Axle Extensions?


Ranger Kip

Ranger Kip

15+ Year Member

⭐Supporting Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
May 2, 2010
Messages
2,966
Points
3,101
City
Wellsboro
State - Country
PA - USA
Vehicle Year
2006
Vehicle
Ford Ranger
Drive
4WD
Engine
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
My credo
Confused and Intolerant
I have been designing a few different methods of cheaply extending your axle outward without putting strain on the vehicle.

Any worries I should consider before I make my final designs?
 
Define extension, like extending wheelbase, or making track width wider via spacer etc. Kinda hard to give a proper answer without knowing whats being done.
 
Spacer that mounts between the rim and the axle
 
Your talking wheel spacers...depends on how much your talking about extending...anything more that 1/2" I'd go to a different offset rim, either way you will be putting more strain and less life on your wheel bearings
SVT
 
Well, it's going to put extra strain on the axle and bearings no matter what your design is. It's simply a result of added leverage.

There are some smart ways and some dumb ways to do wheel spacers. Search. There's lots of knowledge out there on the subject.
 
My design is supposed to flex with the suspension, and wont allow you to go farther than maybe 4 or 5"? Depends on its use and function, for standard suspension and DD use, maybe a 1 or 2" extension. Any more than 5.5", and even my simulations ran that the rim to axle mounts would bend and throw a wheel and destroy an axle.
 
Now I'm really confused as to what you are talking about here....

Of course it would flex with the suspension...the spacers bolt to the axle flange...the axle is bolted to the suspension...?
 
Ranger Kip said:
My design is supposed to flex with the suspension, and wont allow you to go farther than maybe 4 or 5"? Depends on its use and function, for standard suspension and DD use, maybe a 1 or 2" extension. Any more than 5.5", and even my simulations ran that the rim to axle mounts would bend and throw a wheel and destroy an axle.
Click to expand...

5" wheel spacer?


:shok:
 
the spacer has a joint on it that allows it to move up and down under pressure.

think of a closed door hinge with a spring in the center, the spring will keep the 2 ends of the hinge from touching, the rim is attached to one side of the hinge, and the axle is on the other, this creates a second form of suspension in addition to being a spacer.
 
in general.
 
ok I get it.

run fullwidth axles.
 
No matter how it is designed or engineered, a spacer is still a spacer, and you will put tremendous loads on the bearings and cause premature wear and failure
SVT
 
Oh top of the fact that I'm fairly sure the idea you are proposing here is in no way street-legal in PA.

Once you get those tires much more than 1/4 inch out past the fenders it's not legal without flares.

But I'm with Bog, for that kind of extra track width, just run full width axles.
 
I have had 1.25" wheel spacers on the rear of my B2 since about 2003. They are the kind that have their own studs and bolt onto your flanges. I used thembecause I have an early Ranger 8.8 that was narrower than the B2 7.5.

What Kip is suggesting is not only mechanically impossible, but a lot of wasted effort as a full-size axle is the right width. The axle has to rotate, and deliver power, and braking force.
 
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