Spacer question

I am interested in getting some spacers for my truck. Im trying to figure out what the pros/cons of spacers are. Also which ones are better then others and what the difference between them are. Also as far as size goes, if any body modification is needed for the wider ones.

I want some 2 inch ones to get that aggressive look.

Thanks a lot

 

spidertrax

 

is good? do they make a 1.5"

 

Spidertrax are great. I also recommend All-Pro Offroad, I have a set of 1.5's and love them. Zero issues. But if you live in an area with a lot of rust I would stick to the Spidertrax since they are anodized.

 

I assume wheels? Why not get a different offset wheel? Spacers are not DOT approved on any vehicle. But the cons: increase turn radius, hard on front end components, stresses lug studs, stressed wheel bearings. Remember your putting the weight out further than stock.

 

I would have to recommend Spidertrax.

 

thanks. i live about 10 blocks from the beach

 

Not saying you're wrong just seeing if I'm the only one that thinks this. I've always wondered, wouldn't an offset wheel stick out just the same as adding wheel spacers? Thus producing the same negative effects? But DOT thing is kind of important.

 

that is true; in both cases, you're moving the load bearing point further out, causing more leverage on the bearings and what-not

I've been considering putting 1" or 1.5" on my 06 after the lift and tires in a little bit, but the fact that it's harder on the other components is what's keeping me from doing so...

 

Glad I'm not the only one.

Another reason wheels are better than spacers is you only have 6 lugs per wheel instead of 12.

 

x2

 

Honestly 1" or so probably wouldn't cause much excessive wear, but when you get up to like 2.5" and more, then you're really starting to put some extra loads on the bearings

I'm sure there's some fancy formula to calculate percentages, weights, and that sort of thing with any given width spacer, and I'm no engineer, but just fooling around with RC's for a while and playing with K'Nex and Legos as a kid taught me pretty quick how general physics like leverage works, lol

 

The DOT factor is HUGE. Say your going down the highway at 70mph your wheel falls off you roll and kill someone in the process. Your insurance co will not like you if they found out a non DOT product caused the wreck.

 

That is a very good point. That's why I check the torque on mine every oil change. Haven't had a loose one yet. I love red locktite.

Wish I had the cash for new wheels.

 

i've just noticed that a lot of people argue that spacers exert more force on wheel bearings and hubs because of the added leverage that results from extending the wheel out further. however, you rarely hear that same argument posed regarding running wheels with a lower offset (i.e. a wheel with 0 offset will push the tire out 30mm/1.25" by comparison to the stock rim). just seems like different sides of the same coin.

 

That's the best explanation I've seen yet.

 

Wrong. You have a spacer bolted on to your factory studs then your wheel bolts to the spacer. This stress the hubs and bearing. With a lower offset you have the stock mounting less stress. Now I wouldn't run a low off set and a spacer lol

 

I guess we have to agree to disagree, cause it makes sense to me. But then again, I'm no engineer. But I'll let you know when my bearings fail if ever....

 

It's a Toyota it probably won't happen. Fwiw I work at Ford that may be the prob

 

It's close but not the same thing. With a spacer you are moving the entire wheel out by x". With increased offset you are only moving the tire and outside wheel rim out x", the wheel face is still right off of the hub face. Not a huge difference, as already mentioned, the stresses are increased on the hub with a spacer over an offset wheel.