I have an 87 FX softail and I replaced the front wheel with a newer softail wheel, year unknown. The problem is that to align the brake rotor with the caliper the wheel is no longer in the center of the forks. I ended up using a 5/8" spacer on one side and a 1 1/16" spacer on the rotor side. So now the wheel is 7/16" to one side, exhaust side.

Has anyone ever ran into this problem?
Do you think it will cause a problem while riding?
Thanks,
Scrub

 

I wouldn't push it more than 1/4-5/16" due to load centering on the lowers. 07 fxstc has the above offset.
Ron

 

Wheel should be centered, the caliper will float (to some degree) to line up with the rotor. You should be able to take the caliper off, find a set of spacers that will allow you to mount the wheel, and measure from one leg to the rim, and then the other leg to the rim. Subtract the smaller measurement from the larger, then divide that by 2. That's how much longer or shorter the main locating side spacer needs to be. (Depending on your front end I guess.)

 

I disagree with all here but do not wish to get conformational on this. Softails frames were made to have the front end centered but the front wheel off center. This was made to compensate from the problem of balance I believe. You will also note the wheels are not aligned from the factory (front and rear in the same line). I believe that in 2008 they fixed it. I have not researched this question 100% as I really do not work in Softails but I owned a few in my past.

 

07-08 fxstc same bike. Back wheel is 1/2" to the right, and front is 5/16". It is deliberately done. Even the left and right lowers are different castings to offset the fender so it matches the wheel. I can't comment on any other softails as I havn't measured any others.
Ron