Wheel spacers

[piper mike]

I've been running 32's with 15"x10" white wagon wheels on my 75 with no problems. I found a set of the same size American Racing rims(aluminum) on Craigslist for a good price. I checked the bolt pattern first, then swaped the tires thinking this was a easy swap. I'm now learning the hard way about wheel off sets and backspacing. My rims are now rubbing against my tie rods...I did a little research about wheel spacers and honestly it didn't give me much of a comfort level. Does anyone have experence with this situation? Is it common practice to use a spacer with an aluminum rim or should I just go back to the steel rims? I want to make sure it is safe. Any help would be great.

 

[Bully Bob]

This is a common mistake @ trying to save $$ buying used wheels.

(Tire stores know {have a list} of what fits what.)

IMHO., I'm not comfortable with spacers either. (kind of a budget issue) I'm guessing you'll need all new studs (longer) as well.

Personally., I'd sell those & use the steel., or order up the correct wheels. $-)

HTH

B

 

[Seabronc]

Spacers use the old lugs to hold them on and have a set of lugs built into them. the main problem is that they tend to loosen up and the only way to check and tighten them is to remove the wheel. I'd take Bully Bob's suggestion.

Good luck,

>-

 

[piper mike]

Thanks guys, I'll trust your judgement. I'll find out what they'll actually fit and get rid of them.

 

[broncorckcrwlr]

Thanks guys, I'll trust your judgement. I'll find out what they'll actually fit and get rid of them.

I hear from a lot of people that they don't like spacers because they come loose or they are ******* your wheel bearings but that has not been my experience. I ran 2 inch aluminium spacers on my 66 for the last 5 years. I recently removed the front axle to replace it with a dana 60 and took off the spacers. They were as tight as the day I put them on nor have I had wheelbearing problems either and I've been running 38 inch TSLs. Maybe I've just been lucky.

 

[crankman]

I use 1/4 spacers for years on my 76 never had a problem. You can purchase lugs nuts with slightly longer neck to make up the space. They dont come loose any faster than any other lug nut if torqued correctly. Now never have used anything wider that 1/4 so cant help ya if you need to go there.

 

[BLADE262US]

I have used the spidertrax brand of spacers a couple times not because of lack of budget but to keep the wheels all the same . They make a set that converts the 5 on 4.5 to 5 on 5.5 . I have a jeep and a ranger that I put 8.8 explorer axles in the back and needed the bigger bolt pattern to match the front . They are anodized for extra strength there are some on ebay cheaper but I wanted the extra strength . Wheel spacers add no more stress to your bearings that the offset rims you should have bought are going to do anyway . Like Seabronc said they have a set of lugnut studs in them so not like your putting in extra long wheel studs that would probably stretch causing them to loosen alot this may have been how the older ones were and thats probably where they got thier bad rep at . If you look in any of the jeep magazines as I have been lately they are using them on everything so they can be that bad . Owners opinion and comfort level I suppose I have no problem using them . /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[jhains]

I'm looking for a set of 16" rims to replace my 15" steel wagons. (77 bronco)

Does anybody know what the necessary offset should be?.... so spacers aren't needed?

 

[AdamDude04]

The tire shop sells wheels that look exactly like mine, but painted black (mine are painted silver which match the truck color) and are less than $50 a peice.. not bad for good looking new wheels.

 

[bigbluebronc]

The tire shop sells wheels that look exactly like mine, but painted black (mine are painted silver which match the truck color) and are less than $50 a peice.. not bad for good looking new wheels.

New rims are a great way too go black crawlers are cheep and tuff I have them on the bronco 15*10s on 38s and the yota 15*10s too wide for me on 32s

but spacers and adapters are a feasable way too go if maintained and torqued and checked, I dont like strait spacers if beyond a 1/4 inch go with a adapter/spacer it bolts too the axle then a seperate set of bolts for the wheel and you can change slight patterns 4.5/5 too 5/5. the yota guys use them all the time and I have not heard of failures with well maintianed units, its only 10 minutes of work too check them with a air gun and torgue wrench, cons there is a small potential for extra wheel bearing wear, pros all wheels fit all around, with strange axle swaps, one spare fits all if you carry one, or extreme case carry pry bar, tubes, and air(alot) for repairs, or go crazy and carry lighter fluid and patch and pop them back on the rim (dangerous and scarry)haha

I dont run a spare (it weighs too much) I carry a buddy driving behind me that knows where my tow rig is haha

Good luck

BBB

 

[piper mike]

After thinking over for awhile a decided to spend the 79 bucks on the spacers that Wild Horses sells. They're a pretty nice set up and bolt to the existing studs, all parts included and I could still use my regular lug nuts,took me all of about ten min. to put them on. I figure I'll run them for the summer and see what happens.I'll post again if I end up with problems. Thanks again to all you guys.