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Old 04-26-2013, 07:29 AM   #11
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Re: 2" wheel spacers, Pros & Cons

Quote:
Originally Posted by pjpvi
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.

Phil
^ What Phil said! My semi-float was toast at 58k miles with spacers. Granted, more weight adds to the problem as well.

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Old 04-26-2013, 07:50 AM   #12
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2" wheel spacers, Pros & Cons

Hmmm...I went with 2" aluminum billet made by this guy, on the recommendation from people on this very forum, gives me pause to hear some of the stories of chewing up rear SF. Anyway, I have not had any issues, knock on wood. Like you, I was wanting to give the rear of the van a little better look by pushing the rear tires/wheels out to match up with the front, my other reason was to get a little more stability in the back, the spacers, Deaver springs along with Bilsteins achieved that. I believe that spacers were an option from SMB at the time (2003), the original owner did not spec them on the build. Make sure to use high heat thread locker to secure the adapter.

http://wheeladapter.com/
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Old 04-26-2013, 07:57 AM   #13
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Re: 2

Quote:
Originally Posted by REF
Hmmm...I went with 2" aluminum billet made by this guy, on the recommendation from people on this very forum, gives me pause to hear some of the stories of chewing up rear SF. Anyway, I have not had any issues, knock on wood. Like you, I was wanting to give the rear of the van a little better look by pushing the rear tires/wheels out to match up with the front, my other reason was to get a little more stability in the back, the spacers, Deaver springs along with Bilsteins achieved that. I believe that spacers were an option from SMB at the time (2003), the original owner did not spec them on the build. Make sure to use high heat thread locker to secure the adapter.

http://wheeladapter.com/
I got mine from UJOINT. I was very aware of the SF issues from all of the threads here.... not sure how you missed that.

The spacers that SMB offered were "True Trac" brand or something like that, no longer made.
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Old 04-26-2013, 08:01 AM   #14
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Re: 2" wheel spacers, Pros & Cons

Thanks guys, this is the kind of info I was looking for. Granted I wont weigh in like a SMB but will be carrying a couple dirtbikes from time to time as well as a couple hundred lbs of music gear each week.

Not alot of added weight but a concern especially with spacers increasing the leveraged load on the bearings.

Is the FF a direct bolt in or does it need mods?
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Old 04-26-2013, 09:23 AM   #15
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Re: 2" wheel spacers, Pros & Cons

Several of us have gotten FF rear from wrecking yards. They came with cutaway vans and are fairly common. Got mine from Santa Clara Truck Wreckers $700 for the axle, $400 for ratio change to 4.10, $400 for a new locker- $1500 to prevent a possible disaster seemed cheap to me.

Try wrecking yards near you. Get the same vintage and the same brake types and it will bolt in.

Mike
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Old 04-27-2013, 06:45 AM   #16
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Re: 2" wheel spacers, Pros & Cons

I jacked the van up and used a 5 foot prybar to confirm my suspicion about the rear axle issue. Very simple and telling way to check.
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Old 04-27-2013, 07:07 AM   #17
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Re: 2" wheel spacers, Pros & Cons

Quote:
Originally Posted by saline
I jacked the van up and used a 5 foot prybar to confirm my suspicion about the rear axle issue. Very simple and telling way to check.
how so?
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Old 04-27-2013, 10:42 AM   #18
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Re: 2" wheel spacers, Pros & Cons

I stuck the bar through one of the holes in the rear wheel then just moved it back and forth and up and down.
Video of the nastiness!
https://www.facebook.com/video/embed?vi ... 0344950782
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Old 04-27-2013, 11:51 AM   #19
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Re: 2" wheel spacers, Pros & Cons

Another early warning signs is a oil leaking from the wheel seals. Any slop in the bearings will cause the seals to get chewed up.
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Old 04-29-2013, 11:08 AM   #20
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Re: 2" wheel spacers, Pros & Cons

Quote:
Originally Posted by saline
I stuck the bar through one of the holes in the rear wheel then just moved it back and forth and up and down.
Video of the nastiness!
https://www.facebook.com/video/embed?vi ... 0344950782
Could not view video. But basically you levered the wheel in each direction?
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