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Wheel spacers (hub or Lug Centric)

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by wurthit4660, Mar 21, 2012.

  1. Mar 21, 2012 at 8:24 PM
    #1
    wurthit4660

    wurthit4660 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    K&N Cold Air Intake Flow Master Muffler 3" Suspension lift
    Picking up a pair soon just wanted to know what would be best/easiest on the truck?

    Hubcentric or Lugcentric

    pros and cons on these two...

    NOte: truck is a mall crawler, no off roading if that makes a difference...have 33/12.50's on it by the way...

    thanks
     
  2. Mar 21, 2012 at 8:32 PM
    #2
    Bogg

    Bogg Well-Known Member

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    Not sure about 1st gens. I got the hubcentric ones for my 2nd gen
     
  3. Mar 21, 2012 at 9:34 PM
    #3
    Anthony250

    Anthony250 Ex Fabricator

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    Get the lug centric can be cheaper. No really con or difference in lug vs hub. Just the way they mount to.
     
  4. Mar 21, 2012 at 10:36 PM
    #4
    SCSPerformance

    SCSPerformance Stealth Custom Series™ Vendor

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    definitely and i mean DEFINITELY:D get the hub-centric ones. this ensures that you can still center the wheels easily and you can sleep better at night knowing that the load is resting on the hub and not the wheel studs. don't try to save a few bucks for no good reason.
     
    Firebird and because_wumbo-truck like this.
  5. Mar 22, 2012 at 7:16 AM
    #5
    wurthit4660

    wurthit4660 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks everyone for the info...
     
  6. Mar 22, 2012 at 1:30 PM
    #6
    Trifenix

    Trifenix Well-Known Member

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    I use lugcentric offroad. No issues. If it was for a car..diff story
     
  7. Mar 23, 2012 at 2:50 PM
    #7
    sixsixsix

    sixsixsix Well-Known Member

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    While this is true. The hubcentric will center the wheel easily... the lug centric will do the same IF you mount the spacer using the STAR pattern when installing the lug nuts. The STAR pattern should be routine for anyone but thats what lugcentric mean... the tapered lugs center the wheel... and its recommended if you use the star pattern when mounting. Ive had my lugcentric spacers for 1.5 years on stock oem TRD wheels with no problems. no vibrations, no swaying, nothing.
     
  8. Mar 23, 2012 at 3:06 PM
    #8
    Boerseun

    Boerseun Well-Known Member

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    It seems like the more expensive ones are usually hubcentric, which should tell you something - $$ usually = better quality.
    But I don't really know; just an observation.
     
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  9. Mar 23, 2012 at 3:09 PM
    #9
    blackhawke88

    blackhawke88 wo ai ni bao bei ^_^

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    I would get the hub centric spacers unless you have to get lug centrics one ie a certain size that isnt offered in hub centric. Even then you can get hub centric ring adapters.
     
  10. Mar 25, 2012 at 9:21 PM
    #10
    wurthit4660

    wurthit4660 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Hubcentric 1.5" spacers purchased... will take some before & after shots for the people who ask what kind of difference they make appearance wise... thanks for all the input fellas ;)
     
  11. Mar 29, 2012 at 10:42 PM
    #11
    wurthit4660

    wurthit4660 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    ok just got the spacers in and haven't really had a chance to totally install them because im waiting to borrow my neighbors torque wrench, but here is a quick before & after pic of just the rear wheel. Looking nice ;) will have full truck pics in a day or two..
    Before:
    25sbcia_0d84a42fcbad7ed6ff55a637008f65b550900327.jpg

    After:
    rhl35z_a2c699ca57421186f4c165b8e61ae9c9ae0739a9.jpg
     
  12. Mar 29, 2012 at 11:17 PM
    #12
    shampoop

    shampoop Well-Known Member

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    +1 on hub centric. Lug centric is easy to center for someone who knows what they're doing with air tools, but for your average joe, especially one with no air tools, hub centric for sure.
     
  13. Mar 30, 2012 at 5:05 PM
    #13
    wurthit4660

    wurthit4660 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    done... not bad had to trim some from the front bumper and some plastic in the back that covers the pinch weld.. other than that pretty happy with the results..

    33pc7d0_c6bf9bb282dfc3e19826d689207854801a53f620.jpg
    2danas6_f225f9de423ae3e765b85676b7ba8a384af7d2fb.jpg
     
  14. Mar 30, 2012 at 5:42 PM
    #14
    Enigmaaron

    Enigmaaron All your soul are belong to us

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    FYI - You should NOT use air tools to mount wheels. Hand tighten then use a torque wrench.

    And as mentioned above lug centric are just fine if you mount them properly using a star pattern to tighten them. I ran 1.5" lug centric adapters for 6 years without a shake or wobble.
     
  15. Mar 30, 2012 at 6:49 PM
    #15
    shampoop

    shampoop Well-Known Member

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    Actually, it works better in most circumstances with zero risk of over tightening assuming you know what you're doing.
     
  16. Mar 30, 2012 at 6:51 PM
    #16
    Tacomadude89

    Tacomadude89 Well-Known Member

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    Muuch better.
     
  17. Mar 30, 2012 at 6:58 PM
    #17
    Enigmaaron

    Enigmaaron All your soul are belong to us

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    No matter how much you know what you're doing with an impact gun you run the risk of cross threading the nuts and will not be accurately torquing the nuts which can lead to the nuts coming loose or breaking the studs. Sure, thousands of mechanics use an impact gun every day to do it, but that doesn't make it right.
     
  18. Mar 30, 2012 at 7:08 PM
    #18
    Slodgetto

    Slodgetto Über Posre

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    You can definately use an impact gun if you do it right...

    ALWAYS hand thread the lug nuts on the studs a couple turns at first, then you can use the impact gun IF you know for a fact it won't tighten the lugs over 83 ft lbs (or whatever torque spec the vehicle has...) or if you use a pre-torque stick rated at 80 ft lbs or less.

    Example:
    [​IMG]

    ALWAYS torque with a torque wrench after doing this though. 83 ft lbs for Tacomas
     
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  19. Mar 30, 2012 at 7:12 PM
    #19
    Slodgetto

    Slodgetto Über Posre

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    Oh, and hub-centric spacers are the way to go, OP. Especially with Tacomas. :)
     
  20. Mar 31, 2012 at 12:33 AM
    #20
    shampoop

    shampoop Well-Known Member

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    Sounds like you've never heard of a torque stick and torque wrench. Or starting the nuts with your fingers first. ZERO RISK of anything you just mentioned. You do realize that using a torque stick and using a torque wrench are not mutually exclusive events right?
     

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