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Spacers... Yay or Nay?

Discussion in '1st Gen Tundras (2000-2006)' started by FirstGenVol, May 8, 2019.

?

Would you run spacers?

  1. Absolutely not-Just start cutting instead

    16 vote(s)
    41.0%
  2. Yes, depending on the type

    23 vote(s)
    59.0%
  1. May 9, 2019 at 6:17 AM
    #31
    Darkness

    Darkness Allergic to white

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    285 on 3.5 you'll need to cut the pinch weld and fold it back for sure, even after that you may hit that area but you won't hit frame.

    285 on 4.3 you might need to cut and fold the pinch weld but you won't hit it after that but you might rub frame a little bit. Only on really tight turns, you'll have to adjust for u turns.
     
  2. May 9, 2019 at 6:22 AM
    #32
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    No arguing here, either. Just learning. I like to simplify matters as quickly as possible.

    I assume everyone has done the exercise called push ups. I didn’t for many years for fear of hurting the money makers, but thats another story.

    Try performing three forms of ‘push ups’.

    1) Standard with hands centered under shoulders.
    2) Hands extended as far as possible away from shoulders. (Extreme Spacer)
    3) Diamond push ups with hands together under chest (inside of shoulders). (Extreme Offset)

    ‘Shoulders’ equal the point where the spacers meet hub. The ‘#2 push up’ will put the most strain on your ‘shoulders’.

    #1 push up is easiest.

    #3 push up a little more difficult, but still way easier than #2. I get your point about the offset becoming more centered over the ‘bearing’ with a spacer. In other words, someone put spacers on your shoulders to make the diamond push up now a standard centered push up (over the bearing). You’ve added more potential breaking/stressing points, also.

    Circling back to my original statement which you consider ‘myth’: The point of leverage is at the mating surface not the bearing. You extend the leverage (via spacer) and you extend the potential weakening of the mating area. Too much leverage on the system.
     
    marbleville and Sunnier like this.
  3. May 9, 2019 at 6:30 AM
    #33
    FirstGenVol

    FirstGenVol [OP] Brake Czar

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    You've confused me here. I thought 3.5 BS would require less trimming? Do both of your scenarios above assume I'm not using spacers? You're running 285/75/16's right? That's 32.8" give or take. How much trimming did you have to do?
     
  4. May 9, 2019 at 6:32 AM
    #34
    FirstGenVol

    FirstGenVol [OP] Brake Czar

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    I only do 1 arm push ups like this:


    upload_2019-5-9_9-31-55.jpg


    How does this factor into your formula?
     
  5. May 9, 2019 at 6:38 AM
    #35
    HBdirtbag

    HBdirtbag New Member

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    ive ran spacers on numerous cars, including track cars. Never had an issue
     
    Casper421 likes this.
  6. May 9, 2019 at 6:41 AM
    #36
    OBXTundra

    OBXTundra Member

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    My truck came from PO with spacers. I run a lot of highway miles, tow a camper, carry heavy loads in the bed, and my family is usually in the truck. With all that said, my OCD would not allow me to leave the spacers on the truck for the following reasons.
    -In my head it was another point of failure and 20 additional lug nuts/studs to worry about.
    -I'm not going to pull my wheels to check the spacer torque regularly and I'm not going to rely on a shop to double check the spacer torque and then the wheel lug torque whenever I rotate my tires.

    I ended up with a set of aftermarket wheels that were the same overall offset as the stock wheels with spacers.
    My mind is at ease and it's not something I need to think about every time I hitch the camper to the truck.
     
  7. May 9, 2019 at 6:58 AM
    #37
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    Damn boy. You went there! I feel wrath coming your way.
     
    Sunnier, ethan1911 and Darkness like this.
  8. May 9, 2019 at 7:02 AM
    #38
    Darkness

    Darkness Allergic to white

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    It isn't that bad, there are just a few things to keep in mind. The pinch weld area will be the real item to address. What, or how much "what", you do to it is up to you. Of those two options, go with the 4.3.

    Pay attention to the width of the wheel and the backspace. The backspace is a constant way to measure, 4.5" backspace on a 8" wide wheel is the same as 4.5" backspace on a 10" wheel. 4.5" of backspace will clear your upper arm and spindle fine, but with a 285 tire you're going to rub frame a little bit on sharp turns. It's not dreadful, it can be lived with.

    Now take the width of the wheel, subtract the backspace and you'll have an idea how far out it sticks. An 8.5 wheel with 4.3 backspace sticks out 4.2", you will probably be okay with some minor trimming.

    To put that in perspective, I ran Axis Regulators 16x9 with 4.5 backspace and 285 tires. I rubbed frame just a bit, and when reversing/turning/hitting a bump I hit the pinch weld enough to be uncomfortable. I went and trimmed the weld back to get clearance, it still touched occasionally but nothing to cause concern.

    Now I run an 8" wheel with 4.5 backspace. I hit frame a little but i haven't hit the pinch weld area at all. Getting rid of that extra inch from the mounting surface out made a difference.
     
    FirstGenVol[OP] likes this.
  9. May 9, 2019 at 3:51 PM
    #39
    ethan1911

    ethan1911 I’m one of those regular weird people

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    I’ve ran spacers in the past because of my axles being different widths and decided to buy new wheels after breaking lugs on 3 different brands of spacers (all were Chinese).
     
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  10. May 10, 2019 at 5:25 AM
    #40
    MDtundra

    MDtundra The land of pleasant living

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    I'm thinking about installing 1" spacers and a 3" lift on stock 18" wheels with stock tires. Do yall foresee any issues with this set up.
     
  11. May 10, 2019 at 5:47 AM
    #41
    Professional Hand Model

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    Yes.
     
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  12. May 19, 2019 at 8:06 PM
    #42
    marbleville

    marbleville Agent Provocateur

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    Since the late '60s, it has been my experience to have been around some serious offroaders and I can not recall any of them that would support spacers as the means to fit wheels to axles and thereby overcome a clearance issue. It was expressed, with some disdain, that the spacers were suited for what they called the cosmetic racers, guys who want to look the part but aren't about to go offroad because everything is for show and not to enhance performance, etc. In other words, as a stocker dressed to look the part of a bad-asp rooter, but all vanilla inside where it counts. The talk was the spacers are unsound, mechanically, and throwing off the engineering that specified the wheels placement at the end of the axle, or something like that. Creating a different sheer point on the bolts holding the wheels. I don't remember the details worth a darn, but I've pretty much lived by them, right or wrong. I would look to offset wheels knowing their costs are budget busters at times.
     

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