Wheel spacers

[vikinghd]

Reading a lot about the pros and cons of wheel spacers. However I like the wheels I have on my TJ and have read that the spidertrax spacers are of high quality and supposed to be safe. New wheel are also an option but would prefer to keep the ones I have. I need to use the spidertrax 1.25 inch spacer to get the backspacing I need. Have also read that the biggest problem with the spacers is the cast ones. Any input?

 

[kakirubi]

NNNNNOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

BUY NEW WHEELS!

 

[beaker]

Spacers can be problems.  If you torque them (with a torque wrench) they will probably be okay.  However wheeling puts a lot of extra side stress on wheels.  All you need to do is crack a spacer then later on the highway you could loose a wheel.

I personally recommend steel wheels for wheeling.  They are more rock rash resistant, fixable if they do get damaged and any damage will likely be visible long before a crack would occur. 

Stockton wheels are really durable and you can get them in any size, backspacing and bolt pattern you want as long as it's reasonable.  I've wheeled a set for 6 years now.  They are a little bit rusty now but they are still good.

 

[Rubie Nubie]

I've had some experience with wheel spacers, not necessarily with 4WD's
But I can tell you that spacers are not a good option. Spend the money now
and get the proper pattern and back spacing... It will be one less thing to worry
about tweaking...

 

[toyworx]

I personally recommend steel wheels for wheeling.  They are more rock rash resistant, fixable if they do get damaged and any damage will likely be visible long before a crack would occur. 

Couldn't agree with this more. Just ask CJohn7 about his aluminum rims at the farm.

 

[Rubi13]

I loved the Moab rims that came on my Jeep, and wanted to keep those too.  I started to scratch them up on the trail.....went to black steelies and psyched that I did.  I never worry about screwing up my wheels, and if I ruin one, it's short money to replace

 

[OZMAN0104]

I totally agree with everyone else on this. If you need to use them for a short period of time until you can get new wheels that wouldn't be too bad. But as far as making them a perminate thing I would definitely say it is a bad idea. Wheel bearing are expensive, (for the cost of both you could probably get a whole set of new wheels). And I have heard of spacers screwing them up.

 

[mallcrawl]

cheep steel wheels cost about the same as good quality spacer's.

 

[beaker]

Those fake beadlock rims take a hell of a beating.  That extra ring reinforces the lips quite well.

 

[vikinghd]

Thanks all I guess everybody just kind of reinforced what I thought anyway. Most anything we do it's hard to cheat (cheap) the system and not do it the right way.  :zbanghead: