While watching one of my favorite YouTubers, Derek Bieri “ViceGrip Garage” work on his RV a few months ago trying to install new wheels which required adaptors I was introduced to a company called Motorsport Tech and BORA (Bulletproof Off-road Adaptors) wheel spacers.
BORA wheel adapters
They machine their spacers/adapters out of US made Alcoa 6061 T-6 aluminum in Reno, NV… and they have a LIFETIME warranty! Each spacer has a number machined in the back for the purpose of reordering if something should happen. Their price is actually right in line or even less expensive than others I’ve seen offered that are not hubcentric, worse materials, and no warranty! $89.99/spacer for 1.5”.
The most important reason why I’m posting about their product is they are hubcentric spacers, which I’ve not been able to find previously from other manufacturers. It always bothered me have 1.5” spacers on the rear to clear the widened factory wheels that weren’t hubcentric, and also made it more of a chore when removing/reinstalling wheels at the track. These will cure those issues and make me feel much better about the spacers being there in the first place!
Old Chineseium spacer on left, BORA spacer on right… big difference in the hub diameter!!! To be fair the old spacers are universal and also fit Jeeps with 4wd hubs.
Now, not all is sunshine and rainbows unfortunately.
The good part… After finding what I wanted from their website, also calling to make sure these would fit a Lightning, and confirming they would I ordered a pair. They make them to order so lead time was about 1-3 weeks, but a day after ordering they called to say if I didn’t mind having a natural finish instead of black anodized it would save at least a week, to which I was fine with… can’t see them anyway once installed. I received them about 2 weeks later. Packaging was impressive and sent FedEx in 3 days from NV to AL.
The bad part… kinda… Upon arrival I went to put them on only to find out they didn’t sit completely flush to the brake drum face. There was about a 2mm gap. After investigating I found the drum has a small raised lip on the face right at the axel hub causing interference even though the spacer had a relief cut into it… just wasn’t big enough diameter. I took some measurements and pictures, called BORA and talked with I think Craig, I’m horrible with names! Explained the issues, even sent him pics with measurements. He said no problem, emailed me an RMA, and said send them back so we cal take care of it. Excellent CS!!!
I received them back in about 1.5 weeks with a larger diameter relief cut in the back, but unfortunately again they didn’t quite fit. Not sure if my measurements were bad or the machining just wasn’t enough. I only needed about 0.060” more cut away to clear. Instead of bothering BORA again I took them to a friend of mine with a lathe and had them opened up a bit more. Finally they fit flush with the drum face and always have fit the axel hub inner bore. Installed them this afternoon and very happy with the final result!
All of that to say, if/when you decide to order a set, make sure to take measurements and call BORA with them for an exact fit the first time. I’m not sure if their info for a 1992-1996 F-150 is different from a Lightning or if other customers weren’t as OCD as me and noticed the gap… either way due diligence will help make the process easier as they machine each in house and can customize where needed.
BORA wheel adapters
They machine their spacers/adapters out of US made Alcoa 6061 T-6 aluminum in Reno, NV… and they have a LIFETIME warranty! Each spacer has a number machined in the back for the purpose of reordering if something should happen. Their price is actually right in line or even less expensive than others I’ve seen offered that are not hubcentric, worse materials, and no warranty! $89.99/spacer for 1.5”.
The most important reason why I’m posting about their product is they are hubcentric spacers, which I’ve not been able to find previously from other manufacturers. It always bothered me have 1.5” spacers on the rear to clear the widened factory wheels that weren’t hubcentric, and also made it more of a chore when removing/reinstalling wheels at the track. These will cure those issues and make me feel much better about the spacers being there in the first place!
Old Chineseium spacer on left, BORA spacer on right… big difference in the hub diameter!!! To be fair the old spacers are universal and also fit Jeeps with 4wd hubs.
Now, not all is sunshine and rainbows unfortunately.
The good part… After finding what I wanted from their website, also calling to make sure these would fit a Lightning, and confirming they would I ordered a pair. They make them to order so lead time was about 1-3 weeks, but a day after ordering they called to say if I didn’t mind having a natural finish instead of black anodized it would save at least a week, to which I was fine with… can’t see them anyway once installed. I received them about 2 weeks later. Packaging was impressive and sent FedEx in 3 days from NV to AL.
The bad part… kinda… Upon arrival I went to put them on only to find out they didn’t sit completely flush to the brake drum face. There was about a 2mm gap. After investigating I found the drum has a small raised lip on the face right at the axel hub causing interference even though the spacer had a relief cut into it… just wasn’t big enough diameter. I took some measurements and pictures, called BORA and talked with I think Craig, I’m horrible with names! Explained the issues, even sent him pics with measurements. He said no problem, emailed me an RMA, and said send them back so we cal take care of it. Excellent CS!!!
I received them back in about 1.5 weeks with a larger diameter relief cut in the back, but unfortunately again they didn’t quite fit. Not sure if my measurements were bad or the machining just wasn’t enough. I only needed about 0.060” more cut away to clear. Instead of bothering BORA again I took them to a friend of mine with a lathe and had them opened up a bit more. Finally they fit flush with the drum face and always have fit the axel hub inner bore. Installed them this afternoon and very happy with the final result!
All of that to say, if/when you decide to order a set, make sure to take measurements and call BORA with them for an exact fit the first time. I’m not sure if their info for a 1992-1996 F-150 is different from a Lightning or if other customers weren’t as OCD as me and noticed the gap… either way due diligence will help make the process easier as they machine each in house and can customize where needed.
