Whose here with wheel spacer? (1 Viewer)

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LEXCRUISER

LEXCRUISER

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Some of you may know that I just instalI TRD pro wheel with BFG KO2 285/65 tires. After the install, the wheel seems tuck in a little bit. So, i went ahead and purchsed spidertrax wheel spacers, front and back. It changes the look, just beautiful. I noticed there is little rubbing on front mud flaps, so i removed them and problem solved. Somehow, I feel that it drives differently, not significant. Or is it just my feeling?

So, if you have wheel spacers, could you tell me your experience? Thanks.

AW
 
I'm running spacers and have had no issues...no perceivable difference in handling. I'm sure there are subtle differences, because you've widened your stance by 2.5 inches front and rear...but you'd see a similar difference with varying wheel offsets. Some here run wheels with an offset of 20...vs. stock wheel offset which are 60. Meanwhile, rock warriors are 50.

Cue the tire/wheel gurus.... ;) I'm sure they'll chime in, as I'm certainly no guru.
 
I've noticed a subtle difference when I put spacers on. I've gotten used to it but I would prefer to not have them. Once these tires wear out I'll go back to a 12" wide tire. I went tall and skinny but the 50 offset of the RW tucks them in too much.
 
It seems to me, that by adding spacers you are changing the arc that the wheel travels as the steering goes from side to side. the pivot point is an imaginary line from one ball joint to the other. the length from that line to the mounting surface of the wheel is the radius of the arc the wheel must swing through as the wheels are turned. adding an inch to inch +1/2 to that radius affects steering input.
I ran spacers on my Tundra and it changed the turning radius and feel in the wheel. I took them off just before selling and couldn't believe the difference.
This is just my experience....others may vary.
 
I put spacers on recently and won't say I noticed no difference, but it's so subtle and not a bad change that I'm very happy with the change. Seems that Spacers do exactly the same thing to the "feel" that an equal offset wheel would, but I'm no engineer so maybe there is something about spacers that change dynamics...
 
I have had spacer on all 4 200s I have owned. I can't stand the skate board look the OE offset gives the 200s.
I have seen about a 50/50 split as to rather I had any rub at all. 2 of the 4 different 200s would rub slightly in reverser with a full steering lock off camber maneuver into my driveway, the other didn't rub in that same maneuver. Other then in that specific maneuver, I had really didn't have any rub issues, and that minor rub was so very very slight and only in specific situation I don't think it would ever be a real issue.

The only thing I have seen cause any real issues with running spacers is having to be really precise on making sure to tighten the spacers and wheels in a very careful deliberate crisscross pattern to equal torque specs or you can end up with a vibration. I don't allow anyone to rotate my tires besides me, or I have gotten a vibration from it every time. I say equal toque spec, because I prefer to use a 125# and others prefer 100# pounds, but the key or the point is to make sure they are all torqued evenly or you will likely get a vibration.

I have bought all my spacer from Trail Sport in Riverside CA. They are hub centric on both sides. The ones I use are 1.25". I could easily see how a 1.5" spacer causing some rub issues.

The 2016-2017 Rims have a little less offset so I am thinking a you might have a little more rub out of 1.25". So the offset to your Aftermarket TRD pro wheel might not have the same offset as the OE Land Cruiser wheel. I seem to recall with the TRD rock warrior wheels you are reducing the offset by 10mm.
 
I've never had spacers on a Land Cruiser, but I did put 1.5" spacers on my 4 door Wrangler Rubicon to keep the OEM look and HATED them. It completely changed the steering dynamics and made the turning radius even worse than stock. In the Jeep world, there's a company called AEV which is kind of like an American version of ARB, but they only make parts for Jeep and Ram currently. They are a top notch company, and they designed a wheel for the Jeep that was the perfect offset for lifted rigs with 33-37" tires. I bought a set and ditched the spacers, and wow it was transformed! The steering felt great, turning radius was improved, stability was good, and they looked perfect. I wish there was such a wheel for the 200 series because my 33" Duratracs rub on the KDSS, but I don't want spacers or a non-OEM wheel. I want to go up to 35" tires, so I'll be doing lots of research to figure out how to get there without screwing up how good this thing drives!
 
