wheel spacers causing vibration?

[kigidy]

i just added 1" spacers (hubcentric) and 18 inch rims to my explorer 02 xlt 4x4 and im getting a steering wheel vibration at 65 and up. i have gotten the tires balanced twice now. so im ruleing that one out. they only fit with the spacers so i cant rule the spacers out. but my factory wheels dont give me any vibration when on without the spacers. if i want to put those on with the spacers to see if it vibrates i would have to shorten the studs, i dont want to do that just to check. so i guess what im asking is, is it possible that my bearings are going bad but not enough to notice with the factory setup?
or has anyone else experienced this problem? are the spacers putting on just a little more pressure to make it noticable?

thanks for your help

 

[JCUZ]

See that sticker on the side - there's your problem, putting the whole thing out of balance. OK, seriously, yes, wheel spacers may cause vibration, especially if they are not perfectly round and perfectly balanced. your options are to either replace them with a locally made product for which you can get local warranty, or just go less than 65.

 

[m4dc0w]

I had a similar problem with some USA made spacers, similar looking as yours. The first install I noticed a vibration, but I removed them and reinstalled them making sure that every nut was tightened evenly (use a torque wrench) and it worked fine after that.

-mc

 

[jutgin]

Make sure the kind you bought are I think what they call "hubcentric" so that when they mount they are centered to the hub and won't come off balance. I have run them for years on a sport trac, avalanche, 02 Explorer and virtually no problems but there was a time I had to remove and reinstall to make sure they were centered properly.

 

[kigidy]

how many foot lbs. of torque on the wheel spacers nuts? and wheels? i did that at first with 85 lbs of torque on every nut makeing sure to snug then tighten in a star pattern, and i still had vibration. also i had the wheels and spacers balanced together so if the spacers were off that they would be ballanced now as long as i always use that spacer with that wheel with the lugstud in the same hole on that wheel, which i engraved a number on wheel + spacer so i cant get it wrong. any more thoughts on hub bearings or anything else. this problem is starting to get old real quick someone please help.

 

[m4dc0w]

I know all my tires are set at 100 lbs, and most tire shops recommend that.

I set my spacers at about 115 lbs, with just a touch of blue loctite. Havent had any problems with it since.

-mc

 

[kigidy]

thanks for your help. ill try again tomorrow.

 

[chris's2005]

i got 1.5 inch spacers, and notice a vibration. i took them off and put them back on and it still does it.

Is this a direct effect due to the new wider stance, and also when im in ecess of 30 mph with 4x4 engaged the truck pulls it self all over is this also due to the wider stance?

 

[edgar_88]

See that sticker on the side - there's your problem

HAHAHAHA!!!! sorry, but i was thinking the exact same thing before scrolling to your post!

 

[JCUZ]

i got 1.5 inch spacers, and notice a vibration. i took them off and put them back on and it still does it.

Is this a direct effect due to the new wider stance, and also when im in ecess of 30 mph with 4x4 engaged the truck pulls it self all over is this also due to the wider stance?

You need to ensure the spacer lug nuts are done up evenly (use a torque wrench). If this doesn't work, it may be that the spacers do cause some vibration - you can get an on car wheel balance, and this would work as it would take account of the whole rotating assembly, not just the rim 7 tyre combo normally done with balancing off the car.

 

[macknos94]

i had the same issue with my spacers but didnt have them on long enough to figure it out what caused the vibration. i did everything he did and got them aligned. still no luck

 

[guitarfrk741]

havent had any problems with mine...had em for close to 5 months now

torqued all the nuts to 112 ft lbs if i remember right

 

[JCUZ]

I've had mine on for a while now too with no issues. I removed them today thogh, because the new (to me) 32" Cooper STTs on 17x8 were rubbing at full lock. Took the spacers off and clearance is better - it just touches now instead of rubbing hard on the inside of the mud flap. Weird, because this didn't happen with 1.5" spacers and 7" rims!

 

[crash594]

Make sure the nuts and studs holding the spacer on are not hitting the rim when installed. They could cause the rim not to sit flush.