Wheel spacers

[traveler]

I took a day trip out to the desert with my wife last saturday. Took some trails that included rocky terrain, sandy terrain, and steep hills with small steps. I noticed that with the spacers (which were installed to keep the tire from rubbing on the sway bar) there was some rubbing on the fenders under very specific conditions (wheels turned a specific amount with a specific amount of suspension compression). So I know I have some more fender trimming to do now, as soon as I figure out where it was hitting! (It doesn't rub anywhere while sitting still in the driveway LOL)

By the way I'm using 1" spacers front and rear that I got from Ebay for about 35.00. They are aluminum and appear to be very well made. Hubcentric and fit nice and snug on the hubs.

 

[Centaurus5.0]

As you said, there are many specifics involved when it comes to clearance. Even tire size alone can't tell you if they will clear or not as manufacturer and tire type also come into play and can vary. If you had another brand tire in 265/75-16 you may not have had any rubbing issues but then you can never know until you buy the tires and install them.

Interesting:

From:
SAME SIZE BUT DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS - Tire Business

How can tires of the same nominal size designation vary in diameter by as much as an inch or more? One reason is that the Tire & Rim Association's voluntary guidelines, which most manufacturers follow, afford designers considerable latitude in determining tire section width and outer diameter—provided the sum of these two dimensions meets or exceeds the ``minimum size factor'' established by the TRA.

Put another way, when a tire's section width is added to its outer diameter, the total must exceed the number listed for that size under the ``minimum size factor'' column in the TRA yearbook...

...Thus, the dimensions of both tires were well within industry guidelines even if they varied enough in circumference to damage a four-wheel-drive vehicle's transfer case.

At the extreme, a tire designer could come up with a P205/75R15 tire as large as 27.3 inches in diameter or as small as 26.22, said a tire engineer who asked not to be identified.

That amounts to more than an inch of difference when the tires are new. It doesn't take into account the additional size difference that will accrue if one tire is brand new and the other is worn.

``That's why vehicle and tire manufacturers are constantly making recommendations to replace a set of tires as opposed to replacing individual ones,'' he said."

 

[trueblue1977]

Thanks bkennedy. I'll give Lenny a call when I'm ready to buy. I think with all said I'm going to get 1" up front definitely and go with 1.25 on the rear. Thanks all for the input. Never thought this was going to be a hot topic.

 

[Centaurus5.0]

Something to consider:

If you ever have to use the spare steel wheel, It won't have the clearance for the studs with a 1" spacer. You'll need to bring along a separate socket/wrench for the lug size the spacers come with or have a matching 16" as a spare. I can almost guarantee the lug size to hold the spacers on won't be the same size as the oem 19mm lugs and if they are the factory lug wrench may not fit in the holes in the spacer. You don't want to be stuck in the middle of no-where with a blown out tires, a good spare and no way to get the spacer off.

 

[traveler]

I used the same wrench to put on the spacer and the wheel. So they are the same size. But they fit so snugly it's gonna take a puller to get them off again.

I've been thinking of getting a matching spare wheel anyway.

 

[BKennedy]

Just cut the ends of the studs off flush with the end of the spacer. That's what I did.

 

[Centaurus5.0]

I had to tap mine with a rubber mallet a few time to get it to seat too. Combine that with cast iron and aluminum's propensity to seize together and expansion from brake heat and it might be a good idea to just have an extra aluminum wheel already when you install them.

 

[Centaurus5.0]

Just cut the ends of the studs off flush with the end of the spacer. That's what I did.

LOL

Or that.

 

[CDW6212R]

I used the same wrench to put on the spacer and the wheel. So they are the same size. But they fit so snugly it's gonna take a puller to get them off again.

I've been thinking of getting a matching spare wheel anyway.

I suggest not using a nice wheel as a spare. I have that now under my mail truck, an extra 99-01 Limited wheel I bought(I have 13 now). Under the truck road salts will eat the clear coat much faster since it never gets cleaned. Mine looks like a little bug crawled all over it, nibbling away at the clear coat. It looks like hell, and I try to never use it(I was planning to use the spare(new tire) with the next set I bought, and make one of the new ones the spare).

 

[Centaurus5.0]

...and the steel wheels rust?? Are you saying he needs a swing-out style spare tire mount for the shiny new spare wheel he's soon to procure?

 

[CDW6212R]

His factory wheels are like mine and all of them, the clear doesn't last forever anyway. Under the truck as a spare it really will go quick.

 

[mic98xlt]

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

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

Both you two are talking about the same place, Motorsport-Tech in Reno, Nevada. Lenny is indeed the person to contact and very knowable about the products he represents. About a month ago I purchased 4 wheel spacers for my 2003 Explorer Sport from him. The wheel offset on my '03 Sport is the same as the gen 2 explorers. I came upon some takeoff 2016 Explorer OEM 18 inch rims (gen 5) that are 5 spoke and in perfect condition. The two generations have different offsets so I needed custom hub centric spacers with their own studs that matched the center hub of the brake rotor ('03) to the center bore of the rim ('16). In my case the spacer required was 1.25 inch thick and a non stock size so it was a custom size. Without the custom spacers the rims offset would be completely wrong and the rims too far inside the wheel wheel. I have other wheel spacers (1.25inch) from EBay on my '98 Ex for gen 2 OEM Sport Trac rims over 5 years and never had a problem. This is a very interesting thread.

 

[Centaurus5.0]

His factory wheels are like mine and all of them, the clear doesn't last forever anyway. Under the truck as a spare it really will go quick.

So if I understand you correctly, you're saying he most absolutely needs a swing out so he can keep the road grim off his shiny matching spare which would also place the said shiny matching new spare in a favorable position for cleaning to keep it in a perpetual clean and shiny state so as to match the other four shiny matching wheels when traversing to and from mud pits and rocky terrains less traveled?

 

[traveler]

LoL actually my highest concern with an alloy spare is the steel piece that holds it in place. Wouldn't it dig into and scratch the softer alloy?

 

[Centaurus5.0]

Hmmm... good point.

Have you ever considered a swing out with a lug mount?

 

[traveler]

I've seen the bumper and spare tire mount that Greg has... Green with envy. But not in the current budget. May have to go back to work and augment my retirement to cover my Explorer habit!

 

[Centaurus5.0]

Well then, looks like your stuck with a good ol' ratchet strap on the roof rack.

gman's is pretty sweet!

 

[traveler]

I did cobble together a bracket that bolts to my roof rack so I can bolt the spare up there while I am offroading.

 

[Centaurus5.0]

You do know acid rain, uv rays and bird poop eats clear coating don't you?

 

[traveler]

It's only up there when I'm offroad.