swerks

OK.I installed BJ spacers. the pic shows the room I have between tire and A -arm. MY question is. Is this enough room or should I get wheel spacers ? This pic is without an Alignment I am afraid I will loose more space if adjustments are needed with the alignment.

mt_goat

If your camber is like this / \ or this l l , you should be ok after the alignment. If your camber is like \ / you might have a problem with rubbing after the alignment.

abecedarian

you could also grind an 1/8-1/4 off the end of the arm and be in better shape.
I'd worry about being that close though.

swerks

I have no issues in the rear but am I corect in thinking that if I get spacers for the front I should also do the rears ?

swerks

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mt_goat

Yeah it might look funny if the front has a lot wider stance than the rear, but I doubt anyone would notice slightly wider.

Darrie

From my experience it's when the front suspension is fully extended or compressed that the touching may arise. I suggest you disconnect the front & rear sway bar & jack up the car from one side of the lower front cross member compressing the other wheel into the bay and fully extending the other off ground. Rotate the raised wheel and look for any fouling, and check there is sufficient space between the arms on the compressed side. As most tyre bulging happens at the bottom make sure you have plenty of clearance there. If plent of space at the bottom & no touching up top, you don't need the spacers or a grinder. Do both sides, as oddly enough one side on my car touched slightly, the other cleared the tire (possibly related to the Procomp lift spindles that I have along with the BJ spacers).
As to the effect on the bearings yes wheel spacers may decrease their life span, as would larger oversized tyres with more offset. More importantly offsetting the wheel further out impacts on braking, as in theory the disk is meant to be as near to the centre of the rim as possible to give stable braking. How much negative effect there is on braking by moving the disk away from the centre line of the wheel I can't answer, but its for that reason alone wheel spacers are not legal in the state I in live in Australia. May be better to stick with the grinding if its only a slight touch for that reason alone.

Don't forget that new rims with different offset can fix any touching issues also, but a real slim wheel spacer is usually the chapest fix.

Cheers, Darrie

Jay351

Im your camber is out, then you might have an issue. I would grind the lip off the UCA and go get aligned. Check for rubbing/clearance after that. If you dont have more then .5" or so, I would either get a set of wheel spacers or new rims will less backspacing (around 3.75")

Wheel spacers are not the best way to go, but they will work in a pinch. Just dont get cheap ones that slip over the lugs, this is dangerous.

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

Pretty much up to you. I doubt you would notice something like a 1/4" spacer up front and nothing in the rear. If you can notice a difference and it bothers you, then add the same spacers on the rear axle.

Matt16

Just cut off that lip, better be safe than sorry. I might re-enforce a-arm there a bit afterward if you have access to a welder. Big wheel spacers increase the load on wheel bearings (bad), but smaller ones should give you the clearance you need without putting too much load on the bearings or shorten the effective length of the wheel studs too much.

Yopar

iTrader: (2)

I had the exact same problem after installing my BJ spacers and 16" rims, 5" backspace. I have some 1/4" spacers if you want them ($10 ea), I went to 1/2" billet spacers with longer studs. I'd say trim that A arm a little (just the edge), and then put a 1/4" spacer on the hubs with the stock studs. Run it! (*see thread titled 'wheel spacer debate')