michael b
Active Member
[Broken External Image]:
st with 2" billet wheel spacer/adapters
- Thread starter michael b
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michael b
Active Member
After installing the lift spindles the front tires sat outward alot further then the rear. So I bought the spacers to even it out. The base of the trac is really wide now. I once read that when you lift a vehicle you should also widen the track if possible for safety reasons. Trac feels really stable with the wider rims, 14-15" wide rubber & the spindles/adapters.
Donavan Davis
Member
I was wondering which spacers to order.I have a XLT premium.I was wondering would 2' be too much for the stock height in your opinion or anyone else that reads this. The only planned mods are upgrade shocks and and widen the the track and maybe changing rims to 16x8 somethings but which would you suggest for the stock non lift 1.5 or 2?:unsure:
Althogh I have no need for a lift your truck looks sweet!
Althogh I have no need for a lift your truck looks sweet!
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2003
- Messages
- 22,485
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- Location
- Long Island, NY
- What engine do you have?
- V8 engine
- What year is your Sport Trac?
- 2010
- What Generation is your Sport Trac?
- 2n Gen Owner
Don, 1.25 or 1.5 inch Will do just fine. I have 1.25 on the rears on my st....
Vanilla,
Looks like a minni Monster truck, Or all you need is a huge tall antenna off the side and a remote controll...
LOOKS good !
Todd Z
Vanilla,
Looks like a minni Monster truck, Or all you need is a huge tall antenna off the side and a remote controll...
LOOKS good !
Todd Z
Eric Pennal
Well-Known Member
Vanilla,
Looks good from the back. Got any pics from the side?
Donavan,
I agree with Todd. Unless you want an extreme look like Vanilla's truck, 1.25" - 1.50" spacers are all you'll need if you're just wanting to even out the rear wheels with the front wheels.
I originally had 2" spacers on the rear, and they stuck out too far, IMO. I ended up with 1.3". Here's a comparison between stock and with 2" spacers installed.
[Broken External Image]:
Looks good from the back. Got any pics from the side?
Donavan,
I agree with Todd. Unless you want an extreme look like Vanilla's truck, 1.25" - 1.50" spacers are all you'll need if you're just wanting to even out the rear wheels with the front wheels.
I originally had 2" spacers on the rear, and they stuck out too far, IMO. I ended up with 1.3". Here's a comparison between stock and with 2" spacers installed.
[Broken External Image]:
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michael b
Active Member
I agree with Eric. The only reason I went with 2" is because the spindles made the front sit out wider.
Eric Pennal
Well-Known Member
V G,
Mean lookin' truck, man. I like it!
<img src="http://www.zjstech.net/~library/14796/09-23-05%20008small.jpg">
It looks a lot like an ex-member's (Shabadoobie) Trac. Did you buy it from someone? Doesn't matter - just curious.
Mean lookin' truck, man. I like it!
<img src="http://www.zjstech.net/~library/14796/09-23-05%20008small.jpg">
It looks a lot like an ex-member's (Shabadoobie) Trac. Did you buy it from someone? Doesn't matter - just curious.
DiveDeep 07
Well-Known Member
Hey VG! Please get back to me and email me at: [email protected] on the fender flares I asked you about with the shipping costs, etc. I made an offer for I believe the flares and hooks. I am only interested in the flares. Thanks, Gary!
mookie
Well-Known Member
Eric,
Same truck, same owner!
Same truck, same owner!
