Author Topic: Are Wheel Spacers Safe for Highway Use? (Read 30787 times)

wrenchtech · « **on:** Mar 20, 2009, 08:22:51 PM »

I'd like to run some 16", '99 4runner factory alloy wheels on my '93 4x4. I think they have 4" or more of backspacing, so I'd want to run wheel spacers. Are these things safe for a mostly street driven vehicle? -- Matt

yotatough · « **Reply #1 on:** Mar 20, 2009, 08:37:24 PM »

I wheel mine and drive it daily 120 miles with 2 inch spacers in front, never had a problem. just check the torque on them every now and then.

bigarms23 · « **Reply #2 on:** Mar 21, 2009, 12:23:14 PM »

i have 1 1/2 and i log 6000 highway miles a year with no problems at all

Plekto · « **Reply #3 on:** Mar 21, 2009, 10:01:52 PM »

The general consensus is that 1-1 1/2 inches is fine - more than that can be tricky.

86bobbedtoy · « **Reply #4 on:** Mar 21, 2009, 10:28:56 PM »

to keep marlin in the safe

All products intended for Off-Road use.

but I have ran 2s in the past and never had a problem,
I think you will be safe

my next rig will have 3s, and Im not worried at all.

Russell_G · « **Reply #5 on:** Apr 03, 2009, 01:33:44 AM »

I have ran spidertrax 1.5's on all 4 corners when my truck was IFS and in the past 3 years have put over 30k miles on them and never had a problem. With the spidertrax kit they give you red locktite for the spacer to the hub. It might be a good idea.

All_Set · « **Reply #6 on:** Apr 03, 2009, 08:33:33 AM »

x2 on red Locktite. Torque to spec, recheck torque 5-100 miles.

I wouldn't hesitate to run 3" spacers. I'm more concerned about the additional wear on the bearings than a wheel falling off.

Rock_Starr · « **Reply #7 on:** Apr 03, 2009, 08:40:17 AM »

I second All_Set on that. Bearing wear and scrub radius are as much of a concern as properly torqed wheel spacers.

unclejpl4x4 · « **Reply #8 on:** Apr 03, 2009, 08:43:45 AM »

remember theres 2 kinds of red lock tight high strength & perminet which need

to get off

BigMike · « **Reply #9 on:** Apr 03, 2009, 09:45:26 AM »

The only problem I've seen is when people forgot to check/retorque the lug nuts holding the spacer to the axle.

Of course we all -- or we SHOULD -- check the torque of the nuts holding our tires on. I do this about once every month or so.

But, and let me ask a wheel spacer owner, when was the last time you checked the torque of the nuts holding the spacer on?

I'm willing to bet that 99% of us put the spacer on, torque it down, slap the tire on, and forget allll about that spacer.

All_Set · « **Reply #10 on:** Apr 03, 2009, 01:43:20 PM »

I find most problems stem from people not knowing what they are doing.

Lol.

Steve_925 · « **Reply #11 on:** Apr 03, 2009, 02:43:21 PM »

Quote from: BigMike on Apr 03, 2009, 09:45:26 AM

But, and let me ask a wheel spacer owner, when was the last time you checked the torque of the nuts holding the spacer on?

never

Russell_G · « **Reply #12 on:** Apr 03, 2009, 02:44:49 PM »

My buddys runner has 3inch spacers on all 4 corners and 38.5 boggers(pavement girl thingy) and he drives it on the highway all the time for work. The guy has a hard time changing oil....I think your ok if his wheels havent come off yet.

tryn2Crawl · « **Reply #13 on:** Apr 04, 2009, 10:43:00 AM »

SAFE as in drivable?.Or SAFE as in streetlegal?...........I believe wheel spacers aren't DOT-approved...Or maybe up to a certain thickness....

