I just picked up some Rockcrawler Monster Mud wheels (round cut outs, looks just like Wheeler's off road wheels) in 15x10 with 3.75 backspacing. when i tighten the lugs they hit the calipers and won't move @ all. I tried my friend's Series 51 Rockcrawlers (triangle cut outs) and those hit too. With a 4mm spacer they fit but i only get about 5 threads down on the lugs. I was told all i can do is get longer studs, i know someone out there has had this prob too, please advise thanks!

1999 4Runner SR5, factory 15"

 

you have to order from wheelers, i ordered some from 4WP and they didnt fit wither

 

3rd gen Runners have issues with 15 inch wheel and the brake caliper. A 15 inch wheel will not clear the caliper.

My understanding is that 3rd gen 4Runners came stock with 16 inch wheels to clear the caliper and not 15 inch wheels.

4WHEELERS does offer a 15 inch wheel that is suppose to clear the caliper but some 3rd gen owners have claimed they have not had luck with them.

 

There were two options 15" and 16". I have 15 alloys on mine now; however my spare is a steel 15". It doesn't fit on the front. I wanted steels but it seemed that most won't work, so I decided to just paint my alloys. I considered grinding about 1/8" off of my caliper right where the spoke was hitting, but decided against it. I believe I have heard of people grinding a little off the caliper, maybe they will chime in.

 

i decided to just use a spacer from Marlin Crawler..... looking for new studs became quite a nightmare.....

 

Yeah, just like Cubuff said, I've also heard of people grinding off a bit off the caliper. However, I've never wanted or even thought of doing that just cuz of the fact that, well, I never had too. That being said I dont think it'll have any negitive effect on the performance unless ---> you grind off to much. Which in that case then your sol anyway. Hope that helps a bit....
Cheers, Lee Hathaway

 

Once again (I swear this has been covered a bunch of times):
1. 3rd gens came with both 15" and 16" rims from the factory.
2. A 3rd gen with 16" rims from the factory cannot run 15" rims.
3. The 15" rims that wheeler's sells that will supposedly work on a Tacoma that came with 16" rims will not fit on a 4runner that came with 16" rims.


Kawaii, I'm surprised that they didn't fit, since you're rig came with 15" stock, but it sounds like its an issue with the new Tech1 rockcrawlers. Probably a backspacing issue, right? Aren't the stock rims backspaced a tinge over 4"?

 

The issue is the design of 15" steel wheels. The spokes go strait from the lug nuts out to the rim so the side of the caliper gets in the way. Most other rims go strait out at least 1/2" or so from the lugs and then out to the outside of the rim missing the caliper.

 

It isn't backspacing issues. 3rd Gen 4Runners have bigger brakes then their taco counterparts. The caliper is hitting the rim...backspacing can clear this, but it sticks the wheel way out. You could do a few things:

Get new rims (must be 16" to clear your caliper)
Get spacers with studs already on them
Get smaller Taco calipers (but if you tow, dont do this option)
Put new longer studs on you spinldes

 

You only have to have 16" rims if you want steels.

 

Just grind the damned calipers and use the wheels you already paid for.

 

backspacing won't change the face of the wheel, jus push the center in or out in the hoop..... changing that will only help if i'm hitting something with the tire like the suspension, bumper, etc..... the 1" spacers work great tho so i'm happy