Donavan Davis
Member
Thanks for the responses Eric and Todd! I think I have pretty much made up my mind to go with the 1.5 you both suggested
Eric, thank you for the visual I do like the bulldog look.I prefer the truck to look like it is flexing vs hiding the wheels and tires.seeing the picture I do like the 2"
btw what do you all have on the fronts 1.25,1.5,1.3 ? .....anything?.........I'll check back later everyone here is awesome
Donavan
Eric, thank you for the visual I do like the bulldog look.I prefer the truck to look like it is flexing vs hiding the wheels and tires.seeing the picture I do like the 2"
btw what do you all have on the fronts 1.25,1.5,1.3 ? .....anything?.........I'll check back later everyone here is awesome
Donavan
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Eric Pennal
Well-Known Member
I don't have spacers on the front. The main reason I added spacers to the back, was to "even out" the tires in the fender wells so the back looked the same as the front. I don't know if you can tell from this picture, but they are pretty close. Plus, I do like the wider stance.
<img src="http://www.zjstech.net/~library/3497/P7030006.JPG">
Be sure you get spacers that are made to be used with load-centric lug nuts. Load-centric nuts are tapered so they will center themselves into a tapered hole in the spacer. The nuts should be included with the spacers, and have 1/2"x20 threads to match the hub studs. Also, try to get spacers with studs that have the same thread pitch as the hub studs if you can. There's nothing wrong with metric studs, except that you'll have to buy a whole new set of metric wheel lugs to go with them. This picture shows 2" spacers with load-centric nuts.
<img src="http://www.zjstech.net/~library/3497/Wheel%20Spacers-2in.JPG">
Other things to consider: If you get aluminum spacers (which most of them are) the torque used on the lug nuts probably shouldn't exceed 95lbs. Ford recommends 100ft/lbs of torque on the stock wheels. What I'm getting at is, you don't want a shop mechanic torquing down on your aluminum spacers, with his air wrench, and breaking them. Some shops won't even touch wheels mounted on spacers, due to liability concerns (NTB for example). Bottom line - be prepared to do your own tire rotations from now on, so you'll know the correct torque is used.
Also, you know how you're supposed to check and re-torque the wheel nuts after 25-50 miles following a wheel install? Well, you'll need to check and re-torque the nuts holding the spacers on the hubs the same way. This means taking off the wheels again to check the torque on the spacers, but it's a good thing to do. Once you're sure the spacer nuts are set, then you can check and re-torque the wheels afterward. I also test the torque on the spacer nuts every time I rotate the tires (every 5,000 miles).
Good luck, and post pictures after you install your spacers.
<img src="http://www.zjstech.net/~library/3497/P7030006.JPG">
Be sure you get spacers that are made to be used with load-centric lug nuts. Load-centric nuts are tapered so they will center themselves into a tapered hole in the spacer. The nuts should be included with the spacers, and have 1/2"x20 threads to match the hub studs. Also, try to get spacers with studs that have the same thread pitch as the hub studs if you can. There's nothing wrong with metric studs, except that you'll have to buy a whole new set of metric wheel lugs to go with them. This picture shows 2" spacers with load-centric nuts.
<img src="http://www.zjstech.net/~library/3497/Wheel%20Spacers-2in.JPG">
Other things to consider: If you get aluminum spacers (which most of them are) the torque used on the lug nuts probably shouldn't exceed 95lbs. Ford recommends 100ft/lbs of torque on the stock wheels. What I'm getting at is, you don't want a shop mechanic torquing down on your aluminum spacers, with his air wrench, and breaking them. Some shops won't even touch wheels mounted on spacers, due to liability concerns (NTB for example). Bottom line - be prepared to do your own tire rotations from now on, so you'll know the correct torque is used.
Also, you know how you're supposed to check and re-torque the wheel nuts after 25-50 miles following a wheel install? Well, you'll need to check and re-torque the nuts holding the spacers on the hubs the same way. This means taking off the wheels again to check the torque on the spacers, but it's a good thing to do. Once you're sure the spacer nuts are set, then you can check and re-torque the wheels afterward. I also test the torque on the spacer nuts every time I rotate the tires (every 5,000 miles).
Good luck, and post pictures after you install your spacers.
