Homemade Tire Spacers?
 

I've been in the process of getting a degree in the machining industry and I needed to come up with a project for a grade, and I've decided since I can run a Mill, Lathe, and have written a couple CNC programs so far. I was wondering if anyone knew how thick I should make the wheel spacers for a 94 Ford Ranger XLT 4.0L , I have 14" Alloy Rims and I want my tires to stick outside of the fenders a little bit, but not to the point it will throw rocks or be that noticable because of tire width laws. So I'm here trying to figure out how wide I should make the spacers for the front and back tires. Also is Steel the best option to make the spacers out of? Any help would be greatly appreciated. :D

Re: Homemade Tire Spacers?
 

Aluminum is...Look up the strength specs on Spidertrax.com (wheel spacers) I would say NEVER use spacers, but thats just my honest opinion (due to major wear issues on your suspension) BUT....I would say no wider than 1.5" (normal)

Re: Homemade Tire Spacers?
 

By suspension wear do you mean like steering joints wearing out? Also by 1.5" does that mean from the back of the spacer to the end of the studs in the front of the spacer?

Re: Homemade Tire Spacers?
 

I would say a 2" thick spacer. I had some with my stock spec rims an 235's, the bfgs stuck out about 1/4" past the fender flare. With no fender flare prolly like 3/4" past the metal.

Re: Homemade Tire Spacers?
 

That sounds good, did you have any suspension or steering wear problems?

Re: Homemade Tire Spacers?
 

No I did not. I used locktite tho on the lugs that bolted the spacer on. Hate to have them thing come loose!

Re: Homemade Tire Spacers?
 

machine only centric spacers.. the wheel centering section/hub is very important for wheel centering/support. .. i would def buy centrics
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...w2xyHKGkIbMnEV
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...-jKygOtnRC2Fbg

these can be dangerous if hit something large or like a pothole.. no centering section, this style has to rely on acorn lugs to do the centering, and can be hard to balance
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...5c5gcPZwIlK5dR

Re: Homemade Tire Spacers?
 

I did some research on Aluminum, and I was wondering to get a thickness of 1.5"-2", would it be safe to incorporate some pins inbetween the lug screw holes, to make a threaded assembly with two 1/2" peices? and use loctite on the threads to sandwhich the two 1/2" peices together?

Re: Homemade Tire Spacers?
 

^^^I don't like that idea, I think one piece is the only way to go.

Re: Homemade Tire Spacers?
 

I'm going to say that this is a horrible idea. Please do not make your own wheel spacers. Wheel spacers are sketchy as is, and (sorry to be blunt but...) you clearly don't know what you are doing. Aluminum has all different mixtures and allloys and you need to make sure you get the right alloy and heat treat it correctly.

If you want wheel spacers, go buy some. IF you want to machine some parts, please dont make your first project something that can threaten someone elses life.

Re: Homemade Tire Spacers?
 

This seems a little sketchy.

Re: Homemade Tire Spacers?
 

This seems like a cool idea if it's just for a project, but I don't think they should be put on a car and driven anywhere.

Re: Homemade Tire Spacers?
 

Im sure your great at what you do with a lathe and stuff like that, but with the damage that you can do to your truck, just leave it as a project, and with the money you would spend on parts and aluminum blocks, your better off buying pre made ones

If you need to show them actually in use, go to a junk yard and get a brake drum or two, one for stock, one for with the spacer. Mount them on a piece of plywood or something like that.