so my teacher wanted me to make him wheel spacers 4 his 60's stang and i thought mabe i could fab some for my truck...thinking3/8 in aluminum with the bolt pattern cut out and just put the wheels back on. anyone thinks thats a good idea

 

how are you gonna attach the new bolts to the spacer? there won't be enough thread on the factory bolts for the lugs

 

Most wheel spacers have lugs on them. If you make a spacer without lugs, you probably won't have enough thread like 97 said, unless you make them fairly thin. Also, its a general consensus that running spacers is not a good idea, especially on the front end. With that said, there are several members here that swear by them and have had no problems. Its up to you.

Wheel spacers with own lugs:

 

Even if the spacers have lugs on them, like pictured above, you'll have to cut the lugs on the hubs down to fit. In other words, if your spacer is 3/8" thick, the longest the OEM lugs can be is 3/8" long. Not a lot of engagement area for the bolts.

I wouldn't do it if I were you. I did it when I got my lift and had to use them so my old wheels would fit until my new ones came in.

- NCSU

 

Thinner spacers usually require longer studs. Then when you move up to a spacer that's thick enough, you can have a bolt on spacer with new studs as in the pic above. DON"T EVER try to use a spacer and grab a few threads on the original studs sticking through...get the longer studs.

Everyone seems to always bag on spacers and that they're hard on bearings and other components...but the funny part is, of all the people I know using them, I've never heard of a single problem!

 

I've run 1.5" adapter type spacers now for three years and I tow quit a bit and have had no issues. As stated previously, don't use the non adapter type spacer and only snag a couple of threads, you'll pay the price in short order. If you go with the type pictured, unless you want to replace the studs with shorter ones you will probably have to go with 1.5" or the oem stud head will not let the rim set flush.

I like them as long as you torque em and check em every so often (even though I have never had a loose one)

 

I am not a fan of the spacers. To much that can go wrong by adding them and have heard many stories of all the problems that have caused so people. I prefer to get a wheel that fits correctly.

 

thanks guys. i guess i woulnt make my own. i will see if i can buy em

 

Maybe i just don't understand but is a 2in spacer that much harder on things than goin from a +30mm offset factory wheel to to a 10in wide -25mm offset wheel? thats over 2in in just offset not counting goin from 8in wide to 10in. seems bout the same to me?

 

That's kind of the way I have always looked at it. I'm sure there are those that will give you all kinds of reasons why they are bad but as long as they fit solid and flush and you keep them tight, I have yet to have a problem.

 

i know you can run 14mm or standard equivalent spacers without an issue since that's what is on the back of saleen 23" wheels (to make the +44mm up front +30mm in the rear)