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2011 wheels - engineering question on spacers

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Old Mar 25, 2020 | 08:10 AM
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2011 wheels - engineering question on spacers

Can someone please explain to me how more force will be applied to the wheel bearings if you add 2" spacers to accommodate the 2011 wheels? I can understand more stress on wheel studs but I am struggling to understand the bearing stress due to the fact that your vertical plane is not changing its location.


 
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Old Mar 25, 2020 | 08:41 AM
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Think of it this way. The further off center the wheels are from the hub surface causes a level of stress beyond design. In other words say you added 10 inch spacers. The factor for wear would increase dramatically. Instead of 0 offset, then two offset, factor increases the further from true center the hub flange and wheel surfaces are separated.

Take a tree limb. Try and break it off at the trunk. You can't because it's too strong. Move further away and it gradually becomes weaker and it will break at one point. Same theory applies.

You can run offsets, don't get me wrong. Just expect premature bearing failure, if not driveability issues.

Denny
 
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Old Mar 25, 2020 | 08:50 AM
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yea i understand now. Its a shame since the wheels look good on the trucks that have updated them. I am chasing a vibration issue and i think its from some tired 2000 wheels that just wont balance correctly.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2020 | 10:56 PM
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I don’t think anyone has ever proven premature wheel bearing failure from running a wheel spacer and a factory wheel like asked above. I myself have put plenty of loaded rough gravel road and off road towing situations with wheel spacers and 2012 wheels and have never had a bearing failure? Yes bearings need replaced as the miles add up on these aging pickups but you can’t say it’s from a spacer and negative offset wheels
 
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Old Mar 27, 2020 | 08:54 AM
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Here is what i don't understand. In my sig picture i have a picture of my old truck with FUEL Pump wheels. Those wheels were ordered to work with 2" flares. Without even thinking of breaking studs or damaging bearings i ordered them and had them installed.....I am assuming to have the wheels end up being flush with the edge of the flare the rim manufacturer had to push the offset out at least 1" or maybe 1.5"? Wouldn't that be adding the same stress as 2" spacers to allow 2011 wheels? I am not trying to be difficult i am just trying to understand the magnitude of the problem and if running 2" spacers on a completely stock setup is going to make my try explode when hauling a 14k trailer with mini excavator. All of the trucks i see around town with flares or flares and a lift towing would have the same issue right?
 
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Old Mar 27, 2020 | 09:17 AM
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https://iscsuspension-na.com/wheel-s...-spacers-best/

Was curious and found this.

Hope it helps.

Denny
 
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Old Mar 27, 2020 | 10:10 AM
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Spacers put the mounting location of the wheel further out. Offset wheels keep the same mounting location. The inside of the wheel can stay in the same location but the wheel can get wider because not moves outboard. In my thinking it is all about where the wheel mounts. Further out causes more stress.
 
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Old Mar 27, 2021 | 11:39 PM
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If the offset of the wheel is the same yes. But like drawn above the center of the wheel is in the same spot so the bearing load is the same. Positive offset vs negative offset and a spacer. If the values are the same then no extra bearing loading.
 
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Old Mar 28, 2021 | 12:38 PM
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The bearing will not know the difference between an offset wheel & a spacer if the centre line of the tyre is the same.
 
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Old Mar 28, 2021 | 02:40 PM
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That is Correct
 
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