Wheel Spacers - Pros/Cons?

[piroman683]

from an engineering perspective you absolutely put more load on the original axle studs when using wheel spaces and that increases the fatigue loading on them. increased fatigue loading decreases structural integrity over time faster. Just like having a longer breaker bar makes it easier to crack a tight nut, extending the loading moment arm of the tire through a spacer increases the loading on the axle studs. Will it fail while you own it?...maybe, maybe not, depends on how you drive it and how well you make sure things never loosen up. But in simple engineering physics wheel spacers increase fatigue loading which is not ideal.

Sponsored

 

[Rocksalt]

maybe justget new wheels with less backspacing

 

[texanjeeper]

I decided when it is time for new tires, I'll do without spacers. They have to be installed correctly - you have to test them, then take the bolts out and use Locktite on the ones holding the spacers to the axle, then torque it down to usually something between 100 and 110 pound-foot. Then, you have to keep an eye on them and make sure that the bolts are not backing out and that anything is going wrong in your suspension. No thanks, I'll just buy the size wheel I'm looking for.

 

[Mac]

from an engineering perspective you absolutely put more load on the original axle studs when using wheel spaces and that increases the fatigue loading on them. increased fatigue loading decreases structural integrity over time faster. Just like having a longer breaker bar makes it easier to crack a tight nut, extending the loading moment arm of the tire through a spacer increases the loading on the axle studs. Will it fail while you own it?...maybe, maybe not, depends on how you drive it and how well you make sure things never loosen up. But in simple engineering physics wheel spacers increase fatigue loading which is not ideal.

Don’t wheels with lower offset do the same thing from a leverage standpoint?

 

[Elff]

It's the same.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I decided when it is time for new tires, I'll do without spacers. They have to be installed correctly - you have to test them, then take the bolts out and use Locktite on the ones holding the spacers to the axle, then torque it down to usually something between 100 and 110 pound-foot. Then, you have to keep an eye on them and make sure that the bolts are not backing out and that anything is going wrong in your suspension. No thanks, I'll just buy the size wheel I'm looking for.

Test them? Anything going wrong in your suspension?

Mine has spacers on it. They haven’t been touched since install 9-10k miles ago. I’ll check the torque when the tires are rotated soon, but they’ll be fine.

I guess I should add, if you’re the type of guy who’s had a wheel and tire come off while driving, spacers are probably not for you.

 

[Elff]

So True.
Spacers are simple
1. Don't be a cheap ass, buy quality
2. Torque your shit and use locktite

It's really that simple and then you, like me, can get 100,000+ Trouble Free miles out of them.

100,000+ miles is a 100% accurate statement on the total number of miles both on and off-road I have driven with Zero issues with Spidertrax spacers on 2 Tis

I am approaching 20,000 miles on my Alfa Romeo with quality Otis Spacers

 

[Sarge502]

I run teraflex 1.75s and love them. I mainly did it cause I kept the stock Overland wheel which is the best stock wheel of any trim in my opinion. However As most stock, they sat flush with the fender even after bigger tires and I wanted a little poke. I haven’t had any issues. In my opinion it isn’t any difference than running an aftermarket wheel with the same backspacing. I’ve even taken it off-roading with spacers and no issues.

 

[piroman683]

Don’t wheels with lower offset do the same thing from a leverage standpoint?

technically yes, but it really is rim dependent where as spacers are typically 1.5 or 2inches rim offsets necessary for the JT are -6 to -12mm, or 1/4in-1/2in. So even though the rims have an offset it is no where close to how much additional leverage a spacer adds. Also, don't forget you double the failure points, and double the fatigue loading points with wheel spacers. These points are known as stress concentrations, and the less stress concentrations the better.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

technically yes, but it really is rim dependent where as spacers are typically 1.5 or 2inches rim offsets necessary for the JT are -6 to -12mm, or 1/4in-1/2in. So even though the rims have an offset it is no where close to how much additional leverage a spacer adds. Also, don't forget you double the failure points, and double the fatigue loading points with wheel spacers. These points are known as stress concentrations, and the less stress concentrations the better.

