Regarding stock steel wheels---I believe I posted photos showing how the rotors with calipers temporarily installed fit---there is more than enough clearance for proper operation with this upgrade.
Yes, 16" wheels fit. That is still stock size on even the new 2015s.
Depends on the wheel also. A steel wheel will fit, an alloy one can be to fight for the caliper + it's not ideal regarding heat.
I have a 2014 front end (on my '98 E-350 chassis) and still have the stock, 16", "8-hand-hole" steel wheels (dually wheels though). No problems. However, because I've had a hard time finding "true" Ford steel wheels, I've been thinking about going with Alcoa wheels (forget the pattern name, but just the "regular" ones that many Fords have). I never thought about the fact that there might be an issue. If the same part number Alcoa is listed for '98 and '14.... then there shouldn't be a problem, right?
So it's basically a consensus, my 16" procomp wheels will not work with a 2008 e350 I beam/rotor/spindle on a 1997 e250 van.
The answer is no in my experience. I have the 08-up brakes on my 02 and 17" aftermarket wheels are needed to clear the calipers. My buddy went through this as well and also needed to run 17s.
Scott
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2002 Ford E350 V10 Traveler
Vantage Optics Headlights
www.VantageOptics.com
Has anyone done the brake upgrade on a pre-1997 van?
I have a 1992 e250, and I believe there are some slight differences in the front end compared to those built in 1998 onward (correct me if I'm wrong). I'm not looking to do a full front end swap, and I'd like to keep my stock 16" steelies which use the 8x6.5" bolt pattern. Specifically, I'm trying to figure out the following:
1. Can we still use our existing knuckle? I believe they are the same, but not 100% sure.
2. Any impacts on the master cylinder?
3. Any issues fitting the new brake hardware on a pre-1997 van? I know the stock 16s are supposed to accommodate but not sure if the design changed over the years.
Thanks to all the previous posters, this thread has answered so many of my questions already!
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1992 Ford E250 SMB 2wd
Full timing since April 2016
I am looking for new wheels for my 2014 E350.
Since I am located in good old Germany its even harder to get some rims.
My question is, whould American Racing AR172 16 inch on 8" fit with the bigger brakes (08+) my Van has?
Or could you recommend other after marked rims for my Van?
I understood going for 17" rims would be the easier way, but tires and rims are much more expensive.
I may be wrong, but I seem to remember that some aftermarket 16in wheels will work and some won't. My aftermarket aluminum rims, definitely won't, as even the smaller caliper has just millimeters of clearance as is. As for your preferred rims, I have no idea, but hopefully someone has run that combination before and can tell you.