Wheel spacer failure

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Jbp19classic

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Ok, the thread title is slightly click bait, lol! My wheel spacers didn’t self destruct or send my wheel rolling past me on the highway or anything like that....but I did end up taking them off. I’m generally not against wheel spacers at all, and have ran them with success on several different cars/trucks. But, I’m also not going to pretend they’re 100% without their faults, and the one problem I have seen a few times is balancing issues. But usually that’s only with non hub-centric spacers.
The spacers I was running are 1.5” hub centric and I put about 1000 miles on them with no issues while still running the stock goodyear’s. But since I got new tires a few weeks ago I’ve been chasing a slight high speed vibration between 60-70 mph. Since the vibration came after the tires, I obviously pointed the finger toward them, but after having them rebalanced and rotated the vibration was still there. I personally watched the tires get balanced, and they all balanced out easily with very little weight so the tires all seemed well made.
So the next logical step was to try pulling off the spacers, which I did last night. Sure enough, the vibration is gone and it’s back to riding smooth as glass all the way up to 80/90/etc.. My theory is the stock Goodyear’s are soft and light enough that they were able soak up the slight imbalance of the spacers so I didn’t feel it. But since my new tires are heavy hybrid/mud tires and a lot stiffer, they aren’t as forgiving and thus transmitted the vibration through the chassis so I could feel it. I’m actually glad it was just the spacers, because I really like the tires and didn’t want to have to go back to a less aggressive tire. So anyway, I liked how it looked with the spacers, but having a new truck that doesn’t ride like poop is more important than the cool stance so the spacers had to go! Just figured I’d share.
 

Tpearson515

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Good write up!, I'm actually in the same exact boat as you. I've put on about 25k miles with my 1.5 hub centric with no issues at all.
I recently purchased some 33x12.5r20's MT tires. Had a vibration from 60-70k that was driving me insane, I literally took them off last night and the truck drive smooth as can be.
Sucks because I loved the stance the truck had with them. Even though I installed them, torqued them and used blue loctite and understand if installed properly to the hub they are safe, the thought of a failure was always in the back of my head.
Probably the best thing to do is if I want that stance to by a rim with an offset but until then just going to have to be okay with the tires tucked in!

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Witch

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Running 2" BORA spacers, had the same problem with my 37" Nito Ridge Grapplers

Replaced them with 325/60r20 BF Goodrich KO2 , rides like a dream again

Agree though if I replace my Rims will get the stance with the off set on the rims and dump the spacers
 
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Jbp19classic

Jbp19classic

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I had lug centric spacers on a previous truck, and for those I found I had to slowly tighten the lugs by hand, alternating each one a turn or two at a time to pull everything tight and properly centered at the same time. As long as I did that there were no vibrations, but if I used an impact and/or tightened one lug too much without alternating it would throw the balance off. I didn’t take that much care with these spacers since they’re hub centric, but I may try putting them back on that way to see if it takes the vibrations out.
 

madtrucker2016

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Ok, the thread title is slightly click bait, lol! My wheel spacers didn’t self destruct or send my wheel rolling past me on the highway or anything like that....but I did end up taking them off. I’m generally not against wheel spacers at all, and have ran them with success on several different cars/trucks. But, I’m also not going to pretend they’re 100% without their faults, and the one problem I have seen a few times is balancing issues. But usually that’s only with non hub-centric spacers.
The spacers I was running are 1.5” hub centric and I put about 1000 miles on them with no issues while still running the stock goodyear’s. But since I got new tires a few weeks ago I’ve been chasing a slight high speed vibration between 60-70 mph. Since the vibration came after the tires, I obviously pointed the finger toward them, but after having them rebalanced and rotated the vibration was still there. I personally watched the tires get balanced, and they all balanced out easily with very little weight so the tires all seemed well made.
So the next logical step was to try pulling off the spacers, which I did last night. Sure enough, the vibration is gone and it’s back to riding smooth as glass all the way up to 80/90/etc.. My theory is the stock Goodyear’s are soft and light enough that they were able soak up the slight imbalance of the spacers so I didn’t feel it. But since my new tires are heavy hybrid/mud tires and a lot stiffer, they aren’t as forgiving and thus transmitted the vibration through the chassis so I could feel it. I’m actually glad it was just the spacers, because I really like the tires and didn’t want to have to go back to a less aggressive tire. So anyway, I liked how it looked with the spacers, but having a new truck that doesn’t ride like poop is more important than the cool stance so the spacers had to go! Just figured I’d share.
Did you ever think of getting bigger tires wider and changing the rims to match . this would give you the look you want, but will bust your wallet.
 

KeepRight

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Ok, the thread title is slightly click bait, lol! My wheel spacers didn’t self destruct or send my wheel rolling past me on the highway or anything like that....but I did end up taking them off. I’m generally not against wheel spacers at all, and have ran them with success on several different cars/trucks. But, I’m also not going to pretend they’re 100% without their faults, and the one problem I have seen a few times is balancing issues. But usually that’s only with non hub-centric spacers.
The spacers I was running are 1.5” hub centric and I put about 1000 miles on them with no issues while still running the stock goodyear’s. But since I got new tires a few weeks ago I’ve been chasing a slight high speed vibration between 60-70 mph. Since the vibration came after the tires, I obviously pointed the finger toward them, but after having them rebalanced and rotated the vibration was still there. I personally watched the tires get balanced, and they all balanced out easily with very little weight so the tires all seemed well made.
So the next logical step was to try pulling off the spacers, which I did last night. Sure enough, the vibration is gone and it’s back to riding smooth as glass all the way up to 80/90/etc.. My theory is the stock Goodyear’s are soft and light enough that they were able soak up the slight imbalance of the spacers so I didn’t feel it. But since my new tires are heavy hybrid/mud tires and a lot stiffer, they aren’t as forgiving and thus transmitted the vibration through the chassis so I could feel it. I’m actually glad it was just the spacers, because I really like the tires and didn’t want to have to go back to a less aggressive tire. So anyway, I liked how it looked with the spacers, but having a new truck that doesn’t ride like poop is more important than the cool stance so the spacers had to go! Just figured I’d share.
Dude ya know the title is a huge miss lead!

