Spacers

Hey guys im looking into buying 1.25" spacers for my truck, just a couple questions. I have read a few times that it wil mess up my truck in the long run, have any of yall had this problem. Also what would be a good brand to buy if they don't end up messing up the truck, Thanks.

 

I've had 2.5" spacers in my truck for over a year now with no issues at all. Have it aligned after they are installed.

 

I have 1.5 Spidertraxx wheel spacers, I haven't had any problems with them, took about a hour to install, BE SURE to follow instructions, the only way there "dangerous" is if you install them not the popper way!

 

Have you needed new wheel bearings yet?

I have some 1.25" going on.

OP, spidertrax have replaceable studs if they break. They do break occasionally so that would save if you are out of warranty.

 

So basically there isn't really to many known problems with them?

 

I run 2" Bora spacers, great fit and work as intended.

 

i currently run 2in bora spacers and i have run 1.25in spidertrax spacers....i recomend both...zero issues on 35's with hard trail and street use

 

wait, are we talking about wheel spacers or a spacer lift?

 

Holy can of taco shit, maybe he was talking about strut spacers?????

Strut spacers suck monkey butt

 

So is this wheel spacer or spring spacer?

 

Both wheel spacers and strut spacers have 1 intended meaning: To APPEAR as though you have a lifted truck, or extended axle/a-arms, etc. If your intent is to use either as a performance upgrade - you're going to damage your truck. This is my opinion. A lot of people hear the word spacer and freak out - but like I said, thats because people try to use their truck like a baja truck because they installed a $100 chunk of metal on their truck. Spacers are a cosmetic upgrade, not a performance upgrade, it could be argued that they're a performance liability.

So if you go off-roading or tend to abuse your truck, you probably shouldn't get spacers of any kind.

Correction for the sake of shutting people up:

Spacers can be used to add lift and clearance. My point is I am emphasizing the idea that they shouldn't be thought of as a suspension improvement, but I wasn't thinking of clearance issues.

Oh, and all of this doesn't apply to long travel trucks.

 

^^^
What do you plan on doing? Baja or extreme trails, don't (whether its wheel or spring).

Mild trails to hard trails and some sand dunes, wheel spacers are fine, don't touch spacer lifts

Forest Service roads, meh, spacer lifts ride like shit and hit a big enough pot hole you gonna snap your shock.

Mall Crawler...6"Body with 3" Spacers and a 10" Block with some 20" chrome wheels and street tires.

EDIT: At some point would love to have an Overland Expo capable rig, and I like the look of 1.25-2" wheel spacers so I will be putting them on my truck probably before I even lift it.

 

Then why do people with long travel Tacomas have no issues when jumping their trucks when using good quality wheel spacers?

 

Are we in the long travel forum?

It's not the quality of the wheel spacers, it's the extra stress that the rest of the steering/suspension components go through as a result of the longer lever arm from the wheel spacer. Long travel kits don't break because they're ridiculously strong.

Try rippin across the desert in your stock tacoma with wheel spacers and see what happens.

 

The OP's question was asked in the context of a stock truck. Long travel does not apply here.

 

They don't put wheel spacers up front, only the rear to closer match the width of the front. So stress on the suspension and steering components is nonexistant.

The strength of the wheel spacers being able to stand up to the abuse of a long travel truck actually does apply here.

 

This.

It's why many people on here have them.

 

Meh..my wheel spacers are on to clear the welded on spindle gussests, otherwise my tire will rub. They serve a purpose.

Plus they look cool lol and they are well abused..

 

To be honest I intended them just for cosmetic use. Of course I'll be going off roading and mudding etc, I plan on getting a 6"suspension lift with 295 nitto trails. So basically I just wanted a wider stance. Plus any functional use that would benefit my truck. What do y'all thing?

 

That's true - they do add lift and clearance like you said, I was emphasizing the idea that they shouldn't be thought of as a suspension improvement, but I wasn't thinking of clearance issues. Good call.

As for PCBuilder

1) The OP has a stock truck, so he'd be installing wheel spacers on all 4 corners, unless he said otherwise (which he didn't). Unless OP has a long travel kit (which he didn't).

2) The stress on the wheel spacer isn't a concern. They're designed to withstand the stress, I agree with you. But it's not the wheel spacer strength I'm concerned with...

3) By moving the wheel outward, you're increasing the leverage that the wheel has on the rest of the system. The 'system' is basically acting as a lever and by adding a spacer you're increasing leverage, etc etc etc. blah blah ==== more stress. You get it.