Widening rear - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Nova70 · 03-10-2010, 05:29 PM

Is there a wider axle I can throw in the rear to compensate for the disc brakes up front? It's a 6 lug 4x4 and with the disc's up front the tires stick out farther than the rear. I was thinking about a different offset in the rear but most of the wheels I'm looking at come in very few offset choices. What do you guys do to widen the rear?

**michael bustamante** · 03-10-2010, 05:34 PM

what about a 73 and up 1/2 ton 4wd rear end? you'd have to rearrange your brackets though because of the wider leafs of a 73+ I believe

Mondo · 03-10-2010, 06:58 PM

I know some people hate them..... but 1inch spacers are a heck of a lot cheaper. They use them on drift cars etc... don't know about 4X4. I have them on the back of my truck but I'm pretty tame when it comes to abusing the truck.

Longhorn Man · 03-11-2010, 12:49 AM

GM claims to have done that intentionally... and still do it.

c10seconds · 03-11-2010, 02:59 AM

A spacer would be the cheapest way by far. Custom built wheels, budnik,intro,bonspeed could work too

Nova70 · 03-11-2010, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

GM claims to have done that intentionally... and still do it.

Why would they do it intentionally? Stupid if you ask me.

Longhorn Man · 03-11-2010, 02:41 PM

the tires ride in undisturbed dirt and do less sinking/digging in. Less likely to get mired.
This assumes you are on dry/damp soil, and not out mud bogging.

ShredSled · 03-11-2010, 03:16 PM

yeah, the different track widths front and rear can also add to stability (but decrease turning radius), along with what Longhorn mentioned.

And as for the spacers, you're kind of limited because you can really only do like 1/4" or maaaaybe 1/2" slide on spacers and still remain safe with enough left-over stud thread to bite and hold consistently.
Or on the other hand, with a Bolt-on style spacer (safer), you can really only do like a 1.5 (might need more on your 4X4, I don't know the length of your studs) or larger spacer to clear the length of the factory studs without grinding them down.
If you did a 1" spacer, you'd have to cut your factory studs down to 1" length, and that might not leave much room for lug nuts, further complicating things...

And for the 4X4's do they make any newer knuckles for them that decrease the track-width, because I see CPP now makes one like that for the 2WD's with disc brakes.... ?

capev86 · 03-12-2010, 12:10 AM

a 2000+ 1/2 ton gm pickup or suv will have 6 lugs, rear disc and a wider track than older trucks. that should close up the difference. i also don't like the idea of the back end having a narrower width than the front and the 4x4's do look extra funny as you say.

03-10-2010, 05:29 PM	#1
Nova70 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dub VC Utah Posts: 364	Widening rear Is there a wider axle I can throw in the rear to compensate for the disc brakes up front? It's a 6 lug 4x4 and with the disc's up front the tires stick out farther than the rear. I was thinking about a different offset in the rear but most of the wheels I'm looking at come in very few offset choices. What do you guys do to widen the rear? __________________ '70 K10-- 4" lift on 35"s-- For Sale http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=733...iew&ad=4578305

03-10-2010, 05:34 PM	#2
michael bustamante Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Albuquerque NM Posts: 7,862	Re: Widening rear what about a 73 and up 1/2 ton 4wd rear end? you'd have to rearrange your brackets though because of the wider leafs of a 73+ I believe __________________ 1967custom Last edited by michael bustamante; 03-10-2010 at 05:35 PM.

03-10-2010, 06:58 PM	#3
Mondo Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bakersfield, Ca Posts: 538	Re: Widening rear I know some people hate them..... but 1inch spacers are a heck of a lot cheaper. They use them on drift cars etc... don't know about 4X4. I have them on the back of my truck but I'm pretty tame when it comes to abusing the truck.

03-11-2010, 12:49 AM	#4
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Widening rear GM claims to have done that intentionally... and still do it.

03-11-2010, 02:59 AM	#5
c10seconds Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: gilbert,AZ Posts: 947	Re: Widening rear A spacer would be the cheapest way by far. Custom built wheels, budnik,intro,bonspeed could work too

03-11-2010, 02:41 PM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Widening rear the tires ride in undisturbed dirt and do less sinking/digging in. Less likely to get mired. This assumes you are on dry/damp soil, and not out mud bogging.

03-11-2010, 03:16 PM	#8
ShredSled Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 159	Re: Widening rear yeah, the different track widths front and rear can also add to stability (but decrease turning radius), along with what Longhorn mentioned. And as for the spacers, you're kind of limited because you can really only do like 1/4" or maaaaybe 1/2" slide on spacers and still remain safe with enough left-over stud thread to bite and hold consistently. Or on the other hand, with a Bolt-on style spacer (safer), you can really only do like a 1.5 (might need more on your 4X4, I don't know the length of your studs) or larger spacer to clear the length of the factory studs without grinding them down. If you did a 1" spacer, you'd have to cut your factory studs down to 1" length, and that might not leave much room for lug nuts, further complicating things... And for the 4X4's do they make any newer knuckles for them that decrease the track-width, because I see CPP now makes one like that for the 2WD's with disc brakes.... ?

03-12-2010, 12:10 AM	#9
capev86 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Eliot, Maine Posts: 1,314	Re: Widening rear a 2000+ 1/2 ton gm pickup or suv will have 6 lugs, rear disc and a wider track than older trucks. that should close up the difference. i also don't like the idea of the back end having a narrower width than the front and the 4x4's do look extra funny as you say.



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