Wheel spacers

[trueblue1977]

I’m wanting to give my 2000 Eddie Bauer a wider stance. The wheels look like they are sunk in the wheel well to much due to the fender flares. I have been looking at the bolt on type spacers made by bora. The studs are 1 3/8 long so I’m considering the 1.5 spacers. Has anyone ran spacers on stock rims and size tires? I’m worried about rubbing on the steer tires. I wouldn’t mind 1 inch but the studs would stick out past the spacer. I talked to a guy at bora and he said usually stock wheels have impressions on the back side where the extra 3/8 would not be a problem. Does anybody know this for sure. Thanks for any input.

 

[imp]

I’m wanting to give my 2000 Eddie Bauer a wider stance. The wheels look like they are sunk in the wheel well to much due to the fender flares. I have been looking at the bolt on type spacers made by bora. The studs are 1 3/8 long so I’m considering the 1.5 spacers. Has anyone ran spacers on stock rims and size tires? I’m worried about rubbing on the steer tires. I wouldn’t mind 1 inch but the studs would stick out past the spacer. I talked to a guy at bora and he said usually stock wheels have impressions on the back side where the extra 3/8 would not be a problem. Does anybody know this for sure. Thanks for any input.

From an engineering standpoint, spacing wheels and tires outwards (or even inwards), away from the axle bearing, places an additional load on them not designed for. The best possible loading for the axle bearing occurs when the line through the center of the tire passes downwards through the axle bearing. Would it cause bearing problems? Not for awhile, maybe not for a long time. Is it worth the chance? Not in my book. imp

 

[trueblue1977]

I will take this into consideration. Although I only drive on average about 10 miles a day so I'm not worried about wearing out the axle bearings.

 

[traveler]

I have 1" spacers on my 2000 Eddie Bauer. The rear ones are just to move them outward (as you said with the flares they just look better). The front I put on to provide extra clearance for the 265/75/16 MT tires. Haven't had any issues yet, but will post if I have any. There is a slight indentation in the back of the wheel where the studs would go in. If you're concerned about the fit measure and see how deep the impression is.

 

[trueblue1977]

Thanks traveler. I'm going to take a wheel off on Sunday and take a look. I would like to go with a 1 inch up front and a 1.25 in the rear. The rear looks tucked in more than the front to me. Im just worried that 1.25 might rub the front bumper when the steering is cranked all the way to the right or left.

 

[traveler]

I have trimmed a little off the bumper and the back of the flare to prevent rubbing. But im running oversized tires.
I've considered going with 1.25 in the back, but I already have the 1" and I'm notoriously cheap. LoL

 

[trueblue1977]

I understand the cheap part lol. I don't want to get stuck with spacers I can't use so if your stock wheels work with the 1 in spacers then that's what I'm going with. 1.25 in on the rear. I'm running stock size 255/70/16 faulken it's. Shouldn't have a problem rubbing.

 

[Tyler Robinson]

Go with 2 inch on the rear and 1.5 on the front

 

[traveler]

There is some truth to the risks of spacers. The more offset the wheels are, the more stress they'll put on the hubs and ball joints. So I used the smallest spacers I could find that would get the job done.

 

[trueblue1977]

There is a 5/16 indention on the factory wheel. 1 in spacers is a bad idea only leaving 1/16 for the stud. Going with 1.25 in spacers leaves 1/8 of the stud sticking out past the spacer. This leaves plenty of room for the factory rim to bolt up to the spacer.

 

[trueblue1977]

This will change the offset from a -13mm to a +19mm

 

[Centaurus5.0]

I have Eibach 25mm (1") spacers on the rear with stock 16" wheels and had no issues with the factory stud length.

Just a heads up, 15" Teardrops do not have those indents.

::EDIT::

I went out and took the tire off to make triple sure (I double checked when I installed) that there was no contact between the studs and wheel. All good.

Nice and flush to the fender bulge with a 1" spacer and a 245/70-16 Mich LTX (rear).

I don't have front spacers and have no experience with that. Perhaps a 1" in front and 2" in back is what your looking for depending on tire size.

 

[CDW6212R]

The 1/2" studs must have at least 1/2" of thread engagement by the lug nuts. Check that before tightening anything up.

I had to install longer studs to use 18" wheels I bought almost ten years ago. The 35mm offset required at least a 1/4" spacer, which I already had. But with the spacers, I only had about 3/8" of stud threads available. You do not want to install longer studs, don't even think of that. It was another PITA, a machine shop had to work on them twice to get them in straight(4WD front hub). So I have a unique wheel/hub/rotor that I plan to use up one last set of tires, and scrap the odd parts then.

 

[pjtoledo]

There is a 5/16 indention on the factory wheel. 1 in spacers is a bad idea only leaving 1/16 for the stud. Going with 1.25 in spacers leaves 1/8 of the stud sticking out past the spacer. This leaves plenty of room for the factory rim to bolt up to the spacer.

View attachment 151832

see the contact rings on the backside of the wheel? the area between the rings where the lugs hole is does not touch the disks. be certain the spacer is wide enough to cover the outer ring.

 

[trueblue1977]

I see the inner and outer ring now. I didn't catch that. Guess that adds another 1/16 inch so that's why Centaurus has no problems with the 1 inch spacer

 

[Dunerunner123]

I have 1inch bora spacers and I love them. But what ever been u buy just make sure u get hubcentric spacers, or else ur risking your weeks to fall off, because the cheap spacers out there don't rest on the hun so when u put your tire on the are solely resting on the bolts and not the hub which is dangers.

 

[trueblue1977]

I'm looking at bora spacers. Called them actually and they have made a bunch over the years just for explorers.

 

[Centaurus5.0]

Whats the best price you've seen for the bora's trueblue?

The eibachs typically go for about $140-150 a set. I got lucky and swiped mine off ebay for $100. Ad specified it was an 'open box' item but received a new set still wrapped in plastic. I read a bunch of sites hearing horror stories and perhaps unfounded fears of inferior made spacers and just wanted the high quality I could find. I didn't come across boras when I was researching last year though? It was basically Spidertrax, eibach or no-name off ebay. I see they are made in merica.

 

[trueblue1977]

47.50 for 1", 52.50 for 1.25", and 57.50 for 1.5". This is for each. They make spacers and adapters for many makes and models. Go to motorsport-tech.com

 

[BKennedy]

If you are going to go with wheel spacers, you need hub and wheel centric spacers. The studs are not an issue since the spacers come with their own studs pressed-in. Using spacers without their own studs is not safe. I would not go more than one inch because you will wear out the front bearings much faster, especially if you are doing it for looks.

I had BORA make me a custom set of adaptors for the with the 5on5.5 bolt pattern to match my front axle. I got them as slim as possible, which ended up being 7/8" thick. BORA sent me lug nuts that were slim enough to fit inside the adaptors. My wheels are not factory and I think the offset is 3.5", which put them centered over the axle ends front and rear, with the adaptors. They are hub and wheel centric. The adaptors have been through four years of serious off-roading and look new. Call them and ask for Lenny, he will give you a better deal than you can get on-line. (775)351-1000