What advantage of Wheel Spacers

Hadelson · Apr 23, 2013

I'm running Michelin LTX2's 265-65-17 on 05 T4R v-6.. I've run spacers before on old muscle car so do know spreading stance will enhance tracking.

Questions for those who have done this already.

1. Will I need to adjust inner fender liners or any other modification
2. Will I need to have another Wheel Alignment once installed

Yes, I did have the infamous 65-72MPH shimmy until had Toyota dealer complete a Road-Force Balance with the Haweka plate. Now flat as a board without any balance issues.

Thanks

gaterose · Apr 23, 2013

You may have to moved the fender liner at the front, and possibly the rear. Hard to say for sure, it seems that sagging springs and other factors determine who gets rubbing with which setup.

Alignment isn't necessary though.

03_4x4Runner · Apr 23, 2013

Why would you want them? Toyota engineered the steering to work the best it can with the proper off set wheels. I see no point in making the wheel stick out farther, some think it looks better but all you will do is throw more mud slush and stones on the side of the body. I could possibly see it if your oversize tires were rubbing on the upper a arm. When I am off road in the desert there are time my 4runner barely fits between the rocks on trails mainly used by Jeeps. If it were any wider it would not fit. It is also another item than come loose and cause problems, in some states they are illegal.

zopperman · Apr 23, 2013

they look badass

03_4x4Runner · Apr 23, 2013

zopperman said:
they look badass

This pretty much sums it up. I see Zooperman is 21 years old. I am 58. If you think making your wheels stick out farther is cool (I do not) and all you care about is looks then go get them. See all that water flying out on the sides in Zoopermans picture? The farther your wheels stick out the more water you will get spraying around.

Hadelson · Apr 23, 2013

03_4x4Runner said:
Why would you want them? Toyota engineered the steering to work the best it can with the proper off set wheels. I see no point in making the wheel stick out farther, some think it looks better but all you will do is throw more mud slush and stones on the side of the body. I could possibly see it if your oversize tires were rubbing on the upper a arm. When I am off road in the desert there are time my 4runner barely fits between the rocks on trails mainly used by Jeeps. If it were any wider it would not fit. It is also another item than come loose and cause problems, in some states they are illegal.

Thanks for the feedback. The wider track definitely enhances stability. Suspension stress is another story and will need to research this.....Just one question, notice you lifted your T4R 2.5". How did that effect suspension? This changes many of the stress points and driveline as well....any affect that you see?

NJshadow93 · Apr 23, 2013

03_4x4Runner said:
This pretty much sums it up. I see Zooperman is 21 years old. I am 58. If you think making your wheels stick out farther is cool (I do not) and all you care about is looks then go get them. See all that water flying out on the sides in Zoopermans picture? The farther your wheels stick out the more water you will get spraying around.

C'mon yo, all da homies be doing it, chill... :hippie:

I am just kidding though. It's definitely just for looks. It's all about preference, do you like the wider stance or don't you? I don't have wheel spacers, but my wheels offset in a way to provide the same effect, and I like the look. They don't stick out past the fender, they are flush in my case, which is exactly what I was going for. Personally, I didn't like seeing the tire exposed on the inside of the mud flap, from the back.

Also, I think Zoppermans truck is stock in his avatar, just for the record.

futbolking · Apr 23, 2013

NJshadow93 said:
C'mon yo, all da homies be doing it, chill... :hippie:

I am just kidding though. It's definitely just for looks. It's all about preference, do you like the wider stance or don't you? I don't have wheel spacers, but my wheels offset in a way to provide the same effect, and I like the look. They don't stick out past the fender, they are flush in my case, which is exactly what I was going for. Personally, I didn't like seeing the tire exposed on the inside of the mud flap, from the back.

Also, I think Zoppermans truck is stock in his avatar, just for the record.

What offset are your wheels?

zopperman · Apr 23, 2013

Irony is, my truck IS stock in that photo.

I think gives the truck a more aggressive stance and allows you to have smaller tires (better MPG's or what have you) while making them look bigger when you have a lift.

Is that a better answer?

Hundreds of members run wheel spacers with no detriment to suspension components.

03_4x4Runner · Apr 23, 2013

Hadelson said:
Thanks for the feedback. The wider track definitely enhances stability. Suspension stress is another story and will need to research this.....Just one question, notice you lifted your T4R 2.5". How did that effect suspension? This changes many of the stress points and driveline as well....any affect that you see?