BigMike · « **Reply #14 on:** Apr 06, 2009, 11:04:22 AM »

Quote from: tryn2Crawl on Apr 04, 2009, 10:43:00 AM

SAFE as in drivable?.Or SAFE as in streetlegal?...........I believe wheel spacers aren't DOT-approved...Or maybe up to a certain thickness....

Be careful with this now.. If you think about it, speaking as a Californian, High Steer kits are illegal, non crash tested bumpers are illegal, steering box conversions are illegal, our lift kits reposition the stock mud flap too high and are insufficient for street use - and since we do not include street legal replacement mud flaps with our suspension kits, our suspension kits are illegal, our front spring hanger has not been tested by the department of transportation, nor have our shock hoops, yadda yadda yadda

EDIT: This is why all of our products are intended for off-road use only

KYOTA · « **Reply #15 on:** Apr 06, 2009, 11:42:33 AM »

Quote from: BigMike on Apr 03, 2009, 09:45:26 AM

The only problem I've seen is when people forgot to check/retorque the lug nuts holding the spacer to the axle.

Of course we all -- or we SHOULD -- check the torque of the nuts holding our tires on. I do this about once every month or so.

But, and let me ask a wheel spacer owner, when was the last time you checked the torque of the nuts holding the spacer on?

I'm willing to bet that 99% of us put the spacer on, torque it down, slap the tire on, and forget allll about that spacer.

its a PITA but this is the key to spacers

82 HiLux · « **Reply #16 on:** Apr 06, 2009, 04:01:21 PM »

i didnt check the nuts holding my 1.5" spacers on for a long time, and all the nuts had come a little loose the rotor was able to move back and forth a bit. i check them all the time now! soon i will be adding IFS hubs on my axle with the wheel spacers also to widen my track ANOTHER 3 inches

BigMike · « **Reply #17 on:** Apr 06, 2009, 05:06:08 PM »

Quote from: KYOTA on Apr 06, 2009, 11:42:33 AM

its a PITA but this is the key to spacers

ninja turtle · « **Reply #18 on:** Apr 06, 2009, 11:16:20 PM »

Quote from: 82 HiLux on Apr 06, 2009, 04:01:21 PM

soon i will be adding IFS hubs on my axle with the wheel spacers also to widen my track ANOTHER 3 inches

thread jack: does this add 3"? i measured a sa hub and rotor vs. an ifs hub and rotor and i could only get 2 1/2 total. wheres the other 1/2" come from?

82 HiLux · « **Reply #19 on:** Apr 06, 2009, 11:19:56 PM »

when i say hub i mean the part that the wheel bolts to and that holds the wheel bearings, just to be clear. im not talking about locking hubs.

the IFS hubs wheel mounting surface is 1.5" further out than a solid axle hub. you can adapt the IFS hub onto a solid axle with a couple little mods. then i would use my 1.5" wheel spacers along with the IFS hubs. right now i just have the spacers. theres a bunch of write ups on this, you have to search.

IFS vented rotors are different from solid axle rotors so thats why it measured the same. you have to look at JUST the hub

ninja turtle · « **Reply #20 on:** Apr 06, 2009, 11:33:38 PM »

Quote from: 82 HiLux on Apr 06, 2009, 11:19:56 PM

when i say hub i mean the part that the wheel bolts to and that holds the wheel bearings, just to be clear. im not talking about locking hubs.

the IFS hubs wheel mounting surface is 1.5" further out than a solid axle hub. you can adapt the IFS hub onto a solid axle with a couple little mods. then i would use my 1.5" wheel spacers along with the IFS hubs. right now i just have the spacers. theres a bunch of write ups on this, you have to search.

IFS vented rotors are different from solid axle rotors so thats why it measured the same. you have to look at JUST the hub

thats what i saying, i measured and i got +1 1/4" each side= +2 1/2" total

IronClad · « **Reply #21 on:** Apr 07, 2009, 01:30:43 PM »

Quote from: tryn2Crawl on Apr 04, 2009, 10:43:00 AM

SAFE as in drivable?.Or SAFE as in streetlegal?...........I believe wheel spacers aren't DOT-approved...Or maybe up to a certain thickness....

modifying a vehicle is illegal PERRIOD so your point is moot.

