I'm curious about Rim spacers. Are these really worth installing? I'v been told that even though they look great and increase turning traction, they destroy your axles do to increased pressure on them. Is this true? I would like to purchase some, but if this is true this wouldn't be worth it to me. Any opinions would be helpful.

 

i keep getting told to fit them. usually by people who are changing bearings every other month, so i would be intreasted to here off opinions as well

 

Yes it puts alot more pressure on ball joints bearings so no I would not install wheel spaces bearings are more costly than the spacers them selves so dont waste your money. JMO

 

Wheel spacers are no different than running a shallow back spacing on a rim.

The do not nor will they ware out axle parts faster.

Wheel spacers are fine and a good way of getting your track width wider with stock wheels.

 

I recommend them. I've been running 1.5" spacers for a while now with frequent offroad use. They're not causing any damage to my hubs and they're a subtle effect that adds to the beef of vehicle and a wider stance (relatively unnoticeable while driving). They can cause damage to your axles or hubs if your hub and driveshafts aren't bolted @ correct torque specs, which will eventually ruin your bearings etc. anyway. An added bonus is clean new surfaces to mount wheels; my old lug studs were getting worn from frequent swapping of mud to street tires, so now the spacers are bolted on at torque and aren't moving until I take the hubs apart. The surfaces of the spacer and hub mount in a way that the weight on the axle is no different from an outboard or wider rim.

 

The differnece between a offset whell and a spacer is (THE POINT AT WHICH THE WIEGHT HAS BEEN TRANSFERED TO THE HUB) which cause a different stress on the suspension parts.

 

Does this happen on and off road? Or only when wheeling? Is it any less hard on the ball join bearings around town vs. rock crawling or mudding?

 

they don't weigh all that much, they move your wheels out (like it had different backspacing), i want to know how do they wear stuff out faster? and if they do then why is it that people run the heavier steel wheels that basically do the same?

 

Easiest way to explain you have a wieght in each hand resting at your side now take your arms and hold them two inches out and tell me at what position can you hold them longer. I understand what you mean by an offset wheel nut its bolted to where the factory intened.

 

a wheel with 3.25" of backspacing will put just as much stress on the unit bearing/ball joints as 2" wheel spacers and a wheel with 5.25" of backspacing

 

x2^.

I run 1.25" spacers on my moabs making 3.75" BS. No different than if I ran a Soft 8 with the same but looks a lot better lol.

I keep them checked and lock tighted. I wheel on them too.

 

So what should I be looking for to determine whether or not to install on my Heep?

 

why do you feel you need them? Tire rubbage?

 

I'm not considering installing them as of yet, however I will be upgrading my tires and this could be a factor. I have to admit though I've seen some JEEPs with these installed and they look alot more aggressive. I'm trying to get as much info as I can before any decisions are made.

 

when/if you get them get some like the spidertrax that are hubcentric.