Wheel spacers good idea?

haybo19 · #1 02-21-2011, 11:20 AM

Hey guys, I kno spacers are a very "iffy" topic, but i dont want to buy a lift right now because (stupid me bout 31" tires a few months ago before i got really in to my truck, and i dont wana lift cus it'll look dumb and i got no $) but any ways, i've been debating on buying wheel spacers and i kno u have to b catious bout em. but i was lookin at mayb if 1/2"ers would still be safe? any opinion on the topic would help. thx

terryduanemiller · #2 02-21-2011, 11:26 AM

.5" spacers are more work than desired, as front studs are 1.25" long they will have to be cut off flush with spacer, and rear studs are 1.5" long

I run spacers to compensate for back spacing of the wheels I have... have had no problems, you can Google it... the only thing I found was a video of a wheel spacer that was out of round... failure is only stories, I have found no proof.. I have a set of (2), 1.5" spacers for sale. they will fit front or rear, lugs included.. I paid $100.00, sell for $65 shipped

01B3000 · #3 02-21-2011, 11:31 AM

Spacers basically do the same thing as an offset rim, with 5 extra bolts, Ive read though that you should put LocTite Red on the spacers lugs
And i dont even know if they make 1/2in spacers, only ones ive seen are 1.5 in

haybo19 · #4 02-21-2011, 11:43 AM

k thx. i only said 1/2" cus ive herd alot of stories bout thicker ones. and plus my curent tires stick out about an nch or so, i just wanted another inch or so, so ill look at bigger ones. can you still go off roading without wrrying bout the spacrs if i get em?

01B3000 · #5 02-21-2011, 11:46 AM

Im not the guy to ask, im sure other guys on here know, Ive just been looking at a set so i dont rub on full lock with the rims o got off an 06. but Ive been looking at a set from rough country suspension systems and they mainly do off road so id think you could, no pre-runner level off roading though.

haybo19 · #6 02-21-2011, 01:45 PM

YA I saw those, but I thought they then said no normal highway use, so idk?

darkstar_420 · #7 02-21-2011, 01:59 PM

wheel spacers are very dangerous, at our shop we will not touch anything with spacers, too big of a liability. they put excess stress on ball joints, spindles, studs, bearings. there is a reason they say not for highway use

terryduanemiller · #8 02-21-2011, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkstar_420

wheel spacers are very dangerous, at our shop we will not touch anything with spacers, too big of a liability. they put excess stress on ball joints, spindles, studs, bearings. there is a reason they say not for highway use

spacers wld be no different than wheels with different offset, now I can under stand your point if you put 3" spacers on a wheel with reversed spacing.. like below

haybo19 · #9 02-21-2011, 02:19 PM

I kno that lik huge spacers r bad but lik not evn.one inch ones?

terryduanemiller · #10 02-21-2011, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haybo19

I kno that lik huge spacers r bad but lik not evn.one inch ones?

I'm running 1.25" up front and 1.5" in rear.. that's the smallest that you can run without cutting off OEM lugs, as they will protrude through spacer and will require cutting them off flush with spacer

haybo19 · #11 02-21-2011, 02:57 PM

HOw long hav u had spacers?my buddy at work tells me it takes only a decent pot hole and bang ur wheel snapd off

jonnyr1984 · #12 02-21-2011, 03:12 PM

Has he ever had them? I mean what is his knowledge of them? If it were one pot hole death, why would people run them offroad? Ive never heard of them coming off if you maintain proper lug tightness. Ive been looking at doing this myself, and after over a month of research Ive learned this: No one really knows about them. Some guys say you're fine with them, some guys not. Ive talked directly to manufacturing facilities and companies, and the conclusion is that they are the same thing as running a different offset rim and, while they do cause excess strain on the bearings, it wont be for atleast 100k+ miles. Should you be fine with a moderate spacer? I dont see why not. Ive seen 2 and 3", and youd have to be on spectacular crack to run those.

Conclusion: Its a matter of opinion. <-- Im sure Ill be chastised for that.

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And dont forget about the great hub centric debate as well.....

darkstar_420 · #13 02-21-2011, 04:01 PM

i know 2 guys in which wheel stud have broken off using spacers (on the highway at 60 mph) in the end it your decision, i would never use them. as far as the thing with the big pot hole, i would believe it

drppdyllwrngr · #14 02-21-2011, 04:30 PM

i have 1.25" adapters on the front of my truck. i have hit many pot holes, even to the point of bending wheels. i have never had a problem with them. i took them off my truck for the first time in at least 4 years this past weekend. only took them off cause i put new rotors on. i have probably put 30k miles on them.

now, the guy who i got them from had lots of issues with them. but what he discovered was what Terry was talking about above. he didn't trim the stock studs down, which kept his wheels from sitting flat on the adapters. this caused the studs to break. if your wheels have an extra set of holes in them, then there is no need to trim. when i bolt mine on, i just take a cut off wheel and cut the excess off. no problems here.

terryduanemiller · #15 02-21-2011, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drppdyllwrngr

i have 1.25" adapters on the front of my truck. i have hit many pot holes, even to the point of bending wheels. i have never had a problem with them. i took them off my truck for the first time in at least 4 years this past weekend. only took them off cause i put new rotors on. i have probably put 30k miles on them.

now, the guy who i got them from had lots of issues with them. but what he discovered was what Terry was talking about above. he didn't trim the stock studs down, which kept his wheels from sitting flat on the adapters. this caused the studs to break. if your wheels have an extra set of holes in them, then there is no need to trim. when i bolt mine on, i just take a cut off wheel and cut the excess off. no problems here.

he's talking about wheels with dips in rear like this.. wheels like this wld require no altering to the OEM studs