Spydertrax spacer questions

[Capnemo]

I have the opportunity to purchase a used set of Spydertrax spacers tonight, I believe 1 1/4". While they were not on my to do list, I am am pondering the +'s and -'s of getting these;

The Good

-2.5" wider stance reduces chances of a rollover on emergency avoidance swerve on the freeway especially as I will be mounting a 130lb hard shell roof top tent. This rollover potential increases with taller tires and lifts.
Currently having 165/75/16's mounted Tuesday and will be getting '99 springs for basically 1" lift + the 1/2" "tire lift", however I may go to OME 2" in the future.

-no need to replace wheel studs with longer to install 1/4" spacers for the Tundra brake upgrade that I have planned.

-will "fill out" my '97 Limited fender flares


The Bad

-some reports of them breaking studs and flying off. Likely the hub was not cleaned with a wire wheel brush and/or not seated 100%, or the lugs not torques every wheel rotation/5k miles

-reported need to retorque every 5k miles? use blue or red locktite?

-increased wear on ball joints and??? Not to concerned about the ball joints, cheap and easy enough to replace


Just wondering if I should spring for these....what positives or negatives am I missing? I have searched some....

And one question: will these spacers increase or decrease the likelihood of 265/75/16's rubbing? Many have said these will fit with no issues but some Limited 1997 owners report some rubbing in some situations, will these spacers reduce rubbing or not?

 

[OrRunner]

I have those spacers on my 02 limited running 265/75 16 on stock wheels with TBU. The spacers increase the wheel arc when turning, which resulted in rubbing on the flare and the pinch weld in the rear of the wheel well. I hammered the pinch weld and trimmed the inner fender liner and flare, and have done some serious off roading with only very minor rubbing. I also ended up getting an alignment and having them adjust the castor to pull it forward in the wheel well. For street driving you could probably skip the trimming/hammering and just pull it forward with castor and be fine.

I have a 2 inch suspension lift in front with icon coilovers and spc adjustable upper control arms.

Driving wise there's not much of a noticeable difference, but the stance looks great, it puts the edge of the tires flush with edge of the limited flares.

I haven't had any issues with bolts loosening on the spacers, the directions indicate red Loctite and torque in two stages to 75 then 80 ft lbs, and recheck after 500 miles. If they don't move when re torqued you should be good to go.

 

[Capnemo]

If I can safely use Locktite Red and only retorque once, then that is huge.

So you say you got more rubbing with these spacers than without, and with a 2" lift. Hmmm. And I will be doing some offloading, just not hardcore crawling.

 

[OrRunner]

I rechecked mine during rotates just to see if anything loosened and I haven't had one budge since I initially torqued them.

The spacers will increase your chance of rubbing on the pinch weld and flares, reduce rubbing on the upper control arms. When I initially did my lift and put the larger tires on (I already had the spacers on) my castor was within spec but pulled as far to the rear as they could be. Even set up that way I was able to get nearly no rubbing while off road after trimming/beating but I suspect I could've gotten away with no trimming if I'd tried to adjust the castor first

 

[OrRunner]

I'm running BFG KO2s for tires, btw

 

[Ehahn84]

I have a 97 4x4 Limited with a 2” old man emu lift and 265/75 BfG KO2s and I had to get these Spidertrax spacers due to rubbage w/o them. Everyone seems to have a different opinion, but I’ve had them in 10k miles and have checked the torque once and don’t have any problems whatsoever.

 

[Mudeprived]

Wheel spacers are just like wheels. Torque em properly in a star pattern and they stay put.

I have been running them on most of my trucks and jeeps since 2002. Not a single issue. I use blue locktite instead for easier removal when doing bearing or joint repairs.

 

[Capnemo]

I have a 97 4x4 Limited with a 2” old man emu lift and 265/75 BfG KO2s and I had to get these Spidertrax spacers due to rubbage w/o them. Everyone seems to have a different opinion, but I’ve had them in 10k miles and have checked the torque once and don’t have any problems whatsoever.

Nice looking truck, just like mine except I am going with Wildpeaks.

I would like to do the OME 2" but want to install a hard shell roof top tent and garage clearance may not allow it.

Interesting that the spacers alleviated rubbing, some say it may increase it but alignment makes a difference.

 

[tcbaklash]

The manual included with my spacers said nothing about re-torquing.

 

[fourwd1]

The manual included with my spacers said nothing about re-torquing.

maybe they figured you knew it needed to be done

 

[Jarheadoo7]

FYI,

Check your torque after 250 miles then you can go 5000 mile intervals.

 

[Capnemo]

FYI,

Check your torque after 250 miles then you can go 5000 mile intervals.

I had heard that, and no way will that happen. Decided against the spacers as they were 3/4" and most people felt spacers would increase any rubbing on the pinch weld and fender flare. Already have the 1/4" spacers for the TBU so will just get longer or rear studs.