Wheel spacers/track width/rollover video

[Lefty JD]

Dunno if this has been posted before, I didn't find it with a search. Interesting to see a real world body roll/rollover type test. Click the link at end of video to compare the with/without spacers videos. Pretty cool training wheel setup to test it, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?annot...&feature=iv&src_vid=y_52oGEU5XA&v=Wq3B-vLDO4I

 

[Lindenwood]

Interesting! Not much actual data to analyze, but I know lots of folks have speculated this benefit as a practical justification for spacers. The internet vindicates again! Of course, I am sure opponents of wheel spacers will still argue that the extreme circumstances of such tests will not apply to a vast majority of drivers, which is also true.

Of course, this probably won't make me just run out and buy spacers right away. Granted, my wheels are already wider than stock with lower offsets so it isn't particularly necessary anyways, heh. But, it is still cool to see a measured benefit from them.

As to the overall wheel spacers debate, I certainly wouldnt feel bad to have to replace 4 sets of wheel bearings over a 20-year life span, rather than 2 or 3 sets, if I liked how it looked and knew there was both calculable and emperical evidence that they can prevent rollovers.

 

[Lefty JD]

My thoughts exactly, yea anybody with a brain can think "it should be less prone to roll over, and stay flatter in corners". But I've seen and heard plenty of "nope makes zero difference, it's just cosmetic" nay-sayers.

Went to 255/85 (tall n skinny!) a few years ago. With the effectively reduced track width and larger sidewall profile, I could definitely feel a difference in body roll + that pucker-up-don't-turn-any-harder-than-this feel if I had to swerve at speed. Considering them for looks really, but if I got back some slightly better high speed characteristics, sure is a nice bonus.

And if nothing else, it'd be fun to be the test driver in the video.

 

[reelamin]

I am now running 1.25" spacers on the front only. There is not one bit of stability difference or even measurable change in stability. I think the extra wear on the suspension parts is worse than any possible benefit in stability. Luckily I only will be using them for a few months a year. These rigs flip over faster than a two dollar whore on welfare day!! Some 1.25" spacer wont slow it down at all...maybe a 1.25' spacer will.

 

[Coward]

I think the video says it all. Increase the width and it will help with stability whether you "feel it" in normal driving or not. I also think it is interesting that this test was done with the older Ford Explorers. That is the same body style that was plagued by the Firestone tire recall that caused roll overs. I used to travel for work and would see almost every week at least one of those Explorers upside down somewhere. While Firestone had some issues I always thought the trucks design was equally to blame. The rear axle width did not change from 1st to the 2nd Gen trucks even though the body was wider, taller, and heavier. Just look at one from behind and you can see the rear axle was too narrow.

..

 

[JayRolla]

I am now running 1.25" spacers on the front only. There is not one bit of stability difference or even measurable change in stability. I think the extra wear on the suspension parts is worse than any possible benefit in stability. Luckily I only will be using them for a few months a year. These rigs flip over faster than a two dollar whore on welfare day!! Some 1.25" spacer wont slow it down at all...maybe a 1.25' spacer will.

I've gotten my rig sideways and on two tires. I've spun out at high speeds on dirt. I've been surprised how stable it was. It flips no different than any other suv.

It's also impossible to feel the stability difference when adding a spacer. Its not measurable unless you trying to flip your rig.

That being said i don't think they add any stability that's really measurable in any situation.

 

[J i m s t e r]

I remember my spacers had a warning about the increased turning effect I may feel after fitting.

I didn't feel anything to be honest. 30mm each side.

I did fit a smaller Celica steering wheel and that has made the steering "Nimbler" in my opinion. I like it, the Mrs. preferred the old "Bus" style ship's helm.

 

[SCHUNTER1969]

Dunno if this has been posted before, I didn't find it with a search. Interesting to see a real world body roll/rollover type test. Click the link at end of video to compare the with/without spacers videos. Pretty cool training wheel setup to test it, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?annot...&feature=iv&src_vid=y_52oGEU5XA&v=Wq3B-vLDO4I

Thank you for sharing this. Now I can show people this when they start to tell me how unsafe spacers are. Loud mouth liberals is what they are.

 

[snivilous]

Every vehicle I've rolled didn't have spacers. After installing 3" spacers on my 4Runner it hasn't rolled yet. I now install spacers on everything I own because safety is my #1 concern.

