Wheel Spacers

Mighty HD · February 25, 2005

Does anyone have a set of wheel spacers installed on their NBS HD? I am wanting to get the rear track ligned up tith the front for better looks.

Frank S · February 25, 2005

I've actually though about doing this myself and have checked ebay. There are several sets on there, or were anyway, in various spacer dimensions that work on the GM 8 lug pattern.

Chevyfreek · February 25, 2005

I have wheel spacers on my 01' HD and they do make a difference in the look of the truck. That is the main reason I bought them. I have been running them for over 50,000 miles on my truck with no problems at all. I had them custom made from wheeladapter.com a couple years back. Here are some picks:

This pics kind of shows how the track matches up front to rear with the spacers installed:

This should give you an idea of what they will do for the look of your truck. I can use these spacers on a brand new HD as well sense the bolt circle is the same on the newer trucks as well. So these will go on my next new HD when ever I may get one...

Mighty HD · February 25, 2005

very nice. How about stress on the axle, especially if I lift it up and put bigger tires on it?

I'm asking sine stock it sits up against the hub? Now it's 2" further away.....

Chevyfreek · February 25, 2005

Everything I have read states that the spacers add very minimal stress on the wheel bearings. I am currently runnnig 265 tires on the factory rims and have had no issues. I have seen HD trucks on other sites running wheel spacers with 315 tires on H2 rims and said they have had no problems as well. Here is another site that is pretty popular for wheel spacers and they even offer and 100,000 mile bearing limited warranty. I hope this helps you out some more...

RipT · March 16, 2005

I have a set of CorrecTrack 1 1/2" (I think) spacers on a '00 2500 4x4 NBS chassis on a Tiger motorhome, and they made the rig less prone to sway and I have had no problems at all with them. They have been all the way up the Dalton Highway in Alaska plus a lot of back roads in the lower 48 as well. (The outfit Chevyfreek linked to above.)

chadlyt · March 17, 2005

staying on subject, but maybe getting a little off...Chevyfreek, I have the same truck as you. how much did those spacers run you?

I tow a 8000lb. travel trailer and have been hesitant to buy these...but it seems there are no known problems.

Silverado4x4 · March 17, 2005

I dont know why you would want to add spacers in the rear in the first place, the reason the front has a wider track then the rear is for two reasons, (1) The front is wider for turning clearance,naturally, (2) and the front is wider so the front wheel track doesnt ride in the same exact track as the rear for better traction (snow,mud, etc).

RipT · March 17, 2005

Chadlyt, The CorrecTrack set I got 5 years ago were about $350 plus shipping.

Shawn T · March 17, 2005

I dont know why you would want to add spacers in the rear in the first place, the reason the front has a wider track then the rear is for two reasons, (1) The front is wider for turning clearance,naturally, (2) and the front is wider so the front wheel track doesnt ride in the same exact track as the rear for better traction (snow,mud, etc).

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I was 99% sure that was the reason for staggering the stance, I just did not want to be the first to mention it. The rear tires need to cut their own edge, either on the outside or the inside. There is not a truck on the market with matching track widths. Probably a good reason for it.

chadlyt · March 17, 2005

I was 99% sure that was the reason for staggering the stance, I just did not want to be the first to mention it. The rear tires need to cut their own edge, either on the outside or the inside. There is not a truck on the market with matching track widths. Probably a good reason for it.

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True, i can see that...but seeing my rears are 1.5" shallower than my fronts, i dont seeing it doing me any good in snow or mud. My tires are over 10" wide so they basically ride in the same pattern.

I am picking up what your dropping...but it does look funny when my front tires stick out of the wheel well and the rears are even with it...

Shawn T · March 17, 2005

I was 99% sure that was the reason for staggering the stance, I just did not want to be the first to mention it. The rear tires need to cut their own edge, either on the outside or the inside. There is not a truck on the market with matching track widths. Probably a good reason for it.

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True, i can see that...but seeing my rears are 1.5" shallower than my fronts, i dont seeing it doing me any good in snow or mud. My tires are over 10" wide so they basically ride in the same pattern.

I am picking up what your dropping...but it does look funny when my front tires stick out of the wheel well and the rears are even with it...

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That is true. I never really understood it either. I just know that was the reason for the stagger. I am like you. I think it looks better when the rear tires track with the front. I think from an engineering standpoint that extra inch of tire edge cutting give the rear a sort-of "toe in" effect due to the resistnace on the inside edges of the tires, the result, keeping the rear from wandering. The same would be for a rear track that is wider. It would, in effect, have a "toe out" condition, keeping it straight.

Silverado4x4 · March 17, 2005

If the back tires run in the same exact track as the front then the front is giving you all or most of the traction due to the front tires loosing the dirt,snow, mud, etc. there is not much for the back tires to get traction on,1.5 to 2" is quite abit. One example is to look at your 4x4 tractor pullers and mud bogers, look at the front axle width verses the rear, there front axle is alot wider then the rear axle width, its for the rear to the get a bite on firmer dirt and mud that the front didnt dig up.

Shawn T · March 17, 2005

If the back tires run in the same exact track as the front then the front is giving you all or most of the traction due to the front tires loosing the dirt,snow, mud, etc. there is not much for the back tires to get traction on,1.5 to 2" is quite abit. One example is to look at your 4x4 tractor pullers and mud bogers, look at the front axle width verses the rear, there front axle is alot wider then the rear axle width, its for the rear to the get a bite on firmer dirt and mud that the front didnt dig up.

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That concept makes sense to a certain point. Breaking trail in deep snow is a hell of alot harder than following tracks. That is why dooleys are horrible in deep snow. They are breaking an extra track. The point I was trying to make is that the offset give the tires enough lateral resistance to run straight. Even on dry pavement, just the air resistance is a factor on the inside. I don't know I may be way out in left field but, like I said, I have been on some pretty elaborate engineering projects and this is what makes sense to me. I think a tech needs to chime in and help out a little bit.

derrik38 · May 17, 2007

If the back tires run in the same exact track as the front then the front is giving you all or most of the traction due to the front tires loosing the dirt,snow, mud, etc. there is not much for the back tires to get traction on,1.5 to 2" is quite abit. One example is to look at your 4x4 tractor pullers and mud bogers, look at the front axle width verses the rear, there front axle is alot wider then the rear axle width, its for the rear to the get a bite on firmer dirt and mud that the front didnt dig up.

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That concept makes sense to a certain point. Breaking trail in deep snow is a hell of alot harder than following tracks. That is why dooleys are horrible in deep snow. They are breaking an extra track. The point I was trying to make is that the offset give the tires enough lateral resistance to run straight. Even on dry pavement, just the air resistance is a factor on the inside. I don't know I may be way out in left field but, like I said, I have been on some pretty elaborate engineering projects and this is what makes sense to me. I think a tech needs to chime in and help out a little bit.

hello my first time on here.ok i have a 2000 s10 4x4 so what im hearing is that you dont wont the front and back tires in the same place.so if i put 1" spacers in the front and 2 1/2 in the back that would keep it the same as without the spacers.besides being wider?