Wheel Spacers

[VileZambonie]

Hey 79K20....I'm just actually reading what you wrote now..... I really get a kick out of people who try to sound like they know what they are talking about but haven't a clue.

Let me guess, you also install negative offset wheels on them, too, because you like the deep-dish look?

Is this some kind of dig at me? Please post a pic of any of my rides with wheels sticking out of the body with my uber deep dish negative offset wheels 

The problem with spacers and uber-negative offset wheels is that they effectively change the moment arm for all of the tire loadings onto the suspension components.

What an intelligent statement.

Its like using a pipe extension on a breaker bar. The applied loads don't change, but the moment that the knuckle/axle/bearing must resist is doubled or more, especially with a spacer as large as 2-inches.

Is that a fact?

That is why most reputable tire companies won't even touch a car that has spacers on it. Such companies won't usually even remove spacers because the damage may already be done (see Discount Tire's comments: http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoWheelFAQ.dos They WILL NOT touch your car if it has spacers on it).

Since when is dicounttiredirect a reputable tire company?

It's even worse for steer axles. Ever heard of scrub radius? You drastically change it when you use N-O wheels or a spacer.

Do you even know what scrub radius is? Do you know what steering axis inclination is? Do you know what the included angle is? Do you really know what scrub radius is? Do you know why engineers factor in these measurements? Have you actually ever done an alignment?

Spacers in and of themselves are not necessarily bad as long as they are manufactured and (more importantly) installed correctly and re-torqued often.  Yes RE-TORQUED. Aluminum will creep under load, so it is imperative to re-torque the spacer (i.e. remove the wheels). Vile, have you ever re-torqued a wheel spacer (or new aluminum wheels for that matter)?

Next time you try to insult me why don't you try putting your beer beer down and think before you type.

When is it OK to use spacers: It is possible to have a spacer (combined with a POSITIVE offset) wheel that yields the same overall geometry that was intended by the vehicle designer. For example: a 30mm offset wheel is effectively identical to a 50mm offset wheel with a 20mm spacer. They have the same total width and will exert the same forces on the hub, and the scrub radius is unaffected.

Thanks for the laugh

[murraygmc]

um ......  wow! lol go get em tiger lol 

[screamin86]

I ran 2in spacers all the way around my 82 ta so my 4th gen offset wheels would fit! Many people use them and they seem to work greatm i never had a problem the lil over a year i ran them. I plan to get some spacers to push my rallys out a little so they match.

[79K20]

Easy, Killer. No, I was not insulting anyone.

Like I said, I personally have seen them fail, with really bad results (one, in fact, was fatal). Which is why I felt the need to express the concern to this group. Since you obviously have your own opinion, I will not post on this again.

And, by the way, those engineers you mentioned? I'm one of them. I have a BS and MS in Mech. Engineering, and I work on automotive chassis/suspension design for a living. I also worked as a brake/front-end mechanic for almost 10 years before that.

Cheers. Have a great day.

[VileZambonie]

79K20, opinions are fine. No one is telling you not to have or voice your opinion. Your post did have quite a few things I felt needed my response so I responded.

If you would like I'd be happy to post some more information on front end alignment geometry and how scrub radius is formed.

[Grover 1]

So Vile you said "we are talking about the rear axle", is it ok to run a 1/2" spacer on the front axle.  And should they be retorqued in the front?

[VileZambonie]

I would personally have no problem running a 1/2" spacer on the front. Initial torque is what's criticial. Retorquing is a good idea periodically and thread locker would be adviseable. If you're running a 1/2" spacer on the front you'll probably want a rear spacer also since the rear track is so narrow.

[VeeTwin60]

As was asked earlier in the thread, where do you find your wheel spacers?  I've looked around, but only found stuff for 4x4's.

I have an '86 C10 1/2 Ton 2WD with 15 x 8 rallies.  I want the front to space out about 1/2" to an 1", and the rear to space out 2".

[Captkaos]

Spidertraxx make spacers.  You have to call them for the Chevy's though: http://www.spidertrax.com

[VeeTwin60]

Thanks.

And sorry if I was out of line with my remark that was removed.