Wheel Spacers... Should I?

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David Ponder

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I have seen many posts regarding Wheel spacers for the rear using stock rims. I am wondering if there is a true benifit to this. Are most using spacers for the Aesthetic value? Or is there a handling benefit to it?



It looks like the rear wheels are slightly set in from what the front ones are on my 4X4, and I think I read that some have instlled rear spacers to make the rear stance/width the same as the front. I have replaced my shocks with Monroe Reflex, and installed the upgraded Front and Rear anti sway bars. Would adding the rear spacers offer any additional stability? Is it worth it? Thanks for any opinions.
 
Dave,



I can't help too many ppl on this forum due to my lack of knowledge on various topics, but THIS ONE I can field.



I added spacers to my truck a few months after I bought it. I noticed a VERY slight increase in stability and handling. It could just be a "placebo effect" type thing, where you THINK you feel more stability and therefore you DO. However, I purchased my spacers for the aesthetic value. I, like many others, feel that the OEM wheel stance was just not wide enough and left the truck looking kind of silly. I also went up in tire size and the wider stance helps to eliminate some of the rubbing.



I put 1.25" spacers on my front wheels and 1.5" spacers on my rears and noticed a HUGE difference in the looks department. I've received tons and tons of compliments on the look of my truck ever since I installed the spacers.



I should tell you that after I installed the spacers my hub& bearing assembly wore out quickly. They were due for a change anyway. But if you are thinking of installing spacers and have not ever had your hubs/bearings replaced, you may want to consider it, as spacers tend to make them wear out a bit quicker when they are already quite worn.



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EddieS'04 (FastEddie) gave me a good explanation via email last week.



EZAccessory.com had a 1.25" Billet Cut Hub Centric pair for around $80.



I did NOT buy them, per his advice. Hopefully, he will chime in. (Hint) LOL
 
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If you're gonna get 'em, this is the place...and they're on sale...how can you say no?
 
Steve, if you know something SPILL IT! We can't sit around here waiting for our good bud Eddie to fire up his computer!
 
Sorry Shaun and KL, I deleted his email message by accident.



He did say BILLET HUB-CENTRIC is the way to go, should I get them.



I would need him to make sense of my explanation, anyway. Eddie?



 
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I'm kinda confused. Are you saying that the email said that all wheel spacers were bad, or just the ones from EZaccessory.com ??



Sometime in the near future, I was going to pick up a pair, along with the super rear endlinks, & ras, to have the "complete" ST handling upgrade package.



(and even if the spacers really don't improve handling, Shaun is totally right, they make the ST look way better :supercool:)
 
i have the ezaccesory hub centric wheel spacers, they fit great. i prefered the hub centric because the wheel sits on the hub rather then the studs. i know most people say that hub centric isnt neccesary but it gives me peace of mind knowing my wheels arnt gonna fall off at 159kph (100mph). and yes i do drive that fast occassionaly lol
 
I'm not really sure if mine are hub or lug centric. I didn't even know there was a difference when I purchased them! Either way, my wheels haven't "fallen off" ;) nor have I experienced any other type of problem what-so-ever with them.



Is there a way to check (after buying) if they are hub or lug centric? My spacers are billet, of that much I am sure.



I was going to pick up a pair, along with the super rear endlinks, & ras, to have the "complete" ST handling upgrade package.



God that would be nice, I'm still missing the rear swaybar and only upgraded to KYB shocks (which are practically the same quality as OEM for all intensive purposes). :sad:
 
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the hub centric spacers have a small round lip that the wheel sits on. if its lug centric, then there will be no lip, just a flat mounting surface.
 
Wait, Shaun you're not sporting anything more than new shocks? I thought you had the whole ensemble for some reason. Not to disparage you or anything, I was just confused.



...I though lug centric was basically just a giant washer that sat on your lugs between rim and hub, while hub centric completely took over the existing lugs and brought another hub with its own lugs to the party?



 
I dont have spacers but my wheels moved my tires out a little over an inch. There is a big difference in stability. Over all my truck handles better then it did stock and I have 2" lift and 32" tires. The end links I put in a couple of weeks ago where the icing on the cake.
 
I took a photo for you. I wouldnt waste my money on spacers, just get new wheels. You can buy steel wheels for about $60 each. I paid $110 each for mine and they are alluminum.







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This is what I had told Steve,swshawaii. This is not to be taken that spacers necessarily bad. Sometimes they are needed. This is just my my experiance and opinion.



Myself, I prefer to buy custom wheels, that give me the offset for a wider stance. That is what I liked about the wheels I have. They are 18"x 8.5", with 0 offset. The 265/60-18 tires are at the edge of the fender but not out from under the fender. I dont have to worry about, bearings and steering geometry problems. If you go with spacers. Billet and hubcentric is the way to be safe. If you buy less than 1.5" thick. You may have to cut .25" off the factory stud. The factory studs are 1.5" long. So the wheel mounting face will rest on the stud. Instead of the face of the spacer. unless you shorten the studs for the 1.25" spacer.



I got a set of 1.25" thick from Dan Long, when I bought his wheels. I didnt need them. I sold them to a member. He forgot to saw his studs shorter. His rear wheels almost fell off the first hundred miles...LOL. I asked him why he didnt shorten the factory studs, so the faces would mate up. He said, his dad said, not too. So he in turn sold them. He said, he was on the highway, 70mph and the rear wheels started wobling (falling off). His dad almost caused a wreck, with his bad advice.



One other reason I dont care for spacers. When I have used them. I use medium lok-tite on them for safety. Then that turns into a pain in the butt, for brake jobs and other wheel off repairs.



If you plan on spacers on your stock wheels, 16"x7". I would use 1.5" hubcentric, front and rear. Or 1.25" front and rear and shorten the studs. I know some only do the rear, but. I like to keep the aspect stance ratio (front-rear width) balanced. I havent checked the Trac, but. Some cars have a wider width in the front than the rear. It is all about what was engineered into the geometry, for the best steering, stability and tracking control.



One example is the stang in my library. The front wheels were 8" wide, the rears were 9.5" wide. But the offsets were such, that they were geometricly equal. I know that myst members dont seem to have any problems, properly installed. That is just the way I do things, though. I usually have widened the stance on cars I build. I just Like to do it equaly front to rear, with wheels and keep the tires under the fenders.
 
Thanks Eddie, i couldn't have said it better. (Literally) LOL

Seriously, thanks for sharing your thoughts and opinions! :banana:
 
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Eddie,

Is it absolutely necessary to shorten the stubs? Because I installed my 1.25" spacers yesterday but I didnt shorten the stubs. If i have to cut the stubs, whats the easiest way to do that?



Thank you for your help

George T.
 
George,



Do you have stock rims? If so, it is not necessary to cut the studs. I did not find that I had to cut the studs, so I have no problems with spacers at all. Granted, if I get new rims, I will be using Clusterpup's recommendation and finding a set that bring my stance out to where it is currently without the use of spacers (ideally).
 
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