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Old 04-24-2013, 09:26 PM   #1
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2" wheel spacers, Pros & Cons

Ok, i'm back. Like i said i'm new to the Econoline chassis. I have already installed new tires and wheels and will install a Maxx Lift kit this weekend. As i think everyone is aware the rear track does not seem to be as wide as the front track, hence the need for wheels spacers.

I have an E350 but do not have the full floater rear axle, therefore I do not have all the meat so to speak of the long hub for the spacer to sit on.

What are some of your experiences with the two inch spacers and what are the red flags in running these. I am really interested in installing but don't want to waste the money if it's going to be a nightmare down the road. It's also a clearance issue for me as well as the inside of the tire sidewall is very close to the pinch weld on the inside fender.

Interested to hear your thoughts.

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Old 04-24-2013, 10:53 PM   #2
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Re: 2" wheel spacers, Pros & Cons

Why is having the same track width front and back important to you?
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Old 04-25-2013, 07:45 AM   #3
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Re: 2" wheel spacers, Pros & Cons

At this point it's part aesthetics and part clearance. The look of the front tire and wheel in relation to the fender is great looking and the rear looks as if it's trying to hide. Instead of a zero offset I went with a +10 this was to keep the front tire from protruding out past the fender lip too far but poses a problem with a potential clearance issue in the rear as I stated in my original post.
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Old 04-25-2013, 08:08 AM   #4
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Re: 2" wheel spacers, Pros & Cons

Here is a visual

Attached Thumbnails
Front.JPG   Rear.JPG   Both.JPG  
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Old 04-25-2013, 10:32 AM   #5
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Re: 2" wheel spacers, Pros & Cons

I didn't know that you had changed the back spacing with your new wheels.

Ford designed the front to be wider to add stability, something lost in the Twin I-beam design they use, so it is not unusual for the front to be wider and actually better. On all the 4X4 conversions out there, solid front axles are used and so the front track width is actually narrower than the original 2wd I-beam and thus closer to the rear track width.

The wheel spacers do not ride on the"meat" of the hub on a Full-Float D60. If they are hubcentric spacers they only index on a thin hubcentric ring at the base of the hub, the same as in a flanged Semi-Float axle.

I think most spacers/adapters are lug-centric.

A two inch thick spacer will add 4 inches to your track width and that is a lot - of course I don't know how much you lost with the wheel change.

Basically adding a spacer is the same as changing the wheel offset or back spacing - once the spacer is bolted tight to the wheel, it is like it is part of the wheel. You can look at it that way to decide how much spacer you can live with - I think 2 inches is too much.
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Old 04-25-2013, 11:48 AM   #6
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Re: 2" wheel spacers, Pros & Cons

Thanks, the factory wheel was a 16x7, we went to a 16x8. There were only two offsets available "0" and +10 we went with the +10 as I did not want to pick up more tire and wheel outside the fender lip. Two sources informed me that +10 was the way to go.

The reason I keep refering to 2" spacers is that I have not yet measure the length of the wheel studs and do not want to have to start replacing or worse cutting studs in order to make the spacers fit correctly. As I measure based on the realitivity of tire to lip front and rear ideally I would prefer a 1.5" spacer.

I appreciate all of your input.
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Old 04-25-2013, 01:09 PM   #7
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Re: 2" wheel spacers, Pros & Cons

Typically wider spacers will be fastened to your axle using the current wheel studs and special nuts they provide. Your wheel will be fastened to the spacer using the new studs in the spacer and your old lug nuts.

Only thin (less than an inch or so) spacers are just set between the wheel mounting surface and the wheel over the original studs.
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Old 04-25-2013, 04:47 PM   #8
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Re: 2" wheel spacers, Pros & Cons

More than one forum member has had a semi-floating axle break. If you really want to add spacers, change to a full float axle first for safety, then think about spacers.

Mike
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Old 04-25-2013, 04:54 PM   #9
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Re: 2" wheel spacers, Pros & Cons

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350
More than one forum member has had a semi-floating axle break. If you really want to add spacers, change to a full float axle first for safety, then think about spacers.

Mike
Yep, there are a lot of reports of SF axle bearing failures with spacers. I am risking it (for now) and keeping my eyes open for a FF axle.
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Old 04-25-2013, 09:00 PM   #10
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Re: 2" wheel spacers, Pros & Cons

I am one of those that had the bearings chew into the axle shafts on my SF. It got pretty bad before I figured out what was going on. Luckily I noticed before a total failure. Your van looks a little lighter than my pig of a van, so maybe you'd be fine. I'm sure happy to have a "full width" full float in back now though.

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