wheel spacers

[shad]

does anyone know why these are illegal on road:mad:you would think with the extra width you get they would actually make the 4x4 more stable.:)as long as the wheels dont stick out from the gards etc.

[isuzurover]

does anyone know why these are illegal on road:mad:you would think with the extra width you get they would actually make the 4x4 more stable.:)as long as the wheels dont stick out from the gards etc.

(a) one extra thing to fail
(b) more than 50 mm track increase on a solid axle 4x4 is illegal.
(c) most are made of aluminium

Why not just change the offset of your rims?

[JDNSW]

I don't know, but I expect it is the result of some being poorly made and resulting in the loss of a wheel, possibly just a single really bad accident. Quite a few rules come about from this sort of history - the accident does not even have to be in Australia!

The improvement in stability from the small amount of extra track you can gain from them would rarely be significant. The usual reason for wanting to fit them is to maintain turning circle with wider than standard tyres rather than looking for improvements in stability.

John

[V8Ian]

It transfers the stress on the stud further from where the stud is fixed to the hub. Extra leverage, (like putting a pipe on a spanner) may over stress the stud, encouraging failure.

BTW most stud failures are caused by overtensioning, ie rattle guns.

[pop058]

I dont know about Tassie, but to the best of my knowledge, wheel spacers are illegal in QLD - unless fitted by the manufacturer. The only example of this I can recall is the XU1 Torana front end.

Paul

[rick130]

Potential overloading of the studs and bearings and possibly stub axle I suspect.

Funny that TUV approved ones are OK for Europe and the UK, and they are usually pretty fussy on mods :confused:

[mudmouse]

Some Porsches also run spacers...

As mentioned the wheel/load is transferred to the stud rather than the hub.


Matt.

[51jay]

Some Porsches also run spacers...

As mentioned the wheel/load is transferred to the stud rather than the hub.
Matt.

They are illegal in Qld. I had set of 50mm ones made up, the guy would only make them in cast iron. He had tried Al and steel and had failures. They were machined on the inner side to centre on the hub, and, on the outer so the wheel centred on them. They bolted on the origional wheel studs and had their own studs to take the wheel. They worked well but very heavy. Don't use them anymore.

[isuzurover]

They are illegal in Qld.

They are illegal in every state of Australia unless factory fitted (AFAIK)

[LandyAndy]

I saw a VERY nice LSE Vouge last weekend that had them fitted,looked real nice with the wheels out that bit further.
Unfortunately not legal in aussie.
Look at alternatives,ie rim offsets.Marc at Beechboro 4x4 has a custom set of alloys on his D2 they are offset to give the same effect.They look good and improve stability.His D2 has 6" lift(suspension and tyres).NICE
Andrew

[Slunnie]

I'm surprised there are so many wheel stud comments re spacers. For a positive offset rim on a Landrover, if anything it would make it easier on the wheel nuts as it centralises the rim over the WMS, or a 2" spacer will place it effectively 1" past centre... again, so there is probably actually no change in force on the studs. LR D2 are about +1", Patrol 0, Landcruiser 6stud are -1".

What it does do is change a lot of the steering geometry, notably the kick from the increased scrub radius.

I've got some vehicle modification guidlines around here from 197? that actually approves an increase in track of something like 80mm for a series Landrover and something less for Cruisers and Patrols. It does not comment on spacers though, and every relevant current guideline that I have read forbids them unless factory fitted.

[Stue 3 doors down]

I always thought it was due to how the are mounted. Bolting the wheel spacer to the original wheel studs then mounting the wheel to the spacer means you cant do a simple wheel nut safety tension as it would require the wheel to be removed and most people including me would be too lasy or unaware of this! Imagine your wheel seems loose but the wheel nuts are tight not knowing the spacer nuts are actually loose!!!! OMG what a disaster this could be.

As for factory spacers I have no idea except they must not expand under extreme forces and be idiot proof....

[Slunnie]

I'm not sure, but I suspect they are probably shims.