Input from people who run spacers?

Hey guys, got a question. I want to run spacers because they look cool.

I have a 2015 TRD Off road with Bilstein 6112/5160 with the 4runner sema rims 265/70R17 Wildpeaks AT3 in a LT. Rides pretty decent, i like it. Once I installed 2" spacers that were hub centered, the ride became shit. Super stiff and i hated it. Even driving it on a regualr HWY. No vibrations or anything weird, except the stiffness. Took the wheel spacers off, truck rode nice again.

Had a 2006 4runner before the taco that came with 1.5" spacers that i never took off. I ran it with stock suspension, new OEM 5th gen 4runner suspesnsion, Bilstein 5100.....that SUV was always super stiff as well. I hated taking it off road and it had 285/70R17 Falken Wildpeaks (meaning more sidewall which should make it softer). It would be rough even at 18psi. I belive it was all due to the wheel spacers.

What are your opinions? Anyone else have any experience? Or did you install spacers and notice no difference in ride quality?

(Picture of my 4runner and taco for fun. GX460 is what i made my sister buy instead of a RX450 that she wanted)

 

I have never heard of or personally experienced wheel spacers affecting ride quality. They put more stress on wheel bearings but no affect on ride quality. Wheel spacers are the same concept as running wheels with different wheel backspacing.

 

X2

 

x3 I've had spacers on for quite awhile with no impact on ride quality or anything. I have 1.25" up front to clear my UCAs and 2" in the rear to clear my shocks.

 

That's a myth. A well believed myth at that.

As for wheel spacers OP. If they are well designed and built by a reputable manufacturer they will not affect ride quality in any way, shape or form and if anything they will improve your steering due to increase in wheel track width. (The last part is only true if you add them in the front only)

 

Not correct ^^^^^^^ EDIT. I MISREAD / wasn’t paying attention.

SPACERS just like low/aggressive offset wheels can/will wear wheel bearings and other components faster due to applying more stress on these components by pushing the rotating mass further outboard. This is basic physics. I run spacers and they’re fine, but much like any other modification - it has the chance of causing reliability issues if it is not torqued properly, occasionally rechecked and maintained. If you aren’t doing anything crazy - it’s unlikely to cause much of a noticeable difference in longevity IMO. Many factors are involved

 

Gonna disagree. Shifting the load of the vehicle on the wheels by changing the BS will affect the wear of the WBs.

 

How is that a myth? It's basic physics, it's making the lever arm on the wheeling bearing longer. I'm not saying it's any different than wheels with aggressive backspacing, they both put more stress on the wheel bearing.

 

If you don't think backspacing of wheels affect WBs, please go have your ankles surgically moved 2 inches out and go run a 5k and report back.

 

When I had mine I guess I would say that the steering felt a little stiffer. The way the steering wheel returned to center after going around the corner felt different, like excessive caster. Not bad, just different

Going straight down the highway felt the same

I had 1.25s for a while and then went down to .75

 

I didn’t notice any ride quality change with 1” spacers front/rear on my GX.

I mean maybe the 2” is exacerbating a worn suspension component?

And these are quality hub centric spacers not Amazon chinesium?

 

I'm just going to agree to disagree with you guys.

I've argued this issue before with guys ad nauseum on here, and this is a battle I choose not to dance over and over again. I run them myself and they have not compromised the life integrity of the bearings. I'm just here to make my statement and if others want to talk physics and load bearing longevities then that's fine. Applications on paper vs applications in true life are sometimes different and that's all I have to say.

 

I never said it would have a noticeable impact to the point of running through wheeling bearings every 3 months. I don't know how much more stress is introduced, but there is, there's no denying that.

 

Problem is our bearings in OE form especially if you are talking 4X4 are already garbage. Some are lucky to make it to 50K others lucky to make it to 100K. I made it to 110K after beating the ever loving crap out of mine off-road, in the sand in the dirt, in the mud, all of it. I'm at 133K now.

I continue to run my 2" in front and the new non OE bearings are doing just fine.

 

SEE MY EDITED comment. I’m not an dumb, but I sounded dumb. I wasn’t paying attention to the post/s.

 

How can you say our OEM bearings are garbage? That’s an aggressive statement and I don’t think it’s commonly shared across the board. My truck had original bearings at 143k miles with heavy offroad use, & DD. With aggressive offset wheels and 35’s and they still weren’t toast at 143k. One mans experience does not cover a blanket statement of “toyota hubs are garbage”

 

Toyota is not known for having stellar wheel bearing assemblies, in any of their model across the line up both past and moving forward I'm sure it will continue to be a problem. It is what it is. Label the statement what you want but they are not the best in the world, why that is I don't know.

 

Ok! Agree to disagree

 

To answer OP question - again, no, there is no way spacers can affect ride quality

As for the wheel bearings being crap? That's ridiculous.. I have had 3 2nd gen Tacomas and never had a wheel bearing failure. The truck I'm in now is at 240k on original bearings. And that's with an unbelievably hard life, always on a farm either working or during hunting season..

 

IMMEDIATELY laughed out loud to this lol