We all rotate - well sometimes

[my66cruiser]

Went to rotate tires on my '66 for the first time. I read that on some T-Birds you cannot swap back wheels with fronts due to clearance with calipers (different wheels (offsets)). Well, this was confirmed. The rear wheels were not able to fit on the fronts due to the calipers getting in the way. Now I don't even know if my car has the original steel wheels - or the original calipers. I mean they look old but who the heck knows. I've only owned the car about a year. What the heck went on the last 40+ years? Anyway, can anyone confirm that this is proper behavior (sounds British) for this year T-Bird? Thanks.

PS My Tbird also came with a 14" spare. But the other wheels are 15". What the heck? Love the mystery.

[Harley Eaton]

I'm guessing you should have mentioned what year your car is... 1964, 1965, 1966 came from the factory with 15" wheels, EXCEPT for the cars with 14" Kelsey Hayes wire wheels. All of the Thunderbirds used the same wheel at each of the five locations. And THUNDERBIRD wheels were required. 1964 wheels were different than 1965 & 1966 wheels. (center riveted to rim) If you have a wheel that will not clear the caliper on the front, it is a 1964 or other (non-Thunderbird) wheel. Spare should be 15".

[my66cruiser]

Hi Harley,

Thanks for your insight into this. My car is a 1966 (Town Landau).

On a related note: At the shop, since they could not rotate my tires, I bought two new ones for the front (needed new ones anyway) with the intent on having the alignment done on a following visit. With the new tires, the car pulled to the left slightly. This did not happen with the old ones maybe because they were worn, or the tire pressure of the new ones was different, or I got a defective tire. Before the alignment, a new passenger inner tie rod was installed and new stabilizer links. After the alignment, the car still pulled to the left slightly so I am going back again. I noticed on the printout that they could not get the caster within spec on the right side (which was the side that had the badly worn tire on the outside edge - everything else was perfect. Caster and Camber have to be right before toe can be adjusted - according to what I have read.

[my66cruiser]

Just had these bushings replaced on the driver's side. The lower control arm bushing (rubber part) practically squeezed out so there was too much play. So since I was having the LCR bushing done, it made sense to have the strut rod bushings done at the same time. Now back to having an alignment done since all is nice and tight now.