Wheel Spacers / Handling

[ntsaint]

Got a general question on wheel spacers...

Have had 1" spacers on all 4 corners for about a month. Makes the truck look way better...BUT the handling is way different.

The front end feels loose, wanders over bumps, shimmies more than before, etc etc.

I know a lot of you guys are running spacers...anything to be done about this or are these just the result of a wider stance?




...via IH8MUD app

 

[spressomon]

Wider = more leverage. To fully compensate, shock damping needs to be upped; wider front track (relative to OEM) will also accentuate any play/wear in the steering components including rack, tie rods, etc.

Generally I've found corrected front track width to increase highway stability. For several years I ran 10mm on front (only)...after running 1" in front for a few years. Then until a few weeks ago went back to 1" on front but with 10mm on rear. Now I'm running sans any spacers and like it so far. But I've also varied the shock tune all along...so that enters into the end result/feel too.

I too, as you mention, with the spacer adapters I get what feels like tire imbalance issues...even when centering the wheel on the adapters when I mount the wheel...whereas it is noticeably absent without the spacer adapters. Maybe this could be tuned out if you have the wheel/tires balanced on the truck. Or maybe using spacer adapters with the hub centric lip...

If you haven't checked your front end steering components (and ball joints, hub adj. too) then check for play...and a quality alignment...

What front and rear suspension heights are you running?

 

[ntsaint]

Steering was right before, no other symptoms of wear on the front end.

Thinking I may go back to stock setup.


...via IH8MUD app

 

[FJ62INTX]

Do you have hub-centric spacers or just ones that locate off the lug nuts?

 

[Schwein]

I have always had 1.5" Spacers, first on my 1996 and now on my 2001. I have not noticed the loose front end feeling you describe on my 2001, it runs quite solid on the highway and over rough city streets. I bought the Slee 1.5" spacers though for my 01. on my 1996 I did notice a little bit of wobble under hard breaking on the highway.. This could have been to needing new pad's though, i did not sort this out before the vehicle sold, these spacers were the generic 1.5" ebay spacers.. not hubcentric.

 

[uHu]

Consider this:

The bigger the scrub radius, the more power steer, wobble, wear, etc.
When increasing the tire radius, the scrub radius is reduced. When using spacers, the scrub radius gets bigger/worse.

Here's a perfect set-up: