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Old 10-27-2014, 10:14 PM   #11
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Re: Wanted: 1.5" or 2" steel wheel spacers

I would not use AL adapters on my van, as I usually end up replacing aluminum wheels every 100,000 miles (current Ultra Goliaths are DONE). The adapters might be okay if they have a proper snug fit over the hub. So far my wheels have been mostly Lug-centric, and the lug seats get chewed up after a while and they develop bad vibrations. And, I've broken two Alcoas. But I'm also run my van a lot harder than most of you, and put on more miles (almost at 400,000!), so that's definitely part of my equation.

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Old 10-28-2014, 09:51 PM   #12
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Re: Wanted: 1.5" or 2" steel wheel spacers

I got a set of aluminum spacers from Fred as well, told him the specs of the rig and he assured me that the aluminum would be more than adequate. I've had no issues in close to 70K miles, many of those towing my trailer and some towing our boat.
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Old 10-28-2014, 10:06 PM   #13
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Re: Wanted: 1.5" or 2" steel wheel spacers

We race Trophy Trucks on aluminum hubs - they have less "meat" than a wheel spacer. Aluminum wheels are much weaker than the spacers and are more likely to fail than the spacers. Personally, I don't like spacers that widen the track width as they change a lot of vehicle dynamics for the worse.
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Old 10-28-2014, 10:40 PM   #14
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Re: Wanted: 1.5" or 2" steel wheel spacers

Okay, I'm in Baja and cold Tecates are plentiful so let me rant about wheel spacers...

If you want a "look", that is personal preference - I think what the OP was looking for.

If you need a "wheel adapter" because you need to change lug pattern, well that makes sense.

If you think you need a wider track width for better stability, ask yourself the following: Is a wider track width going to do anything to stabilize the sprung mass?

What is unstable and moving around is the sprung mass, the body, power train, interior, passengers and payload...

Widening the track width will only help to stabilize the unsprung mass (tire/wheels, axles and a few other things) but these are not what is unstable or moving around on you, given correct tires and pressure.

Think about it; other than tire deflection, do you really think the problem is the axle moving around in relation to the road surface? What is really wallowing around is everything above the axle.

Changing the track width will not stabilize the sprung mass.

Rant over - next cerveza!
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Old 10-28-2014, 11:32 PM   #15
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Re: Wanted: 1.5" or 2" steel wheel spacers

I put wheel spacers on the rear to keep the tires from getting cut on the inner fender/ wheel well when the axle articulates (what little it does), not to gain stability or "improve" appearance. After just 2 outings without the spacers, I was missing paint inside the wheel wells and had small slices on the sidewall tread of my rear tires.

I ordered 2" spacers but I thought it looked ridiculous with the tires sticking out that much further, so I "twisted" the suspension and took some measurements and ended up installing some 1 1/4" spacers I had laying around. I'm sure that under extreme conditions the tires may still touch, but for the majority of the time the 1 1/4" spacers solved the problem.

1" spacers are all that it would actually take to even up the track width front and rear with my 2wd bent beams, but the body is different widths F/R anyway, so identical track widths are not necessarily what is most aesthetically pleasing. If I was looking for stability, I would have started by putting the front swaybar back on!
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Old 10-28-2014, 11:38 PM   #16
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Re: Wanted: 1.5" or 2" steel wheel spacers

Oops! I just realized this was a wanted ad, didn't mean to mud up your post! I have a set of brand new, never run 2" aluminum spacers with NO STUDS (I used them in my other spacers) if you are interested... cheap.
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Old 10-28-2014, 11:53 PM   #17
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Re: Wanted: 1.5" or 2" steel wheel spacers

*before reading any of the following, please know that I don't wish to contradict or disagree with anything that Agile Off-Road just said --- other than respectfully disagreeing on just one point: I believe there IS one legitimate reason to increase rear track width on these narrow-rear-axled 2WD E250's:

While it's true that a wider rear track won't effect the amount of "wallowing" that the body of the van itself does up above the rear axle, it WILL have a nominal effect in "slowing down" the vehicle's reactions to steering input at speed, noticeably acting in a positive fashion towards stabilizing the "twitchy" rear end behavior/characteristic that many of the 2WD e-series vans do have. (Tail-waggy syndrome.)

In race cars (ignoring many other factors like weight balance/front suspension geometry, and considering only track width), for a given vehicle, going with a wider rear end makes for a car that "pushes" more in turns (understeers), and generally slows steering response (actually increasing turning radius as well), while a narrower rear end can contribute to more of an oversteer tendency. Understeer is the safer condition to build into a passenger vehicle, what suspension and chassis engineers usually aim for. Race teams tune understeer/oversteer out of their cars using wheel spacers, both front and rear.

Looked at another way:
Due to the rear tires being closer to the vehicles center of mass (not talking about suspension roll center), and having a shorter lever arm with which to resist leaning forces, a narrower rear will transfer a greater percentage of weight to the front outside tire in hard cornering than a wide one will, contributing to the greater likelihood of oversteer.

My van had a tendency to develop a high-speed (over 70 mph) "death wobble" back/forth shimmy when I first picked it up, but has settled immensely with the addition of 2" wheel spacers (and also the Ford steering stabilizer strut.)

Just my anecdotal experience, submitted respectfully.
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Old 10-29-2014, 07:57 AM   #18
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Re: Wanted: 1.5" or 2" steel wheel spacers

In all humility, effect of f/r track width differences is a topic that even suspension engineers debate hotly and don't seem to arrive at agreeing conclusions with each other.

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=165852
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Old 11-01-2014, 07:29 AM   #19
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Re: Wanted: 1.5" or 2" steel wheel spacers

Interesting thread, although completely hi-jacked from the OP. Never had considered the effects that rear spacers had on steering, let alone "death wobble". Had only considered saggy butt, worn front end components, bad steering stabilizers or shocks.
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Old 11-01-2014, 03:21 PM   #20
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Re: Wanted: 1.5" or 2" steel wheel spacers

Quote:
Originally Posted by BajaSportsmobile
Okay, I'm in Baja and cold Tecates are plentiful so let me rant about wheel spacers...
You forgot lining up the track widths of front and rear!
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