 

[green_manalishi]

Thank you for sharing this. Now I can show people this when they start to tell me how unsafe spacers are. Loud mouth liberals is what they are.

Yeah, liberals notoriously hate wheel spacers. And beer. And hugs. And smiling.
Jesus Fuking Christ.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mtbtim]

I've never heard spacers could be a serious safety issue but I have heard they can cause extra stress on your wheel bearings and change some of the characteristics of your steering and suspension.

Here's a video from Engineering Explained that discusses this:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hWijfooeSyU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[SCHUNTER1969]

I have read several times about people saying they had issues with wheel spaces. Because they did not torque them down to spec and use thread locker.

 

[Sean K.]

I am now running 1.25" spacers on the front only. There is not one bit of stability difference or even measurable change in stability. I think the extra wear on the suspension parts is worse than any possible benefit in stability. Luckily I only will be using them for a few months a year. These rigs flip over faster than a two dollar whore on welfare day!! Some 1.25" spacer wont slow it down at all...maybe a 1.25' spacer will.

Really? I don't find my stock height T4R to be unstable compared to other 4wd vehicles on the road.

I'm widening my outside tire dimension approximately 11-12"....I'm guessing it'll make a very dramatic difference on the road....not to mention off (based on past experience).

 

[kevinpt]

i feel that adding my spacers changed the way it acts in turns. i take the same turn on the highway every day and after installing the spacers i did notice a change in how is acted in the turn.

 

[Scramble]

Wheel spacers & a wider tire make my truck more stable off road & around corners after the suspension & body lift. You'll never see pizza cutters on my truck.

 

[Sean K.]

i feel that adding my spacers changed the way it acts in turns. i take the same turn on the highway every day and after installing the spacers i did notice a change in how is acted in the turn.

The scrub radius is definitely going to change since you're moving everything outboard in relation to the knuckle's pivot point....which is the biggest argument against wheel spacers. They are completely safe if they are of good quality and installed properly. I have a set of 2" ones I was going to put on this front axle....but decided I'd rather have the brakes tucked into the wheels and not have the steering issues from +4" of scrub radius. In fact, I just cut the knuckle balls off my Fj80 housing today.....

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[Tyler James Inc]

I love wheel spacer threads/opinions/debates [emoji23]
I don't like spacers, and would much rather have wheels with the offset I want.
That said, if you have quality hub-centric wheel spacers, and properly torque and loc-tite the threads, you should have no issues.
As far as them adding stress to wheel bearings etc, yes- on the same wheel they will.
But adding a 1.25" wheel spacer to a 7.5" wide wheel with 5" backspace is no more stressful on your bearing than bolting on an 8" wide wheel with 4.25" backspace.

 

[Sean K.]

I love wheel spacer threads/opinions/debates [emoji23]
I don't like spacers, and would much rather have wheels with the offset I want.
That said, if you have quality hub-centric wheel spacers, and properly torque and loc-tite the threads, you should have no issues.
As far as them adding stress to wheel bearings etc, yes- on the same wheel they will.
But adding a 1.25" wheel spacer to a 7.5" wide wheel with 5" backspace is no more stressful on your bearing than bolting on an 8" wide wheel with 4.25" backspace.

That's the biggest problem I see...there are very few lower backspace options available anymore. If you want less than 4"....you will be hard pressed to find it, especially in aluminum. In those instances, spacers have their place.

 

[kevinpt]

The scrub radius is definitely going to change since you're moving everything outboard in relation to the knuckle's pivot point....which is the biggest argument against wheel spacers. They are completely safe if they are of good quality and installed properly. I have a set of 2" ones I was going to put on this front axle....but decided I'd rather have the brakes tucked into the wheels and not have the steering issues from +4" of scrub radius. In fact, I just cut the knuckle balls off my Fj80 housing today.....

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the right way would be getting a total chaos 2 inch long arm kit and dump the spacers but thats some money

 

[Sean K.]

the right way would be getting a total chaos 2 inch long arm kit and dump the spacers but thats some money

Far cheaper than what I'm doing......

What does TC do about the axle half shafts? I didn't see anything in their "kit".

Nevermind....found it:

"TC 4340 custom extended axles reuse factory inner and outer CV's to retain 4wd.
(axles are sold separately and not included with the kit)"

So they basically upgrade the shafts to 4340 and leave factory CVs? That's a recipe for breakage.