Wheel spacers

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Solaxu

Banned
Joined
Mar 20, 2021
Posts
1
Reaction score
0
Location
American
First Name
Solaxu
Truck Year
2018
Truck Model
W205
Engine Size
V8
Has anyone put wheel spacers on their wheels? I've never used spacers before and would appreciate some first hand accounts on the good and bad before I make a decision.
 

Customblue

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2018
Posts
205
Reaction score
209
Location
Locust Grove, Va
First Name
Brandon
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
489
I've got the bolt on ones machined billet aluminum on mine for 5 years now no issues.
 

hirschdalechevy

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2011
Posts
726
Reaction score
513
Location
norcal
First Name
rich
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
k-30
Engine Size
454
I have not had spacer's on any of my square's but I do on my duramax, 1.5 inch, aluminum , in the rear. Been on there for year's and I rock a 2,500 lbs cab over camper all the time. I looked at a lot of spacer's and some are thicker than other's so I went with the thickest and the most expensive.
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
29,099
Reaction score
23,944
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
My '79 has spacers in the rear, between the duals. I don't know who made them, but no issues with them in the 10+ years I've had the truck.
 

FireTruck1984

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2019
Posts
2,829
Reaction score
9,130
Location
Michigan
First Name
Ted
Truck Year
1984 and 1984
Truck Model
High Sierra K1500 350. Sierra Classic C1500 305.
Engine Size
350, 305
I have 1.5” wheel spacers on the rear of my C1500.. combined with 2” rear drop to level the truck makes for a perfect stance.
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
 

Mofarmer

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2021
Posts
55
Reaction score
165
Location
Missouri
First Name
Mark
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
305
I have 1.5” wheel spacers on the rear of my C1500.. combined with 2” rear drop to level the truck makes for a perfect stance.
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
FireTruck I like that look, do you remember the brand name or have any pictures of those spacers?
 

FireTruck1984

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2019
Posts
2,829
Reaction score
9,130
Location
Michigan
First Name
Ted
Truck Year
1984 and 1984
Truck Model
High Sierra K1500 350. Sierra Classic C1500 305.
Engine Size
350, 305
FireTruck I like that look, do you remember the brand name or have any pictures of those spacers?
Rough Country brand.. also you have to install 1/2” longer wheel studs in your axles.
 

ronniebomb

Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2020
Posts
33
Reaction score
36
Location
n.e. Ill
First Name
ron
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
K25 Sierra Classic
Engine Size
454/t400/np203
I just installed these on my K25. They work great and you don't need longer studs due to the recessed counter bores, and they even included 10 lug nuts for installation.

They're on 'zon.......

You must be registered for see images
 

FireTruck1984

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2019
Posts
2,829
Reaction score
9,130
Location
Michigan
First Name
Ted
Truck Year
1984 and 1984
Truck Model
High Sierra K1500 350. Sierra Classic C1500 305.
Engine Size
350, 305
I just installed these on my K25. They work great and you don't need longer studs due to the recessed counter bores, and they even included 10 lug nuts for installation.

They're on 'zon.......

You must be registered for see images
Only 10 lug nuts for 16 studs ? Any wheel spacer thicker than 1/2 is not safe with factory studs regardless of counter bore. The thread depth is greatly reduced.
 

eskimomann209

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2019
Posts
1,849
Reaction score
2,000
Location
Modesto
First Name
Marcus
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
5.3
I’m not a fan. I have seen them break.
Still have one hangin up in the garage from it snappin on a buddy’s vette.
Sure it was hot doggin it but that’s what I do in my truck.
I float around the corner here and there and don’t wanna risk it.
I hear a lot of guys get away with it but we aren’t that lucky.
 

Dutch Rutter

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 13, 2013
Posts
1,074
Reaction score
1,197
Location
Independence, Or
First Name
Joshua
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
5.7
For what it matters, I'm with eskimomann209 on this one. While I would love to have the rear tires at the same width as the fronts. I've seen a few people get passed by their own bouncing tire when their spacer let loose.
 

FireTruck1984

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2019
Posts
2,829
Reaction score
9,130
Location
Michigan
First Name
Ted
Truck Year
1984 and 1984
Truck Model
High Sierra K1500 350. Sierra Classic C1500 305.
Engine Size
350, 305
For what it matters, I'm with eskimomann209 on this one. While I would love to have the rear tires at the same width as the fronts. I've seen a few people get passed by their own bouncing tire when their spacer let loose.
That is because they didn’t change to longer wheel studs.. done correctly, wheel spacers are safe. I’ve been running them for many years on many trucks with never a problem. It’s the thread depth of the studs that’s the problem. And of course you have to use hub centric spacers. Guys who install cheap slotted and variable lug spacers will get what they pay for.
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
29,099
Reaction score
23,944
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
A basic spacer and a spacer/adapter are two different things. Basic spacers usually need longer studs. Adapters are like bolting on a wheel, so stock length studs are appropriate in most cases.
 

RacingTurtles

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2017
Posts
59
Reaction score
28
Location
Pennsylvania
First Name
Apu
Truck Year
1990
Truck Model
v1500 Geneva Edition
Engine Size
350 tbi
I don't want to start a new thread with the same thing, but how do you guys feel about the slip on 1/4" thick spacers?
I have some wheels ( 3 sets of identical wheels in 15 x 8 + 0 ) and I'm really close to the tie rod end link on the front. The wheel is so close that if I have stick on weights on the wheels, then it hits.
These are what I'm talking about

 

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
4,065
Reaction score
5,909
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
Only 10 lug nuts for 16 studs ? Any wheel spacer thicker than 1/2 is not safe with factory studs regardless of counter bore. The thread depth is greatly reduced.
Not only is the thread count reduced the aluminum has to be thinner and therefore more likely to pull through. I ve run lots of spacers,no issues but I researched failures to see what I didn't want. And I still occasionally check torque on them. I just realized I researched failures not success so I wasn't under the illusion they were nbd. I knew what to avoid.
 
Last edited:

Forum statistics

Threads
42,113
Posts
909,387
Members
33,606
Latest member
dave84
Top