HOW TO: 5 Lug Conversion

[twyztidmind]

After searching i couldn't really find any good detailed 5 lug conversions before doing mine. So i decided to make one! This was done on my S14.

I bought brand new hubs off ebay for 310 shipped. I also bought 5 lug rotors that were drilled and slotted for $115 shipped for all four.

Parts Needed:

• 5 Lug hubs off SE
• 5 Lug Rotors off SE
• 5 Lug Wheels to finish off the setup

Tools Needed:

• Impact Gun (If Available)
• Socket Set
• Ratchets
• Flat Head Screw Driver
• Hammer
• Axle Grease
• Axle Sockets 32mm and 36mm
• Wrench Set
• WD-40
• Case of Beer

Ok this is just a guide, I'm not responsible if you mess up your car! This is a medium difficulty project, if you can do an engine swap, you can do this!

Hubs i bought off Ebay


FRONTS:

STEP 1: Remove dust cap, i used a flat head screw driver and a hammer, and hit it like a paint can going around it little by little. (Before i started I went ahead and painted the caliper with high heat paint ~ Half ass job but turned out ok )


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STEP 2: Remove axle nut 32MM if i remember right. I just loosened mine until i pulled the caliper off.


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STEP 3: Remove Caliper and Rotor.


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STEP 4: Now the hub should just slide right off.


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STEP 5: Clean shaft and lube it with axle bearing grease.


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STEP 6: Now you can slide on the new hub, re-torque the axle nut, and install the new rotor and the brake caliper.


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Thats it for the fronts, now the rears are a little more complicated...

REARS:

STEP 1: Remove Cotter Pin & Axle Nut 36MM. (If you dont have an Impact you can remove center cap of wheel, put it back on the ground and use a break over bar)


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STEP 2: Remove brake caliper and rotor


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STEP 3: Remove the 4 bolts on the back side of the hub. You can turn the axle to were the indentions are to get access to each bolt.


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STEP 4: Remove strut bolt, and the rest of the rear suspension shown in the pic.


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STEP 5: Now you can pull the hub forward and remove the axle from housing. You can use a mallet to hit the axle to loosen it.


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STEP 6: With the axle out of the way, you have good access to the hub. I used a sledge hammer (BFH) holding the spindle in my hand and pounded the hub out of the spindle. (This WILL ruin it, i didnt care i was throwing it all away)


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STEP 7: I used an emery cloth to sand out the spindle hole, mine was rusty.


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STEP 8: Now put in the new hub, torque down the bolts and reassemble everything in reverse order of which you took it off. You should end up looking like this!




Thats it! Now you have a better selection in wheels. I bought some 350z touring wheels for a great price so thats what im rolling on for now. For $425 i had everything i needed to do the swap and brand spankin new!

ENJOY!

[Siberian Husky]

nice CLEAN write up, just the meat n potatoes; i hate when people write DIY's and make them way too long--a way to stroke their ego for writing it up i guess. clean job though.

what bearings did you use? im scared to just use the ebay bearings that come with the hubs. pics of the 350 touring wheels on your s13?

[twyztidmind]

Thanks! I used the bearings that came with it, not going to lie, they did look iffy but we dont track this car or anything so i wanted to see how they would hold up as a DD (will keep you guys updated)

No pics of the wheels just yet, getting new tires on them right now, it's an S14 btw..

[azndoc]

An easier way to get the rear hubs out is to unbolt the 4 bolts halfway and then use a rubber mallet pounding it out. Doesn't damage anything and comes out really easy.

Good job on the write up

[twyztidmind]

Originally Posted by azndoc

An easier way to get the rear hubs out is to unbolt the 4 bolts halfway and then use a rubber mallet pounding it out. Doesn't damage anything and comes out really easy.

Good job on the write up

Thanks for that info! I didnt even think of doing that. Mine were rusted pretty bad, i had to pound on it for literally 10 minutes before it came out.

