Salem Kroger conversion hubs

[Stitebunny]

I have a 97 E350 with what I assume is the stock rear end. 165mm bolt pattern. The front axle is from a 2000 F350 Superduty. 170mm bolt pattern. The conversion was done by Salem Kroger.
The right front wheel bearing unit is bad and needs to be replaced. It looks like the flange on the bearing unit and the rotor have been redrilled to 165mm. I guess to match the rear and have 4 wheels with the same pattern.
Is that the only/best way to go with a new bearing unit? Will a machine shop take that job? I don't think I want to try and do that myself. I don't have a drill press or very good eyes for measuring. Is that about the only way unless I want one wheel with a mismatched bolt pattern?
Any help or ideas would be appreciated. Was supposed to head out this coming Sunday for a week long road trip.......boo.

 

[509bercler]

I had the same problem, make sure the new hub assembly is the same brand on both sides or you will have abs issues and you will need to take it to a machine shop to drill new holes to match the bolt pattern.

 

[r_w]

Better option IMO is it switch to 170mm all around. You don't want to have to redrill wheel bearings in the middle of nowhere.

Ujoint has the spacers for the rear, which fix the track issue at the same time. It will cost you a new set of rims and tires, but worth in IMO.

 

[philos]

Better option IMO is it switch to 170mm all around. You don't want to have to redrill wheel bearings in the middle of nowhere.

Ujoint has the spacers for the rear, which fix the track issue at the same time. It will cost you a new set of rims and tires, but worth in IMO.

that makes good sense to me too...

 

[Stitebunny]

Ujoint suggested that on smb forum also.
I will definitely look into doing that. The spacers for the rears are adapters that change the bolt pattern, correct? I can retain the rear axle I have, put on over the counter front hubs and new wheels?
Makes a lot more sense in the end.
I did find a shop to drill this one for me so hopefully we can take our trip.
Wish me luck it all works out.
and thanks for the help.

 

[nely]

Im gonna go out on a limb and give a possible idea to an alternative...

All though I have no experience with seeing if the parts will fit. The later model dodge 2500 and 3500 are a front dana 60 hub style bearing like the new fords but are 8x6.5 like the older fords.

It might be possible to make dodge rotors and hubs work...

Just a thought.

 

[java]

Strange my SK conversion uses the same wheels front to rear, it is dualies though. Its a pain to figure out what all parts went into it. How does yours ride?

Im in WA too!

 

[r_w]

The spacers for the rears are adapters that change the bolt pattern, correct? I can retain the rear axle I have, put on over the counter front hubs and new wheels?

Yup. They are 2" thick chunks of billet steel that bolt to your axle then the new wheels bolt to them. Only bummer is you may have to cut down your existing studs. Ujoint has them and Fred at wheeladapter.com can make them. I would trust either one. DO NOT BUY ALUMINUM ones from fleabay!!!

I understand the economics of why Quigley and SK did it the way they did, but it makes for a royal PITA down the road for the owner.

 

[Stitebunny]

This turned into a real pain!
I had a machine shop drill the 165mm pattern in the new hub. Bolted it on. After having to use a press to get all the original studs out of it. Went to put the spacer it had on before and the wheel. They wouldn't fit. I think SK also machined the hub in order to make the wheels fit around the hub center. So I spent some time grinding the hub opening in the spacer and wheel. Wasn't fun.
Drove home focusing on the right front for anything else that might make an odd noise or vibration after these shody repairs. Sounded okay.
But this morning I noticed the left front bearing howling! Jacked it up and it was in pretty bad shape. Needed to replace it. So I bought another hub. But this time I bought a wheel to go with it! So I have one corner with the 170mm pattern! So I've commited to that and will be looking into the spacers for the rear. Thanks for the info on those.
I'm hoping I don't get a flat that is unrepairable on a front wheel on the side of the road this trip as my spare won't fit either front hub now!

Java-It rides super harsh and stiff.

 

[java]

This turned into a real pain!
I had a machine shop drill the 165mm pattern in the new hub. Bolted it on. After having to use a press to get all the original studs out of it. Went to put the spacer it had on before and the wheel. They wouldn't fit. I think SK also machined the hub in order to make the wheels fit around the hub center. So I spent some time grinding the hub opening in the spacer and wheel. Wasn't fun.
Drove home focusing on the right front for anything else that might make an odd noise or vibration after these shody repairs. Sounded okay.
But this morning I noticed the left front bearing howling! Jacked it up and it was in pretty bad shape. Needed to replace it. So I bought another hub. But this time I bought a wheel to go with it! So I have one corner with the 170mm pattern! So I've commited to that and will be looking into the spacers for the rear. Thanks for the info on those.
I'm hoping I don't get a flat that is unrepairable on a front wheel on the side of the road this trip as my spare won't fit either front hub now!

Java-It rides super harsh and stiff.

Man what a pain. Hope it gets worked out ok.

Too bad to hear about the ride. I was hoping mine just had really stiff springs...