rim backspacing vs wheel spacers

[Peter Westling]

Hi,
I will get me a set of wheelspacers at a reasonable price. I know that both rim backspacing and wheelspacers put more stress to the bearings and probably the balljoints. But what is the preferable solution? Does it matters or is the physic laws the same on both solutions?

How can I tell the rim backspacing if I buy secondhand an the prev owner dont know? Anyway to measure it?

Regards

Peter

 

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

Peter, backspacing is the measurement taken from the mounting flange of the wheel, to the outer edge of the rim (toward the inside). You'll have to remove a wheel to measure it, or measure the spare, assuming it's the same size wheel. Place a straightedge on the wheel edge, and measure from it to the wheel mounting flange. This measurement is the backspacing.

Both wheel spacers and excess backspacing place more stress on suspension components and wheel bearings. The stock backspacing for a 7" wide Explorer wheel is 4.625". Hope some of this helps.

 

[Peter Westling]

Okej, thanks, I will go home, convert to metric and measure!