it can cost a little more money in this case a 5 lug swap will allow you to run literally 100s of different wheel options versus the small handful of 4 lug style to pick from.
Now as far as the superiority of an SN95 brake vs. the inferior stock disc/drum Fox Body brake setup being a matter of opinion - well it's a fact. It's not really a matter of opinion in this case. I did a complete 4 to 5 lug swap twice - left discs out back so far on one car and discs all the way around on my driver. It's night and day difference as far as stopping goes. If you are going from a 15" stock wheel to an 18" Cobra R or FR500 and not upgrading your brakes then you will definately notice a longer stopping distance due to unsprung weight and heavier wheels which means the brakes have to work even harder. There's the safety issue to consider as well. Maybe being a little picky but these aren't opinions they are facts. I've read many articles in Hot Rod, Muscle Mustangs, they've all written about upsizing wheels versus your stock brakes. I've spent time talking witht he owner of Baer brakes and also Wilwood about these same issues. But you don't need to spend a fortune, you can always do the 94-95 front spindle swap (about $299 which includes everything) that my budy and I had swapped on my Mustang both sides within an hour and a half and driving. Then you buy the rear disc brake and 5 lug axle kit for $400. So for $700 plus labor and you've got 5 lug, some better braking and a ton of wheels to choose from. Check out www.mpsautosalvage.com
There may be some other minor odds and ends hardware possibly needed but in the end it's worth it.
For soem 4 lug is fine and that's OK too. Just make sure you do your own research and take the time to consider your options.

Just my 2 cents

BTW - My 5 lug disc brake swap is in the new March 2009 Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords issue on page 102 titled "Give Your Fox A Brake!" I sure do get a lot more compliments on my car with the new billet 5 lug drag wheels vs. the same ol' 4-lug Welds I used to have. I just wanted something different.