Last edited by a moderator:
Donavan Davis
Member
Mr.E,
Thanks for the reply .I do like the side profile of your truck! That is what I am looking for. If the second picture is the one with 2" thats is what I want.Your truck does not look scared like the tail is between the legs lol! but rather poised for anything tha comes its way.Maybe I will see you around Dallas sometime(richardson,North Dallas)
I will follow your directions as far as purchasing goes.
1. From whom did you order them from?
2. Did they have all the things you suggested to me? (load centric nuts and such)
3. Do they also help reduce that tippy in the turn feeling since the track is pushed out a little more?
Thanks for the reply .I do like the side profile of your truck! That is what I am looking for. If the second picture is the one with 2" thats is what I want.Your truck does not look scared
like the tail is between the legs lol! but rather poised for anything tha comes its way.Maybe I will see you around Dallas sometime(richardson,North Dallas)I will follow your directions as far as purchasing goes.
1. From whom did you order them from?
2. Did they have all the things you suggested to me? (load centric nuts and such)
3. Do they also help reduce that tippy in the turn feeling since the track is pushed out a little more?
Last edited by a moderator:
Eric Pennal
Well-Known Member
Donavan,
It looks like we've hijacked this thread. :lol:
The top picture (the rear-quarter view in the driveway) shows my Trac in its current configuration with 1.3" spacers on the rear.
I bought my spacers from Wheel Works a couple of years ago for $120. If you want to contact them, their e-mail is [email protected]. I also spoke with a very helpful guy (Jim) at Wheel Works who told me several of the points I've mentioned. If you want to talk with someone very knowledgeable about this, his number is 502-568-3130. Of course, this was a couple of years ago, so things may have changed since then. At the time, they were only making spacers with metric studs, so you may want to do some research to see if you can find wheel adapters with 1/2"x20 threads. I believe there are several members on this site who have non-metric spacers. Make sure you specify the bolt pattern as 5x4.5" (that's 5 bolts on a 4.5" circle), and ask if load-centric nuts are included. Don't assume they are. You might find what you're looking for on e-Bay. I always forget to check there first.
As far as handling characteristics go, it's hard to say what difference the spacers made by themselves. I also have wider wheels & tires, the E.E. anti-sway bar, and lowered the Trac an inch, front and back. I think all of those things contribute to a more stable ride.
We should try a mini-meet sometime. I live real close to you - in Sachse.
Good luck.
It looks like we've hijacked this thread. :lol:
The top picture (the rear-quarter view in the driveway) shows my Trac in its current configuration with 1.3" spacers on the rear.
I bought my spacers from Wheel Works a couple of years ago for $120. If you want to contact them, their e-mail is [email protected]. I also spoke with a very helpful guy (Jim) at Wheel Works who told me several of the points I've mentioned. If you want to talk with someone very knowledgeable about this, his number is 502-568-3130. Of course, this was a couple of years ago, so things may have changed since then. At the time, they were only making spacers with metric studs, so you may want to do some research to see if you can find wheel adapters with 1/2"x20 threads. I believe there are several members on this site who have non-metric spacers. Make sure you specify the bolt pattern as 5x4.5" (that's 5 bolts on a 4.5" circle), and ask if load-centric nuts are included. Don't assume they are. You might find what you're looking for on e-Bay. I always forget to check there first.
As far as handling characteristics go, it's hard to say what difference the spacers made by themselves. I also have wider wheels & tires, the E.E. anti-sway bar, and lowered the Trac an inch, front and back. I think all of those things contribute to a more stable ride.
We should try a mini-meet sometime. I live real close to you - in Sachse.
Good luck.
Donavan Davis
Member
First of all, I do apologize to all others on the thread for Hi Jacking it:blink:. It's Vanilla's fault if he did not have such a wicked lifted Trac, well, I may have never had the oppportunity to make an informed decision as to purchase or not to purchase spacers
So does that make it his fault:huh: lol,lol!So I personally do not agree that we could do such a thing:lol:any way I did find some on ebay I will e-mail it to youDonavan
