Negative affects from wheel spacers?
JK Super Freak
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,891
Likes: 5
From: Great Lakes
There is the root of the problem, not the spacers themselves. The point of loctite on the spacer is to "help" prevent any liability issues. I do not run loctite on my spacers (75k miles now) and will not. The impact wrench is another problem area in the hands of the wrong user.
OP- you can expect a similar experience (or worse) if you fail to tighten the lug nuts to the proper torque spec.
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OP- you can expect a similar experience (or worse) if you fail to tighten the lug nuts to the proper torque spec.
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JK Junkie
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,873
Likes: 0
From: 36* N
I don't use loctite on my wheels, why use it on the spacers? I've got spacers on 3 of my own vehicles at the moment without loctite on any of them and haven't had an issue (outside of the cheap wheel stud breaking on an ebay spacer while 'torquing' with an impact gun).
I suppose the logic isn't there for me. The spacers are crucial, yes- but there isn't loctite on the rest of the suspension (equally important, we would agree- correct?).
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I suppose the logic isn't there for me. The spacers are crucial, yes- but there isn't loctite on the rest of the suspension (equally important, we would agree- correct?).
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JK Junkie
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,013
Likes: 0
From: West Richland Washington
Properly installed wheel adapters are fine. People confuse a spacer from an adapter and some manufactures mis label them as well. A spacer fits between the hub and wheel and uses the axle stud. An adapter will bolt on to the factory studs and will have new studs that the wheel mounts too.
Adding a 1.75" adapter to the factory wheel is the the same as running a 4.5" bs wheel as far as the wear and tear on the hubs and ball joints are concerned. 4.5" bs wheels is what is recommended for a 35"x12.5" tire to maintain full steering without rubbing.
Incompetence is no excuse for not recommending a product. Having a bad experience with a product due to improper installation is not a problem of the product, it is due to owner that did not check to see if it were installed properly. A new wheel installed improperly would do the same thing and be just as dangerous.
Spidertrax and ballistic are two quality companies.
Adding a 1.75" adapter to the factory wheel is the the same as running a 4.5" bs wheel as far as the wear and tear on the hubs and ball joints are concerned. 4.5" bs wheels is what is recommended for a 35"x12.5" tire to maintain full steering without rubbing.
Incompetence is no excuse for not recommending a product. Having a bad experience with a product due to improper installation is not a problem of the product, it is due to owner that did not check to see if it were installed properly. A new wheel installed improperly would do the same thing and be just as dangerous.
Spidertrax and ballistic are two quality companies.
Last edited by Tooadvanced; Nov 20, 2013 at 07:09 PM.
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,907
Likes: 185
From: Maine
I normally agree with everything you say cause your very knowledgeable but you wrong about it being the same to hubs as a 4.5 bs wheel. Its not because you are moving the mounting point out 1.5 inches and it creates a larger leverage point. I have discussed this with 4 engineers as I used to believe it was same load as well and they proved me wrong
Anyway, if the tire's point of contact with the road is moved outward, the load on the bearings and ball joints will be increased. It doesn't matter if it's because of different backspacing or installation of a spacer/adapter.
JK Jedi
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,482
Likes: 2
From: Neenah, Wisconsin