Wheel spacers?

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jan 29, 2018 | 11:22 PM

#16

bbf385

More Turbo

Joined: Apr 2014

Posts: 687

Likes: 20

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason90f150

Don't recommend. Save your money and get wheels with offset

Best advice here.

Jan 30, 2018 | 07:26 AM

#17

Briansshop

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 1,277

Likes: 89

From: MD

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason90f150

I ran some G2 1.25" spacers on my 95 150. The old wheels I had I needed them. But now I got a 15x10 wheel with a 46mm offset. Still rubs with a 4" suspension 3" body with 35's only at full lock but not too bad. I went thru at least 3 sets of wheel bearings in 1.5 years. I had constant issues running 33s let alone 35s. After I took them off I noticed right away better brakes, less vibration, and less highway vibration. Don't recommend. Save your money and get wheels with offset

Explain the difference in the load that your wheel bearings/brakes see when running a spacer/wheel or just a wheel with a back space measurement that that puts the wheel in the same place.

Jan 30, 2018 | 07:29 AM

#18

humphrey169

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Nov 2016

Posts: 1,483

Likes: 29

Brian it's pretty clear that the wheel spacer cuased him to have bad brakes. Sarcasm

Jan 30, 2018 | 07:37 AM

#19

Robert Long

Senior User

Joined: Jun 2016

Posts: 354

Likes: 1

From: Ar

Quote:

Originally Posted by humphrey169

Brian it's pretty clear that the wheel spacer cuased him to have bad brakes. Sarcasm

And we surely don't want people bumping into grocery carts!

Jan 30, 2018 | 07:44 AM

#20

humphrey169

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Nov 2016

Posts: 1,483

Likes: 29

They have "bumpers" for a reason

Jan 30, 2018 | 02:46 PM

#21

McLeod

Cargo Master

Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 2,333

Likes: 296

Quote:

Originally Posted by raystankewitz

Sounds like you're thinking of an adaptor that has its own studs. A spacer is more of shim with holes in it for the existing studs to pass through.

My issues with spacers is the fact a thick enough spacer will prevent the center of the wheel from registering on the hub, making the assembly stud-centric and not hub-centric. Might not be bad on a 3/4 ton with eight 9/16" studs, not overloaded. On the other hand, a 1/2 ton having only five 1/2" studs, might not be too safe when typically overloaded by a Gen 7-8-9 owner.

Just my $0.02 USD worth.

1/2 tons in the 92-96 OBS are lug centric - centered by the lugs, not by the hub

Are 3/4 + tons hub centric?

Jan 30, 2018 | 03:52 PM

#22

raystankewitz

Posting Guru

Joined: May 2010

Posts: 1,146

Likes: 17

From: Central Indiana

Quote:

Originally Posted by McLeod

1/2 tons in the 92-96 OBS are lug centric - centered by the lugs, not by the hub

Are 3/4 + tons hub centric?

My '97 F250HD is hub-centric. That's why the factory Alcoa aluminum wheels used more of a hubcap rather than a push-through cap. No room for that push-through. And, most aftermarket wheel push-through caps won't work due to that reason. I believe my '00 SD dually was that way, too.

So on an F150, the center pilot bore of the wheel is not snug to the hub? Free to rattle around before the lugs are tightened?

Jan 30, 2018 | 04:43 PM

#23

McLeod

Cargo Master

Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 2,333

Likes: 296

Quote:

Originally Posted by raystankewitz

So on an F150, the center pilot bore of the wheel is not snug to the hub? Free to rattle around before the lugs are tightened?

F150 and Bronco- including my '66 = yes

FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

Verdad Gallardo

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Joe Kucinski

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Brett Foote

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

Pouria Savadkouei

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Brett Foote

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Joe Kucinski

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Michael S. Palmer

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Verdad Gallardo

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Joe Kucinski

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Brett Foote

Jan 30, 2018 | 04:53 PM

#24

00t444e

Logistics Pro

Joined: May 2017

Posts: 3,523

Likes: 483

From: Southern OH

Wheel spacers are 100% safe IF they are installed properly and are the right spacer for the application. If you are using the factory wheels they are hub centric so you must buy a hub centric spacer. If you use the ones that bolt to the factory studs and have there own studs (this is what I recommend) you have to make sure the factory studs don't stick out past the mounting surface of the wheel, if they do then you have to trim the wheel studs down. When you Install the spacers you need to use thread locker on the inner studs and torque them down to spec with a torque wrench. I have been running 2" hub centric aluminum spacers with my factory wheels for over a year without a single issue.

Jan 30, 2018 | 05:27 PM

#25

Bruce W.

Mountain Pass

Joined: Sep 2009

Posts: 238

Likes: 14

Quote:

Originally Posted by 00t444e

Initially, I was going to install the 1 1/2" spacers/adapters, but too much would have had to have been trimmed from the rear wheel studs...so I went with the 2" instead. Even then, I had to take about 3/8" off. I run factory Alcoas...no problems...and CK the torque of the studs when I rotate tires...always tight.