What size wheel spacers?
#1
What size wheel spacers?
So I got some Mickey Thompson rims for my truck, but when I put them on to test fit them, the back of the rim hit my brake caliper. I might be doing a lift and running 285/75/16 tires. So my question is what size wheel spacer should I get so the my rims clears my brake caliper, and so that my tires don't rub? I figured that 0.5" wheel spacer should be fine, but the smallest one I found so far is 1.00" I didn't want my tires to stick-out from the fenders, as fender flares are not in the budjet. Thanks for the help!
#3
1/4" Mr. Gasket spacers... http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MRG-2376/
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#11
Here's the problem, even the 1/4" spacers might not be a great idea because your studs might not be long enough to get enough thread engagement on the nut. 1/2" of spacers definitely wouldn't work, and would be dangerous on the road. Also, I don't think those rims you have are hub centric, but your truck is designed for hub-centric rims which means they might vibrate.
Your options are to grind the rim down in the spots it is rubbing on the caliper, or get some quality spacers like the Spidertrax ones because they bolt on to your existing studs and have a whole second set of studs in them for bolting up the wheel. Those 1/4" spacers are asking for trouble IMO, I wouldn't touch them with a 10 foot pole.
I thought the Spidertrax spacers were too big for me when I was getting new rims for my 4Runner, so I ended up designing my own set of 3/4" spacers and had them machined at a local machine shop. I had to cut off about a 1/4" from my stock studs to get them to work, but it was worth it for me.

Your options are to grind the rim down in the spots it is rubbing on the caliper, or get some quality spacers like the Spidertrax ones because they bolt on to your existing studs and have a whole second set of studs in them for bolting up the wheel. Those 1/4" spacers are asking for trouble IMO, I wouldn't touch them with a 10 foot pole.
I thought the Spidertrax spacers were too big for me when I was getting new rims for my 4Runner, so I ended up designing my own set of 3/4" spacers and had them machined at a local machine shop. I had to cut off about a 1/4" from my stock studs to get them to work, but it was worth it for me.

Last edited by mastacox; Oct 27, 2009 at 07:51 AM.
#13
So get new rims? Seriously, if those rims are really 16x8's and they rub on your calipers that badly, they aren't a very good choice for your truck IMO...
As I said, my advice would be to steer away from the 1/4" spacers, they are dangerous and inconvenient.
As I said, my advice would be to steer away from the 1/4" spacers, they are dangerous and inconvenient.
#16
sounds like your new rims arent' gonna work for you. what size were your original rims, 16x7? technically your brake calipers will sit "inside" of your rim, so if you're hitting your calipers, then it sounds like your rims aren't big enough in diameter to clear them and wheel spacers will not help you. you could get away with spacers if the rim clears everything but the tires don't - which is more common.
if you had 16x7 rims w/ 4.75 backspacing and decided on a 16x8 rim w/4.75 backspacing, the additional 1" of rim will be on the outside edge and you will have the same amount of clearance between the rim and suspension components. if you went with a wider tire on the new rims, you will not have enough clearance and will need either spacers (according to how much increase in tread width) or a new rim with less backspacing (according to how much increase in tread width) in order to clear your suspension parts.
if you ever do need to get spacers, you definitely want the type that are pictured above since they do not "share" the lugs, but provide their own. when running spacers, you will definitely want to check the torque more often than usual. they also will wear more on things like wheel bearings, will increase your turning radius, and may have undesirable affects on road.
since you went with a wider rim, 8", you want less backspacing so that your tires will clear the UCAs. whenever you pick up some used rims, make sure to ask what type of vehicle they came off of. if it came off a yota, chances are they'll work for you.
if you had 16x7 rims w/ 4.75 backspacing and decided on a 16x8 rim w/4.75 backspacing, the additional 1" of rim will be on the outside edge and you will have the same amount of clearance between the rim and suspension components. if you went with a wider tire on the new rims, you will not have enough clearance and will need either spacers (according to how much increase in tread width) or a new rim with less backspacing (according to how much increase in tread width) in order to clear your suspension parts.
if you ever do need to get spacers, you definitely want the type that are pictured above since they do not "share" the lugs, but provide their own. when running spacers, you will definitely want to check the torque more often than usual. they also will wear more on things like wheel bearings, will increase your turning radius, and may have undesirable affects on road.
since you went with a wider rim, 8", you want less backspacing so that your tires will clear the UCAs. whenever you pick up some used rims, make sure to ask what type of vehicle they came off of. if it came off a yota, chances are they'll work for you.
Last edited by highonpottery; Oct 28, 2009 at 11:54 AM.
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