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The Pros and cons of wheel spacers

Discussion in 'Wheels & Tires' started by mjm540ii, Feb 28, 2012.

  1. Feb 28, 2012 at 9:46 AM
    #1
    mjm540ii

    mjm540ii [OP] Ding Dang Dee

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    Ok, as it stands, I know little about this subject. I am starting this thread so others like me will be able to find all they need in one place. I understand that spidertrax and all pro seem to be the brands to buy. Please discuss the pros and cons along with any experiences regarding the use of wheel spacers, including success (better wheel clearance, etc.) and failures (ball joint problems, etc.). Hopefully this helps others considering wheel spacers other than myself.

    Thanks
     
    Deucer01 likes this.
  2. Feb 28, 2012 at 9:51 AM
    #2
    98tacoma27

    98tacoma27 is going full "SANDWICH" Moderator

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    Some stuff. Not a lot, just some.
    Just an FYI, ECGS sells Toyota spacers in different thicknesses also.
     
  3. Feb 28, 2012 at 10:23 AM
    #3
    SCSPerformance

    SCSPerformance Stealth Custom Series™ Vendor

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    whatever brand you choose to buy, make sure they're hub centric adapters. i have a set of allpro and my brother has a set of spidertrax, neither of us have issues. we both added them to get push out the stock Toyota wheels after our lifts. torque them properly and you should not any issues.
     
    strongrob likes this.
  4. Feb 28, 2012 at 2:10 PM
    #4
    mjm540ii

    mjm540ii [OP] Ding Dang Dee

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    Fog light mod, interior LED's, illuminated switch, B110 5100's in the rear, Satoshi Grill, Hella 500's, 4X Innovations sliders, rear diff breather mod, painted rocker panels, bhlm, yellow wire mod, CB, Wheeler's 2"aal, Allpro diff skid, ubolt flip, LR UCA's, 885X's w/ 13mm spacer on 5100's, Spydertrax spacers, Relentless IFS/ mid/ T case skids, 255/85/16 KM2s, block heater, DTRL mod, T2 eyelids, Wheelers Superbumps, Extended SS brake lines, ATO shackle flip kit,1" 4Crawler BL, Elite fr plate bumper, Flyzeye LEDs, Drilled and slotted rotors, 20" LED bar
    pros? cons? experience?
     
  5. Feb 28, 2012 at 3:37 PM
    #5
    NC15TRD

    NC15TRD Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the link! Op, I have never seen anyone on this site have an issue with spacers. I've never seen anyone on this site complain about a proper spacer
     
  6. Feb 28, 2012 at 3:44 PM
    #6
    tacoma89

    tacoma89 Money Pit

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    Check build in sig.
    been running spidertrax for 3 years now. no problems and they do the job
     
  7. Feb 28, 2012 at 4:09 PM
    #7
    mjm540ii

    mjm540ii [OP] Ding Dang Dee

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    Fog light mod, interior LED's, illuminated switch, B110 5100's in the rear, Satoshi Grill, Hella 500's, 4X Innovations sliders, rear diff breather mod, painted rocker panels, bhlm, yellow wire mod, CB, Wheeler's 2"aal, Allpro diff skid, ubolt flip, LR UCA's, 885X's w/ 13mm spacer on 5100's, Spydertrax spacers, Relentless IFS/ mid/ T case skids, 255/85/16 KM2s, block heater, DTRL mod, T2 eyelids, Wheelers Superbumps, Extended SS brake lines, ATO shackle flip kit,1" 4Crawler BL, Elite fr plate bumper, Flyzeye LEDs, Drilled and slotted rotors, 20" LED bar
    just wanted to know, whats the deal with the rumor about bad ball joints? Why Run with spacers in the first place??
     
  8. Feb 28, 2012 at 4:12 PM
    #8
    tacoma89

    tacoma89 Money Pit

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    Check build in sig.
    i run them for clearance. I have TRD rims with a wider tire and it was contacting the UCA. Now they have plenty of clearance.
     