82 HiLux · « **Reply #22 on:** Apr 07, 2009, 02:42:49 PM »

man i could go to prison for life for all my modifications......

82 HiLux · « **Reply #23 on:** Apr 07, 2009, 02:52:56 PM »

here is one of my IFS hubs.
if you look at the wheel mounting surface in relation to the locking hub mounting surface, its really close. if i measure that and compare the measurement to the Solid Axle hub on my truck, the IFS one's wheel mounting surface is 1.5" further out. toyota did this because IFS trucks track width is 3" wider than solid axle trucks. the problem with adapting this hub onto a solid axle is you have to mount the brake caliper on the other side of the ears on the knuckle. some people find this controversial, but i think it would be ok.

like i was saying, theres a ton of writeups on this.

ninja turtle · « **Reply #24 on:** Apr 07, 2009, 04:37:55 PM »

ok, full on thread takeover

ifs on the left, sa on the right. both on a 1" roll of tape.

ifs is 4 1/2"

sa is 3 1/4"

4 1/2 + 4 1/2 = 9
3 1/4 + 3 1/4 = 6 1/2

9 - 6 1/2 = 2 1/2

82 HiLux · « **Reply #25 on:** Apr 07, 2009, 05:10:22 PM »

i see what youre saying. if you measure from the wheel mounting surface to the locking hub mounting surface it measures about 1.5" difference. i guess TECHNICALLY its 1.25". i guess i stand corrected. not that big of a difference though

82 HiLux · « **Reply #26 on:** Apr 07, 2009, 05:11:27 PM »

http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/new/detaproduct.php?id=127

skyscraper · « **Reply #27 on:** Apr 07, 2009, 06:54:11 PM »

I ran my 1-1/2 spacers for a year with no problems. I would feel totally comfortable driving on them every day. BTW, loctite is a bad idea, especially when the spacers are new. The spacer is just like an aluminum wheel, in that when they are new, the lug nuts take some time to seat in. If you look at any aluminum wheel, the taper where the lug nuts seat is slightly smashed. This is due to the weight and vibration of driving, which cause the nuts to become loose. A wheel spacer is no different. I check mine every once in awhile when I have the wheels off, and the only time they needed to be re-torqued was the first time I checked them after installing them (a few hundred miles later). Bottom line though, you could probaby throw them on, drive on them, re check once and never worry about it again.

BigMike · « **Reply #28 on:** Apr 07, 2009, 07:41:32 PM »

Quote from: toyotaman22r on Apr 07, 2009, 06:54:11 PM

BTW, loctite is a bad idea, especially when the spacers are new.

Funny, I just had a guy ask me this earlier today. Marlin and I recommend using .... ANTI-SEIZE. It might sound counter intuitive at first, but it ensures a proper amount of torque on the nut, ie less frictional losses.

When I had wheel spacers front (2") and rear (1.5"), I ran them for 3+ years with anti-seize on every lug and never had a problem. I checked my torque a couple of times per year and everything was always great. Also, the anti-seize prevents the nuts from rusting to the studs and also protects the threads from over heating as well as cross threading. R&R tires on the trail is always much, much easier.

Quote from: toyotaman22r on Apr 07, 2009, 06:54:11 PM

Bottom line though, you could probaby throw them on, drive on them, re check once and never worry about it again.

Jud · « **Reply #29 on:** Apr 07, 2009, 07:55:09 PM »

I use blue locktight on my spacers.

I had 1.5" spacers all around when I had a 85 rear axle. Then stepped up to 2" spacers all around. Now I run a IFS rear axle and 2" spacers up front. I check the spacers every great once in a while. Haven't had a problem yet... Knock on wood!

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