Aluminum wheel adapters/spacers

[muffinman]

Anybody use these offroad? I have a very nice set off wheels I got FREE but they are 5 on 5 bolt pattern. Would like to know if anyone had trouble with adapters or spacers. Coming loose, cracking ,whatever.

 

[Warren.fischbeck]

Anybody use these offroad? I have a very nice set off wheels I got FREE but they are 5 on 5 bolt pattern. Would like to know if anyone had trouble with adapters or spacers. Coming loose, cracking ,whatever.

As long as you buy one that doesn't use any of the studs from the hub I think you'll be alright.

 

[SurfGuitar141]

I purchased a set off eBay from Racing Garage, 1.5" aluminum with grade #8 studs & lugs, they've been on my Liberty for a couple months now without any issues. Haven't had them off road much other than a couple runs on groomed trails and the beach, but I've nailed a few hard potholes, and none of my wheels have flown off yet.....

 

[tommudd]

Its a 50/50 crapshoot when you ask on any forum. Some run them with no problems others will tell you horror stories. Personally I don't like them and would rather get a wheel that fits right than spend 200 bucks on 4 of them.
IF you do go for them go with Spidertrax, those cheap ones on Ebay are just that cheap. remember to use lock tite/ torgue them right and also you now have 40 lugnuts to think about instead of 20 !

Another thing yuo have to look at is the back spacing, depending on the wheels you have "for free" installing the spacers may set the wheel tire combo too far out to where it rubs the flares etc.

 

[muffinman]

I checked the backspace and it will work just fine. The 40 nuts and studs compared to 20 has entered my mind. I would sell the wheels and buy 5 on 4 1/2 but the deal was,"If you can use them, their yours" so selling them is not a option. Thanks for the replies.

 

[boebr1]

another thing to consider is that many tire shops will not do tire work on a vehicle that is using any kind of spacers... meaning you would have to take them off before you go to the shop. if the wheels won't fit without them, better find a shop that will work on it with them mounted

 

[Ry' N Jen]

I'm one of those vehicle owners who have never had a problem with wheel spacers.
I run on my classic car.(The type that uses the {all be it lengthened wheel studs})
And no problems.
I also use Spidertrax 1.25 inch on each corner of our KJ with no problems.
Our KJ drives like a dream and have been asked what I've done to the suspension to make our Liberty handle so awesome!

 

[tjkj2002]

another thing to consider is that many tire shops will not do tire work on a vehicle that is using any kind of spacers... meaning you would have to take them off before you go to the shop. if the wheels won't fit without them, better find a shop that will work on it with them mounted

That would be correct.I know almost every shop here will not touch a vehicle with wheel spacers of any kind.To much liability involved.

If youyr not lifted you would have some major rubbing using spacers anyways.

 

[J-Thompson]

I use them on my TJ
I got them out of a need not want
The tires I bought were labeled the same width as the ones I replaced
but low and behold they are much wider
so I was out the $50 I paid for M&B for 5 tires should I go with different rims
+ I would have 5 useless rims ,all be it they were free
so I opted for 4 spacers at a cost of $200 ,spidertrax

in your case I would sell the wheels
you stated they were 5 on 5 making them JK wheels
they will rub like CRAZY with out a lift
or you will be running low profile tires

 

[CRD Joe]

They are harder on wheel bearings. That's about all. What you must remember to do is to torque them to 90 foot pounds in a cross pattern. Then install the wheels and torque them to 90 foot pounds in a cross pattern. After a hundred miles or so take the wheels off and re torque the spacers. After that youre golden.

 

[J-Thompson]

They are harder on wheel bearings.

Explain how? or prove?
they load center is the same as say a wheel with 3.5" of back spacing

OE wheel = 5.5" of BS
2" spacer moves the wheel out 2" making for 3.5"
common for a TJ to run a 3.75" BS wheel and the OE wheel is 5.5"

 

[kjweston]

I bought some 1.5" ones off ebay and one of the nuts welded itself to the lug.. now i only have them up front. running the 1.5" spacers with my MOABS havent had any problems with the bearings.. just the cheap lugs..

 

[CRD Joe]

Explain how? or prove?
they load center is the same as say a wheel with 3.5" of back spacing

OE wheel = 5.5" of BS
2" spacer moves the wheel out 2" making for 3.5"
common for a TJ to run a 3.75" BS wheel and the OE wheel is 5.5"

Its common sense. Yes and a wheel with an offset/BS equal to a stock wheel with a spacer is harder on the wheel bearings than the stock wheel alone.

 

[J-Thompson]

Its common sense. Yes and a wheel with an offset/BS equal to a stock wheel with a spacer is harder on the wheel bearings than the stock wheel alone.

proof?
I can say it is common sense to not wiz on an electric fence
but the out come is proven :shocked:
You are not supplying any proof to support your statement
thus making it your opinion

 

[ryanee182]

It seems to me that the best wheel offset for your bearings would be 0, so the wheel is perfectly centered with the hub. The more the wheel is pushed out OR in, the more torque is applied to the bearings.

4.5" backspace for 8" wide wheel
or 4" backspace for 7" wide wheel.

If a stock 7" wide wheel is 5.5" backspaced, then it's pushed IN 1.5" from center.

If you take that same wheel and push it 1.5" OUT from center, it would have 2.5" backspacing! and would apply the same torque to the bearings as a stock wheel??

Does this make any sense? I must be missing something!