My 4runner drives and rides just like stock. I needed the extra ground clearance for off road in the desert. Lift has been on 6 years. Zero issues. You can find a lot of info here. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/102272-4th-gen-suspension-options-faq.html

NJshadow93 · Apr 23, 2013

futbolking said:
What offset are your wheels?

Offset of 0mm

Sungod · Apr 23, 2013

Spacers are dumb. If you want wider, buy the correct wheels. Poverty is no excuse for stupidity.

zopperman · Apr 23, 2013

Sungod said:
Spacers are dumb. If you want wider, buy the correct wheels. Poverty is no excuse for stupidity.

On what do you base this?

Seems a bit aggressive to me considering hundreds of members run spacers?

Sungod · Apr 23, 2013

The risk outweighs any kind of benefit. The best you can hope for with them is not to have a problem. You drastically increase the chances of a wheel falling off along with a host of ride control problems. I know in Virginia, you won’t pass safety inspection if they see them. Bolt on adapters are a different story.

LobstaMobsta · Apr 23, 2013

sungod i think you are full of it.....bolt on adapters are the same as spacers just just with different lug pattern on the outboard side....my issue with either is the amount of wear they cause on the wheel bearings....extending the tires out further basically puts more leverage on the bearing itself....instead of being supported directly underneath, you will always have the downward pressure being applied to the outer race.....

ghostridr · Apr 23, 2013

LobstaMobsta said:
sungod i think you are full of it.....bolt on adapters are the same as spacers just just with different lug pattern on the outboard side....my issue with either is the amount of wear they cause on the wheel bearings....extending the tires out further basically puts more leverage on the bearing itself....instead of being supported directly underneath, you will always have the downward pressure being applied to the outer race.....

Sorry Lobsta, but you need to brush up on your comprehension skills. Sungod was referrring to spacers and adapters in the context of VA safety regulations, not if they were different from each other as a whole. :crazy:

But yes, I'm in agreement that spacers are a potential safety issue that doesn't needed to be introduced into the equation.

Critical thinking skills will help you avoid any unnecessary misunderstanding... :nod:

LobstaMobsta · Apr 23, 2013

ghostridr said:
Sorry Lobsta, but you need to brush up on your comprehension skills. Sungod was referrring to spacers and adapters in the context of VA safety regulations, not if they were different from each other as a whole. :crazy:

But yes, I'm in agreement that spacers are a potential safety issue that doesn't needed to be introduced into the equation.

Critical thinking skills will help you avoid any unnecessary misunderstanding... :nod:

ok ghostridr....thanks but sometimes it is hard to comprehend what people mean by what they say because of lack of communication and literacy skills....crucial communication skills will help all of us avoid unnecessary misunderstandings....

Sungod · Apr 23, 2013

LobstaMobsta said:
ok ghostridr....thanks but sometimes it is hard to comprehend what people mean by what they say because of lack of communication and literacy skills....crucial communication skills will help all of us avoid unnecessary misunderstandings....

or just common sense.

HokieRunner · Apr 23, 2013

Lots of good points here. I run bolt on spacers and used them to gain clearance from the uca. For me it's a temporary solution while I decide on the wheels I want and install all the suspension upgrades. I don't see why someone couldn't run them long term as long as they're properly installed (torque wrench and loctite) and checked on. There are plenty of on and off road guys on here that are running them or have in the past. All the failures I've seen have been improper installs.

As for non bolt on spacers, IMO that's a bad idea. I've run them on my classic mustang but that was temporary while upgrading the drive train and rear axle to clear the calipers until I bought appropriate wheels. Was only driven once or twice with those non bolt spacers and a very short distance.

Bolt on is a must and proper offset wheels are the best and IMO permanent solution. As for extra wear on bearings etc due to more leverage, I can see that but have never seen that this is a proven fact (never looked for it either though!)

WXman · Apr 23, 2013

IF the law says adapters and spacers are different in terms of legality, then a moron must have written the law. They are the exact same thing.

I've used spacers before and won't do it again. I didn't really want to when I did but I already had wheels and tires and needed the spacers to make them work. Most proper spacers are $200 for a set and by then you're half way to a set of new wheels from a lot of online vendors. So do wheels...not spacers.

As far as why .. well in my case the upper A-arms are very close to the sidewall of the tire. For me this time I didn't get offset wheels because I wanted them to stick out. I got them out of necessity because larger tires like 285s will hit the A-arm if you use stock backspacing. Sometimes less backspacing is a necessity. But spacers are not a good way to get there.

Plus you have twice the lug nuts to keep up with. And I have seen pics of spacers sheared completely off on the trail. Spacers are annoying.

What advantage of Wheel Spacers

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