Your public service announcement is good. Though your spacers didn't fail or cause any real issue.

Yup, the vibration being caused by the spacers, sure. However, there are a few other things too. Maybe you tighten the lug nuts differently, no vibration. Maybe you bumped the rotors just that way, no vib. Brake pads, Tie rods, a arms, sway bar, wheels etc, can cause the vib. Hell, road conditions, outside/tire temperature... How long the truck sat before you drove it.

Maybe if you have the energy, rotate the spacers, putting then on different wheels. Then see if the vib comes back.

What spacers did you have on the truck? How old are the spacers?

I'd hate to see others who will miss read your post. Then think (scare tactics) that all spacers are evil.

I don't sell anything and I'm not affiliated with any spacer company. I just like to ensure quality info, for everyone.

STKR

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Jbp19classic

Jbp19classic

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Dude ya know the title is a huge miss lead!

Your public service announcement is good. Though your spacers didn't fail or cause any real issue.

Yup, the vibration being caused by the spacers, sure. However, there are a few other things too. Maybe you tighten the lug nuts differently, no vibration. Maybe you bumped the rotors just that way, no vib. Brake pads, Tie rods, a arms, sway bar, wheels etc, can cause the vib. Hell, road conditions, outside/tire temperature... How long the truck sat before you drove it.

Maybe if you have the energy, rotate the spacers, putting then on different wheels. Then see if the vib comes back.

What spacers did you have on the truck? How old are the spacers?

I'd hate to see others who will miss read your post. Then think (scare tactics) that all spacers are evil.

I don't sell anything and I'm not affiliated with any spacer company. I just like to ensure quality info, for everyone.

STKR

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I agree with all of this, and am in no way trying to scare people away from spacers. If anything just putting it out as an FYI to maybe help someone else. The truck has less than 2000 miles on it, so while not a guarantee...it’s pretty safe to assume the rest of the suspension isn’t to blame. The vibration was very small, enough that I monitored it for a few weeks to be sure it was present at all times on all road conditions. There’s a strong possibility that if I put the spacers back on and take my time tightening everything by hand, it could be just enough to make it go away. Which is something I may try when I have some time.
 
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Jbp19classic

Jbp19classic

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Did you ever think of getting bigger tires wider and changing the rims to match . this would give you the look you want, but will bust your wallet.
For sure. In this case I viewed the spacers as a good way to test out how I liked the overall look before jumping into the cost of wheels.
 

bm02tj

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Not defending spacers but if you donot have all surfaces clean and free of all rust etc
the spacer amplifies that
wheel nut torque plays a roll as well
 

KeepRight

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For sure. In this case I viewed the spacers as a good way to test out how I liked the overall look before jumping into the cost of wheels.
OP thank you for kindly admitting the spacers did not fail.

I doubt everyone realizes that big trucks (semi-18 wheelers) have used spacers for millions of miles/years.

To that personally I have spacers too. 2015 ram eco 4x4. I drive 150 miles daily in Dallas traffic, at 75-80 mph. I've not had any issues. Yes, they could cause an issue... So could any other part on my truck. I am a fighter jet aircraft mech of 35 years exp. I installed mine exactly as the manufacturer stated.

Whether anyone does or does not use wheel spacers makes no difference to me. I'm an advocate for hub centeric spacers, installed correctly. In addition I'm about not using scare tactics to embellish and miss lead an issue that's not there. You seem like a great guy... It's your title that caught my attention...

STKR

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Jbp19classic

Jbp19classic

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I truly hope anyone reading this realizes the title was a joke! Mostly playing off of all the opinions you see from people who have never ran spacers saying they’ll fly off... But I did also want to share a real world FYI of something to look for if you have spacers and are trying to figure out a driveline vibration.
Update btw, I put the spacers back on this morning. I tend to be a little obsessed with details, so when I first mounted the spacers I had marked each one with a sharpie according to its location on the truck. This allowed me to rotate them so no spacer was put back in the same spot or matched with the same wheel as before. Whatever slight variation was causing the vibration, rotating everything around and slowly tightening and torquing everything by hand seems to have fixed it. So, I’m back to running the spacers and no vibration this time around!
 

KeepRight

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I truly hope anyone reading this realizes the title was a joke! Mostly playing off of all the opinions you see from people who have never ran spacers saying they’ll fly off... But I did also want to share a real world FYI of something to look for if you have spacers and are trying to figure out a driveline vibration.
Update btw, I put the spacers back on this morning. I tend to be a little obsessed with details, so when I first mounted the spacers I had marked each one with a sharpie according to its location on the truck. This allowed me to rotate them so no spacer was put back in the same spot or matched with the same wheel as before. Whatever slight variation was causing the vibration, rotating everything around and slowly tightening and torquing everything by hand seems to have fixed it. So, I’m back to running the spacers and no vibration this time around!
Good on ya! Please check torque after 50-100 miles!

STKR

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