Stock wheel is +44mm offset.

Going to a -6mm offset is a 50mm change which is about 2".

 

[kgc]

I have Spidertrax spacers on my Gladiator and fully believe that they are stronger than my cast aluminum. I'm confident that an OEM part or the wheel would fail before the spacer. I went this route because I didn't want the weight or expense of a true beadlock and couldn't find anything else with a +38 offset. I've driven 23,000 miles without any problems.

 

[DocMcStuffins]

from an engineering perspective you absolutely put more load on the original axle studs when using wheel spaces and that increases the fatigue loading on them. increased fatigue loading decreases structural integrity over time faster. Just like having a longer breaker bar makes it easier to crack a tight nut, extending the loading moment arm of the tire through a spacer increases the loading on the axle studs. Will it fail while you own it?...maybe, maybe not, depends on how you drive it and how well you make sure things never loosen up. But in simple engineering physics wheel spacers increase fatigue loading which is not ideal.

With all due respect- can you please enlighten me from an engineering perspective what is the difference between a spacer and a wheel with -3.5 or -4.5” backspacing? From my simple understanding- I can understand that there is an additional part/5 more bolts for potential failure but how is it different on bearings/axles?

 

[cdyoung9799]

So True.
Spacers are simple
1. Don't be a cheap ass, buy quality
2. Torque your shit and use locktite

It's really that simple and then you, like me, can get 100,000+ Trouble Free miles out of them.

100,000+ miles is a 100% accurate statement on the total number of miles both on and off-road I have driven with Zero issues with Spidertrax spacers on 2 Tis

I am approaching 20,000 miles on my Alfa Romeo with quality Otis Spacers

+1 for this.

I bought the Teraflex hub centric spacers for my daughter's JK so she could run my stock JTR wheels/tires. Torqued them to spec using red loctite. So far, they been flawless. She's not going to be doing any major offroading (if any at all) either. Her Jeep drives and rides great.

 

[piroman683]

With all due respect- can you please enlighten me from an engineering perspective what is the difference between a spacer and a wheel with -3.5 or -4.5” backspacing? From my simple understanding- I can understand that there is an additional part/5 more bolts for potential failure but how is it different on bearings/axles?

Sorry on my delay here, the details are a bit involved and I haven't taken the time to fully write them all out. It's because there's a difference in load calculations when comparing the two. Specifically when calculating with an offset you actually have loads in the X and Y direction as a function of the angle. This actually reduces the bending load but adds a tension load to the studs which is far below the yield limit. Wheel spacers results in loads only in the Y direction so you will have a larger bending moment even if the backspace is the same as the wheel spacer limit. Hopefully I'll take some time in the next 2 weeks to detail this out more. Conversely you can Google force calculations as a function of an angle to get your toes wet in the subject

 

[DocMcStuffins]

Sorry on my delay here, the details are a bit involved and I haven't taken the time to fully write them all out. It's because there's a difference in load calculations when comparing the two. Specifically when calculating with an offset you actually have loads in the X and Y direction as a function of the angle. This actually reduces the bending load but adds a tension load to the studs which is far below the yield limit. Wheel spacers results in loads only in the Y direction so you will have a larger bending moment even if the backspace is the same as the wheel spacer limit. Hopefully I'll take some time in the next 2 weeks to detail this out more. Conversely you can Google force calculations as a function of an angle to get your toes wet in the subject

Very well put and easy to understand with respect to X/Y axis and stress. I can see how the stresses on the studs may be greater with the spacer now. An OEM wheel with spacer and aftermarket equivalent backspaced wheel ie 3.5-4.5 should both have equal additional stresses on bearings, balljoints, u joints and other axle components though right? Also- the stud failures that I have seen/read about are on the spacer side, and have not actually seen the hub studs broken?

Thanks for taking the time to reply! ????

Sponsored