Any thoughts on wheel spacers?

[J. Kennedy]

Performance Products is having a 15% off sale so I decided to splurge on the 2" wheel spacers, which should widen the track 4" frt & rear. These are significantly more than the big washer - type widgets sold JC Whitney, Kmart, Pep Boys. I have already added Edelbrock shocks to my 95 XLT.

Anyone have any info or experience on this? I'm mainly concerned with the "contact patch" of the front tires, safety, & handling. I do mostly dry/wet/snowy/icy New England driving. Any opinions provided would be greatly appreciated. THX, JK.

 

[RytM1]

J, check out previous threads on this topic. There seems to be mixed reactions , but it seems that spacers may put added stress on suspension parts. http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=18685

 

[RON COX]

On the rear you probably won't have any problems, but the front is another story. The bearings on the front hub are too close together and spacers will just add more leverage to the outside putting more pressure on your bearings which will fail sooner. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Anime]

whoa

Wheel spacers on a 4x4? No way..DONT USE THEM!

The aluminum ones today are great, but mostly good for spacing out custom wheels and changing bolt patterns to fit your new wheels that arent made in you bolt pattern. This are fine for on-road use..however, if you plan on ANY type of serious wheeling, you risk damaging not only your spacers and wheels, but also every suspension component..they do add a TON of stress and leverage to everything..keep sets of ball joints and wheel bearings handy.

 

[SteveVB]

Maybe Im missing something, but please explian how using spacers to move the tire and wheel out would put more stress on the sus. components than using a wheel with less back spacing than the factory? If you put anything larger than what it was originally designed for your going to stress it. When we put larger tires and wheels on we stress them, just takes a bit more care in maint. and more frequent checks to make sure things are OK.

My concern with spacers has always been the sandwich of different metals and one bolt which could loosen with the temp changes a wheel,hub sees. The ones from Performance bolt seperately to the hub, and then the wheel bolts to the spacer. So as long as you keep the nuts torqued on Both sets of studs they should be OK.

 

[Anime]

well

generally a larger tire requires a wider wheel to fit without rubbing...a wider wheel requires a deeper dish (less backspacing) to put the inside of the tire close to where stock is or wherever necesary to prevent rubbing...however, throughout all this, if done correctly, the INSIDE contact point of the tire remains the same or close to the same.

A wheel spacer with FACTORY wheels or wheels the same backspacin as factory or less will cause the ENTIRE tire to be moved out from the vehicle.so the entire contact point of the tire is moved out as well.

Whats the big deal? Youre increasing the track width (distance from right side to left side) by adding to the bolts and system designed to mount the wheel. Why is this bad? Best example is a lever..the longer the lever, the move leverage. Any axle is just like a lever..and its pushing or pulling on the resistance of springs or torsion bars...adding spacers makes the "lever" longer and is goin to apply more leverage and therefore wear and tear to your suspension.

If you check and keep checking them, they should work ok...but its a pain to take off all the wheels just to tighten the lugs.

Youd just be better off to buy wheels with the backspacin you need since it will just bolt up too instead of having an extra part (spacer) between the wheel and the mount.

Again, the only real reason to go with spacers is if the wheel you absolutely want and have to have no matter what isnt available in a bolt pattern or the backspacing you need (i.e. using a FWD wheel on a 4WD)

 

[J. Kennedy]

Thanks for all the opinions!

I really appreciate all the pro & con discussions; as well as the previous threads. I decided to actually cancel the order. My goal to try to abate the dreaded rollover. I've already added Edelbrok shocks, tightened up the rear springs with add - a leafs, and replaced the end links and bushings on the roll bars. It is not as bad as it was when it was stock, but I could still flip it in a heartbeat.

It rarely goes off road, but does seem to encounter a LOT of suspenson stress on these crappy Massachusetts roads. I just had a THIRD set of sway bar end links ( this time under recall at the dealer) since the first FOUR broke; and the ball joints need to be done, all this only at 50k! I did not want that stress to be tranferred to the bearings due to the spacers.

If anyone else gets them, let me know what you think. Thanks, JK

 

[Anime]

idea

ahh now see we can help with that one..

If youre just trying for more stability, youre on the right track with better shocks and all that.

Since you have a '95+ and already did the add-a-leaf, just twist your torsion bars to match..it should firm it up a tad maybe.

Explorer Express and several other places also offer thicker swaybars for your ride..for stability this is my personal opinion on where your money is best spent. A set from Hellwig or Addco or any reputable company will let yur Explorer corner FLAT..no kidding. Explorer Express has pre-made kits with Front and Rear bars and bushings. The thicker bars will allow much less body roll than stock, however, they WILL sacrifice a little off-road performance, but as you stated, you dont go off-road much.

You could also lower your Explorer a bit (1-2"), which is another kit Explorer Express offers..or you can simply go to the parts store and buy a set of small lowering blocks for the rear, and lower your ride in the front with the torsion twist..this will lower the center of gravity just a hair but allow a little better turn and cornering performance.
this will also sacrifice some off-road abilty (clearance mostly) but for the price of lowering blocks and u-bolts ($30?) if you have the torsion bars, its the cheapest way to get a bit more of the effect yure apparently looking for.

Other than that, just safe and smooth driving will almost always prevent a rollover from ever happening

[Edited by Anime4x4 on 01-18-2001 at 05:22 PM]