I have been reall wanting a set of aluminum slots, but most of the ones I can find for a good price have like a 3" backspacing. I was told years ago that wheel spacers are a bad idea because of the added stresses, is this true?
How wide are they? Are you sure you'll need a spacer? The less dangerous of the available spacers are about the same price as a lot of the custom wheels out there.
The "good" spacers are not dangerous, but they are EXPENSIVE. I would not put cheap spacers on my car...
I don't know, maybe some of the old farts (I can say that cause I'm an old fart) out there will remember this. But where a spacer becomes bad is if it takes the coining effect out of a wheel lip to wheel lug nut relationship. That's right, the word is coining. What that is, is the high spot / low spot, that is found on a good mate between wheel lug nut rim and the lug nut. When you tighten down a lug nut and you hit that "kinda tight spot", that is where the coining spot starts. Coining works kinda like a lock washer does. Two different heights in two opposite sides of a hole, causes the mating surfaces of the lug nut and lug hole to become a very tight fit when it starts to compress. Like a lock washer does when tighten. By adding the spacer, you remove that "lock washer" effect that the coining gave you, and now you have a lose wheel cause nothing stays tight.
Yes, like TL said, good spacers cost $$$$, cause they keep that coining effect. Cheapos are just a plate in between the wheel and hub/drum.
there was a cheap set on the 64 fairlane i bought about 5 years ago. the car drove like crap. when i got it home i looked at the wheels and saw the spacers, took them out and the car drove great after that.
If you use spacers, you should get HUB CENTRIC spacers. I think that is how you spell it. They do cost more but there a lot better. Also you might want see how long are your wheel studs. I only have about an inches of thread. With a 1/4 spacer & a wheel that's about 1/2 of thread remaining. Might not be enough to put a lug on good. I ordered ARP racing wheel studs but they were a headache to put in. Maybe because I didn't have the right tools.
No, you don't need a spacer until you start getting much past 4", unless your tires are sticking out WAY past the rims.