TonyP said:
I have them on my 200 with rock warriors. I do notice a difference in driving feel. I really like the look but I'm leaning towards removing them. Plus I'm getting a bit more rubbing that I did before the spacers.
Click to expand...

When I eventually bump up in tire size (won't do 35's until I can afford gears and locker install), I'll get rid of my spacers. Meanwhile, I love them on my 285/70/17 & rock warriors and have had no issues beyond removing front mud flaps.
 
Markuson said:
When I eventually bump up in tire size (won't do 35's until I can afford gears and locker install), I'll get rid of my spacers. Meanwhile, I love them on my 285/70/17 & rock warriors and have had no issues beyond removing front mud flaps.
Click to expand...

That's probably my downfall, I tried to trim the mudflap assembly instead of removing. The front mudflaps helped keep the slushy snow from blasting up the side of the rig.
 
@mcgaskins, to run larger tires on OEM wheels, you can always swap over to Tundra front suspension. The parts are OEM Toyota, just as beefy and add the width to clear the KDSS. With 34" toyos I get a little rub in reverse or under full compression.
I believe there are a half dozen trucks built with the mix.
 
TexAZ said:
@mcgaskins, to run larger tires on OEM wheels, you can always swap over to Tundra front suspension. The parts are OEM Toyota, just as beefy and add the width to clear the KDSS. With 34" toyos I get a little rub in reverse or under full compression.
I believe there are a half dozen trucks built with the mix.
Click to expand...

That's a good thought. I have to take it in to Slee for sliders and skids, so I will see what they've been doing as a workaround. My highest priority is to ensure reliability and functionality is maintained, so sticking with OEM or high quality like OME is important.
 
Kurt, did you only have front spacers? If yes, any reason not have the rear?
 
LEXCRUISER said:
Kurt, did you only have front spacers? If yes, any reason not have the rear?
Click to expand...

Correct, front only. As you lift an IFS front, you narrow up the track width and at the same time the top of the tire/wheel gets much closer to the UCA. Spacers fix both issues!
 
Ah, the term you guys are dancing around is scrub radius.

It's not specifically the wheel spacer, but rather how it affects where the centerline of the wheel sits relative to the suspension. Same effect as if you had a wheel with backspacing that results in the same geometry.

Scrub radius is a deliberately designed in parameter of the suspension geometry. Mess with it, and undesirable handling symptoms may show. Depending on the degree with which the parameter it is changed, i.e. bigger spacers creates bigger symptoms. You guys already touched on some like turning radius, directional instability, pulling under braking, etc.

offfset.jpg
 
TeCKis300 said:
Ah, the term you guys are dancing around is scrub radius.

It's not specifically the wheel spacer, but rather how it affects where the centerline of the wheel sits relative to the suspension. Same effect as if you had a wheel with backspacing that results in the same geometry.

Scrub radius is a deliberately designed in parameter of the suspension geometry. Mess with it, and undesirable handling symptoms may show. Depending on the degree with which the parameter it is changed, i.e. bigger spacers creates bigger symptoms. You guys already touched on some like turning radius, directional instability, pulling under braking, etc.

offfset.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks for the graphic.

In my case, I've had no pulling under braking or directional instability. I assume the turn radius is slightly different, but frankly the LC has what I think is a pretty great turn radius for its size, and it still feels like that on mine-though it has to be effected somewhat. I'm running Spidertrax 1.25" with 285/70/17 on Rock Warriors... So far the only down side has been that it required mud flap removal to avoid rubbing due to the scrub.
 
Stock LX570 20" wheel offset is 60mm.
TRD Pro 18" wheel offset is 45mm.
So, with TRD Pro wheels, it is tuck in a little further by 15mm.

Spidertrax 1.25" = 31.75mm

TRD Pro + Spidertrax spacer put out the wheel by 16.75mm. It's not much by number. Does it have a side effect?
 
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