Sinking Creek 4WD Association

My rig needs a wider stance. I've looked at wheel spacers and custom backspaced wheels.

Please discuss any experience you've had with wheel spacers. What are their pros and cons?

Does anyone have any experience with US Wheels custom backspaced steel wheels?

I've read that less backspacing (2 inches) could cause extra wear on wheel bearings and ball joints, is this true?


Brett

Brett, your balljoints/wheel bearings will see the same forces whether you use new wheels or wheel spacers. The point is that you're offsetting the wheels out further which adds leverage to the hubs.

As for which is better, it really depends on your preferences and long term plans. Now I've never had any problems with wheel spacers, but by shear principle(less failure points) wheels with less backspacing are safer.

I've got wheel spacers on my truck(pickup, not cruiser) 'cause I ordered the wrong wheels and had the spacers laying around.

If you like your wheels, then go with spacers, if you don't like your wheels, and don't plan on changing bolt patterns anytime soon, order some beadlocks in the correct backspacing

been running 2 inch spacers for a few years now. never had any problems. i guess ive wheeled places like harlan, rausch a while back, bobcat, and there still fine. just keep em tight.

Ya gotta keep the stock wheels. Total sleeper look.

I am running 15x8 steelies which have 2.5" backspacing instead of the common 3.75" backspacing. It's like having 1.25" wheelspacers but much cleaner and easier!

If you are running stock 15x7's right now (guessing 4" backspacing), going to these wheels would effectively make your stance 2" wider on each side. I wouldn't go any wider than that due to increasing the load on the wheelbearings.

eric:

Where did you get the wheels w/ 2.5" backspacing?

Brett

It would probably be cheaper to just get some 2"spacers. They're safe as long as you re-torque them at 200, 700, 2000, and 3000 miles. You could also only put spacers on the front so that your wheels will run in a slightly different track so that the rears have fresh ground to run on and you might not get stuck as easily.

I got them from 4wheelparts. They are Rockcrawler brand. You will prolly have to call but half the people you talk to there will tell you they don't exist until you give them the part number off their own website.

You guys have any good sources for wheel spacers? I found some on ebay, but they're pretty pricey.

I have a machinist friend in kentucky that will make them to order. I don't like the spacers and mine will be gone soon. when I got my alloy rears i had them drilled for both bolt patterns so all I have to do is drill the drums. the spacers are a pain in that you have to pull off twice as many bolts to get into your brakes/hubs.

Do you have some contact info for me?

PM'd