Wheel Spacers

[Jack_440 Savoy]

Anything wrong with using wheel spacers to move the front Tire/Wheel 1/2" out for more clearance from the control arm ???

[rumblefish360]

IMO, no, but I heard it a million times not to. Why, I don't know. Mostly due to the aluminum construction?

[dwc43]

Yep, don't use them. They tend to crack cause there's no way to match them to the register of the wheel and hubs. THey also tend to cause hte lugs to back off from time to time. You have to constantly recheck them. IT's better to get the correct wheels.

[aarracer]

Jack

You can just cut the wheel welds out with a zip wheel and reset the offset and re-weld them very safely. Probably better than the factory. I've done this several times getting big tires under an "A" body rear quarter.

Cheers

AARRACER

[wilks3]

Get the right offset wheels with the correct centering hole and you'll be alot happier in the end.
Use a lathe with a dial indicator if you cut and reweld wheels to make sure they don't have any wobble in them.

[aarracer]

Hi Jack and Wilks3

You can easily use your rear end axle flange as the alignment lathe and clamp a dial indicator from the rear spring to get the wheel dead straight before welding.

Just for you's that don't like to pay for the lathe work, and prefer to do it yourself - ME lol.


Cheers

AARRACER

[comoxian]

I wouldn't use them.

When I bought my '71 Cuda, the rear wheel fell off the very next day while driving down the highway at about 60mph. Of course, this ruined the rear quarter, and made a young man very, very upset.

I had no idea why this happened. I kept track of the lugs, but about a week later, going much slower, the other wheel fell off. This time, I was able to find the parts and noticed the spacer. I assume that the lug nuts weren't able to tighten properly due to the spacer. Never had a problem with the tires after that.

[dodger1]

Jack, talk to Greene's Automotive (East Richmond off Westminster Hwy) They've been doing this kind of wheel work for a long time and are very good as well as reasonable. I agree on the importance of having the correct hub center as this is the register for Chrysler wheels, not the lugnuts/studs.

[dwc43]

Originally Posted by comoxian

I assume that the lug nuts weren't able to tighten properly due to the spacer. Never had a problem with the tires after that.

dodger1
Jack, talk to Greene's Automotive (East Richmond off Westminster Hwy) They've been doing this kind of wheel work for a long time and are very good as well as reasonable. I agree on the importance of having the correct hub center as this is the register for Chrysler wheels, not the lugnuts/studs. .

Both of you are correct. Spacers wont let the wheel srping against it correctly. And the register holds the wheel in place. The wheel actually springs as it's compressed by the lug nut torque. That's what keeps the lug nuts from coming loose.

[Jack_440 Savoy]

My concern was the wheels that I tried a few days ago they were 8x15" with 3.75" back space they came within 5/8" of the control arm , maybe that's Ok but I have decided to go with a different wheel 7x15" with a 4" back space should give me a bit more clearance on the back these new wheels have 4.5" back space so it will move into the fenderwell better

[wilks3]

More backspacing will move wheel closer to the control arm.
Less backspacing will move wheel away from control arm.

[Jack_440 Savoy]

Originally Posted by wilks3

More backspacing will move wheel closer to the control arm.
Less backspacing will move wheel away from control arm.

Thats right , But I went with a 7" wheel instead of the 8" . So I figured 1/2" each side and with 1/4'' more back space I Should be still be a 1/4" better than before . I think it was about 5/8' to 3/4" with the 8" wheel.

[wilks3]

The width of the wheel doesn't matter on backspacing. A 10" wide wheel with 4" B.S. will be 6" out from the axle,
where a 7" wide wheel with 4" B.S. will be 3" out from axle.
Both wheels have 4" B.S. and both will be the same distance from control arms, leaf springs or inner fenders. The only difference is how far out they sit in the fenderwell.