Wheel Spacers

[neonlarry]

I could get a good deal on a set of these wheels, but... The hole in the back of the wheel is too small to fit over the end of the axle on the rear of the truck. I tried one on, and with about a 3/8 inch spacer and longer studs, they would fit fine. So, I guess I have 3 questions. 1. would it be safe to use a spacer like that? 2. Does anyone know where I could get one made that would work? 3. How much would it cost? ( I am converting to 6 lug disc on the front, and I am going to call tomorrow and get the measurments of the rotor to make sure the front ones would fit.)

[bigjimzlll]

if has the same bolt pattern, you should be able to use longer studs and a spacer plate

[neonlarry]

Yes, it's the same bolt pattern. I actually brought one home and tried it with a 1/4 inch spacer, but it wasn't quite enough.

[neonlarry]

Anyone else have any coments? Is using a 3/8 inch and longer studs ok? Where could I get one/get one made?

[HvyChevy454]

i have a 1/4'' and a 5/16'' spacer on the frotn of mine, the stock studs work i just have the longer Cragar style lugnuts

[neonlarry]

Cool, so the spacers like that will work? Where did you get them? I tried the wheel on mine with a spacer that wasn't quite big enough, and I will definintly need longer studs.

[cableguy0]

actually spacers will work but they are not all that safe. i have seen a lot of wheel studs breaking off because of spacers i would look into a different method of making them fit

[Hotrod70C10]

Hey Neonlarry, Who makes those wheels?

[Fred T]

Cableguy's right. They are not safe, unless they have a feature to take the shear force into the hub. The lug bolts are designed to only take a tension load, which holds the wheels against the drum. That's why the lug studs break.
What you need are spacers that nest over the hub and step down to nest inside the hub of the wheel. Unless you have the ability to machine them yourself it will probably be cheaper to buy wheels that work.

[COBALT]

Don't forget wheel bearings. The farther the point of force is at right angles from the bearing the harder the bearing has to work. In other words the thicker the spacer the more wear you'll have.

[HvyChevy454]

i know they are not safe but n order to get my rims to fit i had to grind off part of the caliper to make em work w/ the spacers. iposted about this in the reviews regardin the cragar ss classic rims. i cant see any other way to make em fit other than goin to a smaller rotor. and they are custom backspaced in hopes the woulda fit w. out the spacers.

ohh i go the spacers from summit

[NSANE68!!!]

OK guys he's talking about the back axle. I had the same prob heres what I did.

Pop the cap off the wheel set it up on the lugs and look through the center. It only misses fitting by maybe a 1/16".
I called the wheel place they said it is made for 73 up axles.
So I busted out the angle diegrinder and trimmed her up. Went on perfect.

The wheel spacers are FINE!!! If they are machined correctly as mentioned before. Don't use those CHEEZY spacers from autozone. I run a set of spacers on my 95 Tahoe to go from a 5 to a 4. 5 bolt pattern, they are 1.5" thick and been on there over a year now.

[SCOTI]

Cheap (cast alum) spacers should be kept to minimum thickness as possible & shouldn't be stacked. An adapter is different (my guess is this is what NSANE is using) as they physically bolt to the hub w/the stock studs & then you bolt the wheels to the studs machined as part of the adapter. You can get these off the internet from 7/8" up to 4" for approx 100$+, made from billet & you can even change the bolt pattern within limitations. Do an internet search for wheel adapters. I'm using some on my 74 w/5 on 5" bolt pattern to mount my 5 on 4.75 - 20x10's Torq-thrusts.