Wheel Spacer Pros/cons. Advice?

Thinking about ordering a set for my '66 to balance the look. It has a 2 or 3 inch lift on it, can't remember which. How much is too much? I don't want the overdone look and I don't want them to come outside my fenders and sling mud balls in to the back of my head either.

 

If it’s the Jeep in your profile pic, I’d probably leave it as is. Or you could do a 1” spacer. I definitely wouldn’t go more than 1.5”

If you decide to go with a 1” spacer, make sure your existing wheel studs are short enough - a 1” wheel spacer won’t work with 1.5” studs, as they’ll stick out past the spacer and hit the wheel.

Spacers will decrease your backspacing by the same amount as their listed measurement. For example, a 1” spacer with a 4.5” backspaced wheel, will net you a 3.5” backspaced wheel. With the spacer installed, the sidewall of the tire will stick out exactly 1” further than it did without the spacers. So take a straightedge and hold against the sidewalls, and then measure the distance from there to the fender lip. That will tell you how large of a spacer you can add without the tire sticking out.

 

Just a word of warning, spacers will alter your steering geometry. The turning (steering) travel is designed so the center of the tire falls at the center of the pivot. Moving the tires outward moves that pivot point toward the inside of the tire, leaving a greater proportion of the tread outside of that point. Bumps will be more apt to be felt in your steering wheel, since the bumps will “grab and pull” the tire where it just rode over them before.

Granted, the amount you’re contemplating probably would go unnoticed. It’s just a notable note.

 

33's

 

Thanks for the advice, it isn't the one in my profile pic but I see what you're saying. I'm going to measure and see .

 

I hadn't considered that. To be honest the jeep doesn't handle all that well to begin with! But I'm certainly aiming to improve that one day and don't want to make it much worse. It is an off road/gravel road only vehicle that never goes over 35mph, I wonder how much worse spacers might make it?

 

Yes they're comparatively skinny mud tires. The jeep just looks a little out of balance to me, I think I'll try some and see how it looks. I guess it's mostly cosmetic but my tires do rub when I turn sharp. Maybe it'll help with that.

 

I have spacers on mine with 32's and stock steering to clear disk brakes. It's definitely noticeable and not ideal. I am sure it won't help the life of my front end components.

One thing is the steering geometry is based on a stock... 28" tire.
That would put it negative when the 33s were added. Thus a 1" spacer would have a (insert maths here) BIG happy tire back on center with the kingpins.
A dana 30 would be best.

 

Good point.

 

I did the button head bolt mod on my knuckles before I did the brakes and spacers. I beleave that is a really good idea for those using plows, loader buckets, or being rough on there lil Dana. Remember grampa's jeep lost its spindle and had to be carried back on an xj.

 

This. Closed knuckle Jeeps are known for pulling the spindle bolts out of the knuckles. Adding spacers put more leverage o these components increasing the leverage. Installing the button head bolt conversion from the inside of the knuckle increases the strength and reduces the likelihood of a failure, I’ve torn apart tons of closed knuckle from axles with stripped spindle bolt threads.