Pros and Cons - Wheel Spacers

ccrider · **Posted:** Tue Feb 26, 2008 3:22 am

I wonder if we could start a list of pros and cons for wheel spacers. I know from the list that people really like Spidertrax. I am wondering how people like them and if they had any drawbacks like: safety, turning radius, rubbing, handling issues, weight, braking.

I have an '04 KJ Limited with stock 17" wheels and 245/65/17 Cooper ATRs, no lift (yet)

Thanks for all the discussion that has already been posted on this forum - very helpful!

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Feb 26, 2008 11:31 am

you will get some rubbing if installed un lifted
Spidertrax are the best due to the way they are made...hubcentric design
I ran them for a while and no problems at all, lots of Wrnagler owners will run them with their stock wheels after a lift to get better turning radius

qbracken · **Posted:** Tue Feb 26, 2008 2:34 pm

Yeah I had them for a while on my un-lifted Libby with the stock 17" wheels & tires, but took them off for the time being as I was getting too much rubbing on the rear fender flares when at full flex while off-roading.... I'll put 'em back on after lift and slightly bigger tires...

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 26, 2008 2:54 pm

Some places(cities and states) they are illegal.Might want to check with your local PD to make sure.

I'm no fan of spacers,instead of 20 lug nuts to worry about you got 40 to worry about coming loose.Just get different BS on some new rims and be done with it.

scarletbegonias · **Posted:** Tue Feb 26, 2008 5:17 pm

Here's my personal experience w/adding Spidertrax to my unlifted kj..
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... highlight=

Btw it's been about a month since I got em and I still dig em, but I am in fact in the process of researching the OME lift (can't wait!) in order to get a better turning radius/alleviate front rubbing that occurs when turning tight. It's ok as-is for general travel around town and stuff, but I definetly wouldn't want to try any tight maneuveres on the offroad trails the way it is now (but we don't have that kinda terrain here anyway) :wink:

Cobalt-60 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 26, 2008 5:54 pm

Pros
-----
No more rubbing
More stable (less tippy)
Better cornering
Better turning radius
Easy to install
Look cool
Allow you to not have to purchase 5 rims and have your current tires remounted and then have to find someone to buy your old wheels

Cons
------
Not cheap (though not as expensive as some mods)
Kick up more dirt on the side of vehicle
May (have no proof) increase drag and reduce mileage
Have to yank the wheels back off and re-tighten after install
Need to purchase more Loctite Red
Will be a pain when the rotors need to be serviced/replaced (?)

renegadekj · **Posted:** Tue Feb 26, 2008 9:43 pm

For the price of the spidertrax spacers you can go and get a set of crager soft 8's!!Hello!!! :wink:

You will still have the same "stance" with the correct backspacing on the crager's! My thoughts anyway.

josh

Cobalt-60 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 26, 2008 10:58 pm

renegadekj wrote:

For the price of the spidertrax spacers you can go and get a set of crager soft 8's!!Hello!!! :wink:

You will still have the same "stance" with the correct backspacing on the crager's! My thoughts anyway.

josh

Everybody keeps citing this, but the basic price I have seen for Cragar Soft 8 16x7s is about $50.00 each plus shipping, plus center caps. If you buy 5 (yes, including the spare), that is $250 plus shipping, plus the cost of the center caps (if you want them). Add to that the cost of having your tire dealer switch your tires from your old rims to the new ($25-$50?). Then you have to get rid of your old rims -- in my case factory steel which nobody else really wants.

My spidertrax cost me $200 delivered to my door. Each to his or her own. :wink:

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:54 am

I know that a lot of people use them but I am still not a fan of a spacer. By moving the wheel further away from the center of the vehicle, you increase the stress placed on the hub in all loaded conditions. No failures have resulted from this but the increased strain is there and could potentially impact service life and durability over the long term.

jdumont · **Posted:** Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:59 pm

Been using Spidertrax for about a year now with no issues.... Just wanted to throw my opinion in the ring.

darren/wayne · **Posted:** Thu Feb 28, 2008 5:36 pm

Cragar Soft 8's, MOAB's, Cragar Soft 8's, MOAB's, ...... Next thing you know, everybody has the same jeep, with the same wheels. :evil:

I say, be different, save your money and get whatever YOU want to make your Jeep look how YOU want it to. This is not a race to see who gets the most mods the fastest.

How about a big group hug for individuality.

Pros and Cons - Wheel Spacers

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