[Ares240SX]

10 minutes of pounding with most rubber mallets renders them useless... another idea is to use some penetrating oil, and maybe some heat around the outside edges to free up your old hubs so you don't have to worry about damaging something you might be able to sell to make up for the project costs.

[240sxvaj]

pix are good lol!

[tqstarburst]

good job man,nice write up,alot of s13 owners are gonna benefit from this

[japordie]

nice thread it's short and simple.

[hOngsterr]

s14 front hubs, arent they held in by a pinch bolt?

if yours just came off then someone messed with your hub before.

but theres another how to somewhere i forgot lol but nice job!

[MitchellBade]

Good work on the write up!

[Tae-Hyun]

Well i guess you didnt search hard enough.

How to: Install 5 lug hubs (only have pics of rear)

Even though its just the rears, you get the idea.

Nonetheless, your how too is nice with pics for front and rear.

Nice.

[twyztidmind]

Originally Posted by hOngsterr

s14 front hubs, arent they held in by a pinch bolt?

if yours just came off then someone messed with your hub before.

but theres another how to somewhere i forgot lol but nice job!

Nope, i didnt have any on either side..

[Flashman]

i didnt unbolt any of the rear arms when i did my 5 lug

[s141996]

im doing it and I dont have a hub puller and Im doin this right now its a bitch!

[kuelee]

Does this also go for s13? And does the front hubs just slide in? No bolts holding the hub?

[s141996]

just got done with mine along with z32 vlsd and z32 front brakes took 2 days and alot of hrs since i didnt have much help, thanks ur write up was my refrence when i couldnt figure something out. /exhausted

[Drift_86]

Awesome thanks! I got the same 5lug off ebay

[XxCAPTAINxX]

im curious to know how the ebay hubs hold up. keep us updated please

[Krusty_s13]

Ebay hubs are fine. I rocked them on my previous fastback for about 6 months as a dd and some drift events. No issues with them. Will do it again with my new s13

[Drift_86]

Awesome thanks! I got the same 5lug off ebay

[aalbert240]

Originally Posted by kuelee

Does this also go for s13? And does the front hubs just slide in? No bolts holding the hub?

plus 1 on this

[s13coupedrfter]

Cant say anything about ebay hubs, never used them.

I have used Ichiba hubs and they are JUNK!!!! I went through 2 front sets of them and each time had a bearing failure within 1 day of daily driving. Yes...they were properly torqued down with a calibrated tq wrench that I use at work. The spindle was in perfict condition. I will never use Ichiba hubs again.

I use OEM s14 hubs without any problems...cant go wrong with factory Nissan stuff. Yes they are more expensive but so is replacing China shit hubs all the time.

Cool write-up, keep up the good work.

[xBtony]

awesome write up super helpful. Imma be doing this soon.

[iHateMySilvia]

Originally Posted by aalbert240

plus 1 on this

slides in

[Slammed Assassin]

great writeup!!!

[twyztidmind]

For an S13 its about the same if you buy the after market hubs (like the ones i got on ebay). But if you take parts off an S14 SE you will need the whole spindle and LCA for the fronts as well as boring out the strut bolt a little because S14 uses a bigger one iirc.

Hope that helps

[Drift_86]

This hubs from eBay r awesome! I had them on for a month already and had no problem and saving alot of money on gas from new bearing
*Update 4/24/11*
I been driving with this for about a year I hit the curve 3x from the front distorted 2 rims and still running perfect!!!! Highly recommend this!!

[upsdude]

s14 front hubs use a 32mm pinch bolt. if yours weren't pinched then maybe the previous owner had 5 lugs hubs and swapped in the 4 luggers when they sold you the car (who knows). i bought a set of front hubs from ebay, and they barely lasted a year. got a new pair of OE hub from ray at westco nissan for about 45 bucks more.
so just get the OE hubs for the front

[s13fay92]

Great write up but I have a Q, I have my rear hubs off and was going to replace them with the 5 lug ones, but the 5 lug one wont slide on right, is it the hub or do i need to try harder? Thanks