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Wheel spacer question?

GrayWolf.Overland

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Lift manufacturer recommendations are based on lowest common denominator..in the case of JL that guidance is for sport all the way to Rubicon. Since you have wide track axles you are already 3/4" wider at each end than sport..so factor that into your backspace.

IMHO you shouldn't need any spacer period.

If you have to run when spacers, use only a hub centric bolt on spacer. The ones that just slip between adding 1/2" etc are not a good idea for offroad vehicles.
If your wheels have groves/pockets behind the hub next to the lug holes (like how stock wheels have), you can get away with a 1.25" hub centric bolt on spacer.. Mammoth offroad at extreme terrain has one.
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richk225

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The spacer debate continues on…..
Check out King of the Hammers and see how well the correct wheel spacers hold up under 1000hp plus.
Also they are used throughout the agriculture machinery industry on equipment that weighs several tons. We have used them on a Kubota tractor that allowed it to run duel real wheels.
Everyone seems to know someone who had spacers fail but it seems like they don’t post it on the forums. How about the factory OEM`s that use spacers? I wish people would keep their negative comments to themselves and not base it after something that they think they heard. But to each his own and make your own decisions based on facts not third or fourth person stories.
 
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caratnic

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I didn't think I was going to open such a can of worms ha ha ha ....
 

richk225

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No can of worms, just a lot of misinformation based on personal feelings and not facts
 

aeonixx1001

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I agree with you, wheel spacers are not for you and would be a bad idea for you to use them. I rotate my own tires and do my own work so I am 100% comfortable driving 85mph all day long with mine. Heck I have retorqued my lift kit 2X already. I know people get lifts put on and they bolts never see another wrench even tho it is super important for your nuts and bolts to be checked especially your front track bar.
I put a little mark with finger nail polish on the bolts on my lift, hell on everything..
 

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84jeepjohn

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Lift manufacturer recommendations are based on lowest common denominator..in the case of JL that guidance is for sport all the way to Rubicon. Since you have wide track axles you are already 3/4" wider at each end than sport..so factor that into your backspace.

IMHO you shouldn't need any spacer period.

If you have to run when spacers, use only a hub centric bolt on spacer. The ones that just slip between adding 1/2" etc are not a good idea for offroad vehicles.
If your wheels have groves/pockets behind the hub next to the lug holes (like how stock wheels have), you can get away with a 1.25" hub centric bolt on spacer.. Mammoth offroad at extreme terrain has one.
This is a good point It sucks cause no one wants to buy more than they need, but man I would be pissed, if I was bolting everything up and bam I need spacers.
I agree, talking to the mfgr is the best thing for a SPECIFIC case. I think part of the issue with the MC is the front shock outboarding bracket. (wonder if it matters in my case with 2024 Rubi XR)

I may be going from the stock +12 offset of the 2024 XR rims to an aftermarket set with -12 offset, and that will take me from 5"of backspacing to the supposedly required 4.5" that MC wants.
 

roaniecowpony

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Spacers aren't in my line of sight. If I need more offset, it gets wheels. Spacers come with baggage. Yeah it's technical mumbo jumbo engineering modulus and shear, bending, etc.. The 5 lug arrangement on stock axles and larger than stock tires is already pushing the envelope. Adding more moment arm on the studs and axle flanges is asking for trouble. The thin spacers where the OE studs go through the spacer may not have the hub centric feature. As always, it's a personal choice.
 

c20040215

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Bora makes great spacers. If you need to run them, my suggestion is always Bora. I would test out your current set up before buying spacers. Proper offset / back spacing wheels is always the better option.

I have been running their 1.25" spacers + OE wheels for a few years. Per instruction no loctite needed. I check the nuts every time I rotate the tires, I have yet seen a single nut falls out of 130 ft/lb spec.
 

c20040215

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The spacer debate continues on…..
Check out King of the Hammers and see how well the correct wheel spacers hold up under 1000hp plus.
Also they are used throughout the agriculture machinery industry on equipment that weighs several tons. We have used them on a Kubota tractor that allowed it to run duel real wheels.
Everyone seems to know someone who had spacers fail but it seems like they don’t post it on the forums. How about the factory OEM`s that use spacers? I wish people would keep their negative comments to themselves and not base it after something that they think they heard. But to each his own and make your own decisions based on facts not third or fourth person stories.
I think by itself, spacer (good quality one) isn't a bad idea. It is addition part that require some maintenance. The more parts, the higher chance to induce user error. That's where the issues are coming from.
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