Thread: Wheel Spacers?

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Thanks to you guys and some suggestions I have found out why my rearend in my 32 is about 1/2 inch more to the drivers side. The rear end and front end have been alligned by the shop. We found out the body inner wheel well is about a 1/4 inch to the drivers side and then the rearend is about 1/4" longer on the drivers side. This I get the 1/2 inch off. No biggy!

Question is- I am ordering my wheels and will probably buy them both with the same wheel offset of 4.5 inches. I assume I will be find with adding a 1/4 or 1/2 inch wheel spacer on the passenger side to equal things out? My current wheel lugs are 1 1/4 inches long so I should have enough lug with the spacer. Right?

Just wondering since I have never used wheel spacers in my life. Wanted to make sure they are good to go for 1/4 to 1/2 inches.

Thanks,

I beleave that is a question that will be answered by the type wheel and lugs used. Adding the spacer is a comon way to handle your type of problem. Good luck

even the factory used wheel spacers on some 80`s model cameros .. they aint no big deal .. as long as you have grip length greater than the diameter of the wheel stud you will be safe .. a nut screwed 1 inch beyond the end of a thread is no stronger than a nut screwed 1/2 beyond the end ..etc

I've used the 1/4" and 1/2" spacers with no problem, like Hoss mentioned, pay particular attention to the grip length of the lug nuts, sure don't want them bottoming out before they hold the wheel!!!!! Guess that's critical anytime you install wheels.

Rule of thumb, A nut should engage enough threads to equal the diameter of the bolt. I.E. 1/2 inch diameter bolt, nut should thread on at least 1/2 inch.

It has not been said, but I assume that any spacer used will be "hub centric", where the spacer is machined on the back side to fit precisely over the hub extension that fits into the center bore of the wheel, and the front side is correspondingly machined with a hub extension to accurately center the wheel on the hub. Probably a moot point if the spacer used is thinner than the hub extension, but to me you need that hub centering feature for safety. Without it you are putting all load on the studs.

Originally Posted by rspears

It has not been said, but I assume that any spacer used will be "hub centric", where the spacer is machined on the back side to fit precisely over the hub extension that fits into the center bore of the wheel, and the front side is correspondingly machined with a hub extension to accurately center the wheel on the hub. Probably a moot point if the spacer used is thinner than the hub extension, but to me you need that hub centering feature for safety. Without it you are putting all load on the studs.

I agree........................

I was thinking about something simple like these since it's only going on my cruiser.
http://www.jegs.com/p/JEGS/957104/10002/-1


I see the much more costly ones that you bolt on to your lugs, then use a whole other set of lugs to put your wheels on. This seems a little over done.... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Wheel...Q5fAccessories

Originally Posted by bucs012

I was thinking about something simple like these since it's only going on my cruiser.
http://www.jegs.com/p/JEGS/957104/10002/-1


I see the much more costly ones that you bolt on to your lugs, then use a whole other set of lugs to put your wheels on. This seems a little over done.... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Wheel...Q5fAccessories

I would not trust either of those, as your shear load is going to be on your lugs alone. Something like the SpiderTrax is hubcentric http://www.spidertrax.com/Toyota-Hub...4Pa38Ta38Oc310, but the problem is that your spacer is going to be at least as thick as your lug nuts. To get a pure spacer that fits on your existing lugs you may have to have one machined to fit your hubs & wheel. Your cruiser still has your safety and the safety of those around you at stake, even if you only drive it once.

for just a 1/4 or 1/2 thick use the first ones---just make sure your wheel studs reach completely thru the lug nuts----we used to run 3 of the 1/2 spacers per side on our top fuel car once we went to 13 wheels---never had a problem

IF you use the type spacer that bolts on and then your wheel bolts on to you are asking for trouble---most of the ones available are not as strong as they need to be and since you aren't thru bolting the drive load is on the spacer

I agree with Jerry . Thru bolting is the only way to go. I used 1/2" and 1" spacers
on a NASCAR pavment modified , as a chassis adjustment, with no problems .
With 5/8" studs .

I have 3/8" spacers on the front of my '87 Mustang, to clear my calipers, never a problem.

I have 1" wheel adapters on the rear of my trike to hold a pair of Rocket wheels on for 6 yrs, never had a problem. I pull wheelies all the time, 1st thru 3rd gear. I slip the wheelie bars on and go out for rice all the time . I machined up my own 1 1/2" spacers to put custom offset wheels on my wifes '27 Tudor Sedan, they are stronger than the wheel they are holding.

Not all wheels use the hub for alingment, mostly un-lug wheels, My wire wheels(steel not un-lug) 8"x15" & 9"x15" on my Mustang use the lugs. I hit a hole in the road and broke about half the spokes on one front wheel, didn't do anything to the studs with the space plate being on it.

Pat

This guy make adapters for BIGG TRUCKS and personally I would rather use this kind of adapter rather then a spacer if the spacer is more the a half inch...joe
http://www.wheeladapter.com/


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOKiyJwY0k4

The one in the Jeg's link should be fine.... Before you pay the freight, do you have any dirt track supply shops in town??? They use a similar spacer and are available in various bolt patterns and also like the ones pictured with a variety of bolt patterns, usually 5 on 4 1/2", 5 on 4 3/4", and 5 on 5"...

here`s a 4;10 dana 60 from some 70`s chrysler muscle car rescued from a 64 chevy dirt car frame that was on the way to the crusher .you can see an aluminum wheel adapter on the left axle .. i ran some on my 460 83 tbird for 7 or 8 years .. ran low 7`s in the 8th ..