Wheel spacer question

[blown motor]

I bought a 78 dodge power wagon last fall. I pulled the wheels to polish the rims and these spacers were behind the rear wheels. The lug nuts weren't very tight at all and I wonder if it had to do with the spacers. Should I be using a different spacer? Guide me here.

[Filthy Filbert]

I doubt that's why the lugs were loose.   brake rotors don't fit "tight" to the hubs either, and although they aren't as "loose" as that, they do have some 'wiggle room' on the wheel studs.  properly torqued lug nuts should stay tight, because it will clamp down and "lock" everything in place.

[anlauto]

Without the spacers the tire would rub the springs ?

I say get the correct rims

[RUNCHARGER]

Throw those loosey goosey spacers in the trash. They make much better ones these days that fit correctly.
With the random spacing around the lugnut taper in the wheel it would be impossible to keep a few of those lugnuts tight and with large wheels and tires on a 4X4 the problem would be even worse.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/aaf-all44121

[dodj]

Agree with Sheldon. Those could kill you IMO.
Toss those. Buy hub centric spacers made to fit your truck's bolt centre.
How thick are those?

[MoparLeo]

The biggest problem with using spacers is that the stud is now too short and the lug nut ( engagement) does not go all the way down near the surface of the hub. This put pressure on the base of the stud and not enough threads are engaging the stud. Spacer = longer studs and different lug nuts if using a shouldered mag lug nut.

[anlauto]

They make much better ones these days that fit correctly

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/aaf-all44121

Huh....I didn't know they still made wheels spacers, good to know   I'm with Sheldon, bust out the wallet and pony up for some quality parts

[jimynick]

OR, call uncle Brad and be really, really nice and you might con him into making you a set. Just my 

[Mr Lee]

I agree with tossing those on the scrap pile.  With lug holes as large as those how can you get the spacer perfectly centered?  Furthermore there is high potential for them to move around at high speed. That spells danger.

And i also agree that the longer lugs should be used.  From here, it looks like they did put in longer ones.  But i would check the amount of thread engagement.

Post some pics of the truck when you get the wheels back on.


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[blown motor]

Update on this: The picture is the driver's side with three 1/4" spacers. The passenger's side only had one. Weird...   ...Interesting, driver's side studs are 1/2" longer. Got to love buying old vehicles! I'm going to swap out the driver's side studs with shorter ones and go with no spacers. I'm not sure why they were on there except to use up some stud length but even on the passenger side it's not needed. Lots of room between the wheel and the springs.

[dodj]

Glad you found those stacked spacers. Accident waiting to happen.