Question for Those of You Running Wheel Spacers.

[cmcolfax]

We've all been in the time and money crunch before.

I've seen wheel spacers come undone and it's never pretty. I just don't like the additional points of failure.

I'd suggest getting wheels (even used) that have a 3.75 back space. That's really the aftermarket industry standard for aftermarket Ranger wheels. So an 8 inch wide wheel with 3.75 inch back space will get you 1 3/4 inch wider per side... 3 1/2 inches overall.

It won't fix the staggering front to rear... but i live with it. I just don't trust spacers enough to use them.

I know it doesn't answer your question... but if you "NEED" width to match... just putting them on the rear is better to me then running them on all four corners.

Yeah... Life is expensive and takes time!

I actually ran 2" front and rear on my 06 Z71 Suburban, I was running 35x12.50's on OE 2012 Silverado 18" wheels and needed to push the fronts outward to clear the aftermarket control arms...

 

[cmcolfax]

I think I am going to pull the trigger on 2" rears, seeing how it looks when I get everything back together and if it looks awkward or just "off" I'll order a set of 1" for the front.

 

[sgtsandman]

I have question. How would wheel spacers put any more stress on a wheel bearing, then a 0 offset wheel? Both move the center of gravity outwards. As an electrician. The math seems the same to me.

It doesn't create more stress, it moves where the stress is centered. So, if a set of bearings in a factory setup is right in between the two bearings and a spacer is used, it moves the stress point toward the outer bearing, causing it to handle more of the load and the road forces on the bearings will be different. Think of a lever and moving the fulcrum/pivot point. A teeter totter, the forces are equal as long as the weight is equal on each end. Move the pivot point, and one side is going to have a longer lever arm and generate more force than the short side will with the weight being the same on each side.

Then throw in bearing sets where the inner is bigger than the outer, or pressed in sealed ball bearing sets. It gets even more complicated.

The bearing set in both my hubs have handled the spacers for years just fine. So, my comments are not a bash on them. Only a caution that there can be a problem.