wheel spacers

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ty-rone

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Mar 30, 2005

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Apr 5, 2005

#1

• Apr 5, 2005

• #1

What is the thickest wheel spacer I could safely use on the back of my 89. I have draglites on it now, but they have the wrong backspacing. I want to go from a 235 to a 255 or 265 tire, but it wont fit. Also, I would need longer harder lug nuts, but are they designed for certain sized spacers or are they a generic thing.

 

joelliott

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May 17, 2004

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Gainesville, FL

Apr 5, 2005

#2

• Apr 5, 2005

• #2

theres 2 kinds out there. The cheepo 1 size fits all 1/4 in ish spacer. Thats about as large as they get I believe. They just slide over the exhisting lugs. so lug length is VIP.

The second type is a billet unit with its own lugs and holes. The holes go over the cars lugs ad bolt down. Then the wheel bolts to the spacer and the new lugs. Obviously this can be aywhere from 1/2 in to 2 in thick or maybe more. But I wouldnt recomend going that big. These are also more expensive as a set will probably cost you 100 bucks.

You need to figure out exactly what you need to get the wheels to work. And then youll know more what to do. good Luck.
Joe E.

 

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ty-rone

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Apr 6, 2005

#3

• Apr 6, 2005

• #3

Well, most likley I will start by getting a pair of lower control arms, and dumping the quad shocks. But I need to clear maybe 1-2 inches of space, we will see how much I gain dumping the quads. IF I were to pull the quads off, can the car be driven without quads and without control arms just here and there, from shop to shop?

 

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TheUser

Active Member

Jul 25, 2003

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Springfield, MO

Apr 6, 2005

#4

• Apr 6, 2005

• #4

Well....I don't think spacers are what you need really. It sounds like you're gonna have more of a problem w/ the tire hitting the fender than anything. If you don't have enough backspacing, that means the tire will sit out more toward the fender, especially with larger tires. A spacer would only add to that...a spacer decreases backspacing, which you need more backspacing I believe.

What size of wheel are you running now? How much backspacing do you currently have? Backspacing can be measured by flipping the tire over nice side down and measure from the inside center to the top lip and that's your backspacing. I have 235's on my GT w/ 4.5" backspacing, but I have some 275's i'm putting on a set of 15x10" draglites w/ 6.5" backspacing.

 

joelliott

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May 17, 2004

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Gainesville, FL

Apr 6, 2005

#5

• Apr 6, 2005

• #5

ty-rone said:

IF I were to pull the quads off, can the car be driven without quads and without control arms just here and there, from shop to shop?

Click to expand...

Na man. DONT DO THAT mentioned above. the quad shocks can go. They just help plant the tires to the ground. Without them you might loose alittle traction on hard acceleration. But the control arms MUST BE KEPT INSTALLED>. absolutely no way to drive without the arms. You will destroy your rear end and car if you do that. Bad idea buddy.

If you need alot of space you might be better off buying a couple rims with the correct spacing and selling the non fitting rims. Its gonna cost you 100 at least to get the spacers. IF you can get them large enuf to keep the old wheels. So you might be better off getting new back rims. Good luck.
Joe E.

 

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TheUser

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Jul 25, 2003

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Springfield, MO

Apr 6, 2005

#6

• Apr 6, 2005

• #6

yeah, you can find draglites cheap. I got my 15x10's w/ new goodyear tires for 300 shipped from ebay. It was a steal I know, but you can just keep an eye out. I'll be selling my 15x8's w/ I'm sure 4.5" backspacing, but I haven't measured. I don't think that's what you're looking for, but if so, let me know. You also might check out the forums at www.corral.net. I'd definately have them post them on ebay though if you were to buy something.

 

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ty-rone

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Apr 6, 2005

#7

• Apr 6, 2005

• #7

Ya I know Draglites can go pretty cheap...In the US. A set without tires I have seen sell here for 1500 while in the lovely US the same set can sell for 600. We pay a rediculous price for the performance goodies up here. An example, I bought my msd 6a box for 119 in Buffalo, the same box in Toronto they wanted over 290 for.

I don't think the fenders are rubbing. I am having the opposit problem. The tire is being pushed to the insdie. It seems to be getting near the quad shock and not the fender.

I meant can I remove the quad shocks and drive like that? I didn't mean I wanted to pull the original control arms. I wanted to drive without the quads from shop to shop, eventually haveing my aftermarket control arms installed.

 

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TheUser

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Jul 25, 2003

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Springfield, MO

Apr 6, 2005

#8

• Apr 6, 2005

• #8

you can drive without quads forever, but you might have a little wheel hop. Shop to shop will be ok.

Sorry, I just automatically assumed that "wrong backspacing" was too small; my bad.

 

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ty-rone

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Mar 30, 2005

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Apr 6, 2005

#9

• Apr 6, 2005

• #9

I Am still lost on what backspacing does what, all I know is that my tires seem to get pulled into the body and not out from the body. I kind of like it, the body sits on the wheels sort of, just not practical when I want new tires.

I found another example of how Canadians get ripped too. Discout tire sells the nitto's in 275 50 15 for about 140, here they cost 275. Figure out the exchange rate and we are paying an extra 80$ a tire for no reason.

 

joelliott

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May 17, 2004

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Gainesville, FL

Apr 6, 2005

#10

• Apr 6, 2005

• #10

So your tires are rubbin on the inside near the trunk area right?

A spacer would help if its the right size spacer.
Good lUck.
Joe E.

 

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ty-rone

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Mar 30, 2005

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Apr 6, 2005

#11

• Apr 6, 2005

• #11

well it's not rubbing right now, with the 235 50 15 tires on it, but I want a wider tire and it will rub if I put a 265 or so on.