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Spacers for a Wider Track


Blown

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2007
Messages
384
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I am trying some 1.5" spacers with Stock Explorer Limited rims, 16X7 running 255/70-16's. This Edge truck has been lowered 1" front and 2.5"s in the rear. Your rig is likely to be different regarding fitment, rubbing and stuff.

The biggest downside could be loosing a wheel! However, I have installed them properly having retorqued them twice and I will check them again in a week. The downside is that they increase stress on the wheel bearings, spindles, knuckles, etc just like wider wheels and less backspace. Probably a few more to be discussed here and a larger tire adds more stress as well........................

The upside is a 3" wider track which should improve handling a bit in spite of increased scrub. I also like the look of filling-out the wheel wells better and a bit softer ride. I figure that adding 1.5" that the front spring rate is effectively reduced about 10%, So these 230lb torsion bars are now 207 or so.................
 
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Why not try to figure out the correct offset for your wheels?

I know that 18x9 +35 fills the wheel well nice on a RX-8 w/ 245/45/18 tires.
 
Spacers are an inexpensive option compared to new rims and I like the 5 spoke stock alloys............

I got to drive it up a twisty turrny canyon yesterday. I like the greater road feel now through the steering wheel and it seemed to handle a bit better. It's hard to know cause it's by feel and I didn't make the run back to back with and without spacers.

I'll get back to this today with before and after pics..................
 
The only way to get true better handling is to put on a wider rim and wider tire w/ a coil over setup. You spent the money on the motor, why spend some on the suspension as well. But since you have an Edge, coil overs are an option really.
 
I hear ya, but I have improved it on the cheap. I lowered it, widened it, lowered spring rates, took out some weight, and put a little wider and lower profile tire on.

I want to do a coil over, just got a job today, and that may be in the near future. I will likely bag the rear too.

I also want two sets of wheels, a narrower tire that grips in the snow and ice for winter and a set of wider tires and rims for the rest of the year.

I am not interested in 18's. I like the better ride of a larger, shock absorbing sidewall.
 
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OK, read about it, felt it in the past, and got to report that braking hard in the entry to a bumpy, hard, 90 degree turn, I can feel that in the steering wheel, that bump, that extra leverage hanging-out beyond, 1.5"s of leverage I added, that extra, those spacers, through the rack and pinion. power steering, ahhh it's a but only a little hit, but it is there, would be worse at higher speeds, and well a little wider is still my preference anyway.

Don't brake late in the bumps, do it early and accelerate out!
 
Ok, got to report back here. There is more road feel which is good to a point. I found a 90 degree right turn with a couple of nasty bumps in the right side of the lane. I should say, "it found me". Those nasty bumps hit hard enough to feel the steering wheel jerk right when breaking and turning through them. It was not enough to make me remove the spacers, but I am pretty sure it wasn't as noticeable before.
 

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