  9. Feb 29, 2012 at 9:26 AM
    #9
    sixsixsix

    sixsixsix Well-Known Member

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    I have 1.5" AllPro spacers. I got the ET style lug nuts for more bite and for piece of mind. Mine are lug centric and I have TRD TT wheels mounted to them. The conical seat lug nuts will self center the spacer and wheel to the hub.
    Ive had mine installed for about a year now with no issues. I use them to get a wider stance.
     
  10. Feb 29, 2012 at 10:18 AM
    #10
    drifter

    drifter moderately modded

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    Wheel spacers push the wheel out from the hub. This extra distance acts like a lever on the joints etc. You know how the longer a pry bar is the easier it is to move something? Well, now apply that to your wheels.

    That's how I understand it. May not be 100% accurate. Just think of the extra leverage they cause.
     
  11. Feb 29, 2012 at 10:25 AM
    #11
    Burgman

    Burgman I KEEEEEL YOU

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    Aftermarket wheels give you the same backspacing, making the effects the same. Spacers also give you more threads to tigten the wheels too as aftermarket wheels usually only leave a few threads for the lig nut.

    All that being said i have run my spidertrax for 50k and a dozen wheeling trips and havent had one single problem. Needed them to keep my 35s off my camburg spindles
     
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  12. Feb 29, 2012 at 1:39 PM
    #12
    drifter

    drifter moderately modded

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    nice. I'm not saying that with spacers you will have problems. You may have problems, you may not.
     
  13. Mar 4, 2012 at 1:01 PM
    #13
    GregLee98

    GregLee98 Well-Known Member

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    Ok, got that stuff. OP thanks for the thread.
    So my tires rub barely at full lock only. I have a 3 in lift and 275/75/R17 Goodyear Wrangler MT/R w/Kevlar on them. If I get 1.25 in spacers, will I get more rubbing? I don't know how if you push them out you get more rubbing, but I've heard it in threads.
    Will I get more? Stock wheels for TRD Sport 17 in.
     
    2K01SpaceOtterSea likes this.
  14. Mar 20, 2012 at 11:33 AM
    #14
    Sunner

    Sunner Well-Known Member

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    I tried searching but could not find the answer so Ill ask here, will getting 1.25 or 1.5" spacers cause my stock size tires to rub my fenders? On a 2nd gen.


    EDIT: I meant to say at stock height(no lift)
     
  15. Jan 13, 2015 at 9:03 AM
    #15
    AustinDeh

    AustinDeh Well-Known Member

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    What is the correct Torque specs for these? I have the Allpro 1.25" but can't find the specs anywhere and don't want to put them on until I do. I read somewhere that its between 80 - 100 ft/lb.
     
  16. Jan 13, 2015 at 2:08 PM
    #16
    rbeezy

    rbeezy Well-Known Member

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    I torqued mine at 80. No problems so far
     
  17. Jan 13, 2015 at 2:21 PM
    #17
    Mademan925

    Mademan925 Senor Taco

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    enough to go over stuff
    I bought the spydertrax 1.25 for all 4 wheels. No issues. I rubbed the cmc and fender more but alittle trimming fixed that.

    [​IMG]
     
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  18. Sep 9, 2016 at 10:38 AM
    #18
    duvinclunk

    duvinclunk Well-Known Member

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    I see of a lot of these spacer horror stories. Are these happening due to cheap spacers or improper use?
     
  19. Sep 9, 2016 at 10:47 AM
    #19
    Mademan925

    Mademan925 Senor Taco

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    enough to go over stuff
    Probably alittle of both. Spacers need to be high quality and hub centric. Also, they need to be installed correctly and re-checked every 10,000
     
    Bulljolly and CementTRDOffRoad like this.
  20. Sep 9, 2016 at 10:50 AM
    #20
    duvinclunk

    duvinclunk Well-Known Member

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    Mostly I see people saying they had studs sheer off. What causes a stud to sheer off? Low quality metal? Loose attachment?
     

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