wheel spacers

[dalefan88]

whats the biggest you can go before you start putting to much stress on wheel bearings ect ect.

 

[CJ]

I don't ever run wheel spacers, but if you must, 1" is allot and 2" is a whole lot! The stress on the bearings is the same whether you use highly offset wheels or spacers. The spacers put the load on the studs and the flanges.

Think about it this way, if the wheels are offset or you use spacers, the center of the wheel is the same distance from the bearing no matter how you get it there...

 

[projectcrawler]

If you don't mind me asking, why are you thinking about wheel spacers. Clearance issues?

 

[dalefan88]

no the wife likes the look of the tires sticking out more. i think she is thinking of jeeps with widetracks.

 

[projectcrawler]

Easy fix. Unbolt the u bolts and slide the axles 2" towards the drivers side. That way when she drives, the tires will stick out on her side and be stuffed in on your side. Plus no side effects of wheel spacers. Seriously, if you go wider on the tires, but keep the wheel the same, the center of the tire is in the same place, but the tires will stick out a little farther. That can help the look without as much side effects. Have to watch how wide you go, too wide and you will rub on full lock turns. Just check clearance now at full lock each way. You could also combine a slightly wider tire with a small space to accomplish this also. These things will minimize leverage on wheel bearings, but will not eliminate it.

 

[dalefan88]

ya i think we are going to leave it alone. i would like to spend that money on something else. like a lift.:drool:

 

[coldwater]

I would never recommend the use of wheel spacers under any circumstances. a very bad non solution to a non problem. They cause premature failures, and are an instant weak point. On a vehicle like a little Jeep, a failure like having a wheel just break off is potentially deadly. If you must, considder off set wheels, but even then they will add a little more bearing stress than it was designed for. Spacers???? No sir.

 

[slimer]

As was said, running wheel spacers will have the same affects of wider rims with more off set. The bearings will fail earlier as will the ball joints because you're moving the load center out from between the inner and outer bearings. It's also hard on the ball joints.

 

[dave pam]

Dalefan88 I am runing x12.5x15 on after market MT rims and the wheels stick out about 3", this is with stick fender flairs, If you keep the stock flair I think that will give the look you want.

 

[dalefan88]

ya thats the look we wanted.

 

[dave pam]

this might be a better shot.

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[dave pam]

I am running 33x12.5.15 wheels, 15x8" Mickey Thompson rims with 3.5" back space.
I found the rims and tires used off Craigs list, look around and see what you can find to make sure you get the look you want be for eyou end up spending top dollar for new.

Dave

 

[ramblux1]

I agree with what everyone else is saying here. A good quality set of spacers would likely be about the same price as a set of wheels with a lower offset. It's not that I don't believe in using spacers -- I have before and I likely will again for some of my 2WD car projects -- it's that, especially with an off-road vehicle, it's one more possible point of failure.