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Spacers. Good or Bad?

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Old Feb 6, 2014 | 07:25 AM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by LeWhite
Dont think I agree about adapters being bad for the front hubs as long as the scrub radius remains stock.
Not true.

Spacers, adapters, and wheels with different backspacing than stock all add extra stress. But think about it like this. A wheel with 4.5 inches of backspacing, like the Iroc wheels causes an equal amount of stress to a spacer or adapter that is 1.5 inches. Stock wheel is around 6 inches of backspacing, either way, you end up at 4.5 inches of backspacing. In short, either way you're pushing the wheel further out causing more stress on front suspension components including wheel bearings, etc.

So it's no worse to run Soft 8's or Camaro Iroc wheels than to get spacers and adapters. Just make sure everything is torqued to spec.
 

Last edited by tibby; Feb 6, 2014 at 07:29 AM.
Old Feb 6, 2014 | 07:48 AM
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Agreed
 
Old Feb 6, 2014 | 10:24 AM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by LeWhite
Dont think I agree about adapters being bad for the front hubs as long as the scrub radius remains stock.


Originally Posted by tibby
Not true.

Spacers, adapters, and wheels with different backspacing than stock all add extra stress. But think about it like this. A wheel with 4.5 inches of backspacing, like the Iroc wheels causes an equal amount of stress to a spacer or adapter that is 1.5 inches. Stock wheel is around 6 inches of backspacing, either way, you end up at 4.5 inches of backspacing. In short, either way you're pushing the wheel further out causing more stress on front suspension components including wheel bearings, etc.

So it's no worse to run Soft 8's or Camaro Iroc wheels than to get spacers and adapters. Just make sure everything is torqued to spec.
Tibby, I'm not sure that you're understanding what LeWhite is talking about with 'Scrub Radius'. From Wikipedia:
"The scrub radius is the distance in front view between the king pin axis and the center of the contact patch of the wheel, where both would theoretically touch the road." The article explains the king pin axis as the line from the upper ball joint through the lower ball joint.

So basically (if I understand correctly in my oversimplified version) what LeWhite is saying is that spacers are not bad for the hub if they maintain the same backspacing and scrub radius as stock. The wheels the OP is looking at actually have close to 6.8" of backspacing, and are 9" wide if I'm not mistaken. So he could theoretically run 1" - 1.5" spacers and still be really close to stock backspacing and scrub radius. This really won't add much if any additional stress to the hub.
 
Old Feb 6, 2014 | 10:45 AM
  #24  
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Sorry to post with terms above the understanding of a few of our members. I'll try not to do it again.
 
Old Feb 23, 2014 | 01:00 AM
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Ive got a question for those that have put spacers on. All i want to do is even out the front/back with. Im thinking 1-1.5" spacers and am wondering if anyones had problems with the studs being too long (factory rims)?
 
Old Feb 23, 2014 | 10:44 PM
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Very helpful topic, in the market for spacers, thanks for posting
 
Old Feb 24, 2014 | 12:09 AM
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I have a question.
Most of the spacers I find on eBay say that they will fit the rear but not the front? Would that mean the hub are different sizes or something else? Thanks.
 
Old Feb 24, 2014 | 07:30 AM
  #28  
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Idk if this answers any of your questions but I started this thread asking about spacers and now I have them on and haven't had a problem with anything. I put camaro SS wheels and ran 2" spacers all the way around on my 2wd and they aligned perfect! But listen to these other guys about 4x4 lol
 
Old Feb 24, 2014 | 09:28 AM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by LeWhite
Sorry to post with terms above the understanding of a few of our members. I'll try not to do it again.
Personally LeWhite, I'm glad you posted the statement about scrub-radius. It's a term and concept that I wasn't familiar with and after a bit of research and reading online I now know a bit more about how vehicles work.

Originally Posted by Neb15
Ive got a question for those that have put spacers on. All i want to do is even out the front/back with. Im thinking 1-1.5" spacers and am wondering if anyones had problems with the studs being too long (factory rims)?
With a 1" spacer you'd be really close to the factory studs being too long and needing to be shaved to fit. I've heard people post that they fit, and others say that they had to shave a 1/8th off the top of the factory studs. Me, I'd rather get a spacer that's 1.25" and not be grinding factory studs.

Originally Posted by MikeTastic
I have a question.
Most of the spacers I find on eBay say that they will fit the rear but not the front? Would that mean the hub are different sizes or something else? Thanks.
I have no idea why the post would say that it fits the rear and not the front. Do your rims only fit one or the other? As far as fitment goes there is absolutely no difference in the hub or studs between the front and rear. The only thing I can think of is that the front hub bearings are more likely to suffer premature wear by a change in the scrub-radius caused by lower backspacing, and they don't want people coming back complaining that the spacers caused other problems.
 

Last edited by El_Beautor; Feb 24, 2014 at 09:30 AM.
Old Feb 24, 2014 | 02:41 PM
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Originally Posted by El_Beautor
Personally LeWhite, I'm glad you posted the statement about scrub-radius. It's a term and concept that I wasn't familiar with and after a bit of research and reading online I now know a bit more about how vehicles work.



With a 1" spacer you'd be really close to the factory studs being too long and needing to be shaved to fit. I've heard people post that they fit, and others say that they had to shave a 1/8th off the top of the factory studs. Me, I'd rather get a spacer that's 1.25" and not be grinding factory studs.



I have no idea why the post would say that it fits the rear and not the front. Do your rims only fit one or the other? As far as fitment goes there is absolutely no difference in the hub or studs between the front and rear. The only thing I can think of is that the front hub bearings are more likely to suffer premature wear by a change in the scrub-radius caused by lower backspacing, and they don't want people coming back complaining that the spacers caused other problems.


That's what I was thinking. Thanks for the info.
 
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