For how expensice most spacers are you could buy steel wheels for about the same price. Plus you don't have to worry if they are loose...
Saddle Tramp said:Plus wheel spacers put more strain on the axle bearings.
No they dont they both bolt up the same they both put the tire out the same no way they strain the bearings more but i will agree wheels are close to the same price
SteelHeadz said:No way that it would put more strain on the bearings?, how do you figure?
No way that it would put more strain on the bearings?, how do you figure?
SteelHeadz said:That is correct only if the backspacing on the wheel is not on its maximum manufacturers spec. however, If it is the maximum backspacing available for fitment(factory specs.), adding up a wheel spacer or an adapter will increase the load farther from the center of the bearing and will ultimately wear the bearings prematurely.
Thanks all...........I have decided to go with new steel wheels, but I want to put 35 x 12.5 tires on 15" wheels. Any suggestions on tire/wheel/backspacing set up
3.75"-4" should do it. How much lift do you have?
Doubt you'll get 35's under there with only a 2.5" lift without some serious fender cutting. The 4" suspension/2" body will get you there. BUT...the more you raise the body, the more chances you have of misalligning other things like shift/T-Case linkages. Plus, it will misallign your fan and radiator.
*the following is based on research and lots of forum/write-up perusing, NOT actual hands on experience. If anyone has corrections or if I'm off base, let me know*
If you go 1" body lift, some of those probs will be avoided and you can get a 1" motor mount to get the fan where it's supposed to be. With a 4" suspension/1" body lift, you'll be in the ballpark you want to be. If you need more space, you can get small shackle lifts or cutout flares/flat fenders. Of course, you could also get more aggressige with the fenders with just a 4" lift and bigger bumpstops.
Yeah...what ^ he ^ said.
Your YJ has a 5 X 4.5" lug pattern. With a, say 33 X 12.5 tire on a 8" rim with 3.75"-4" backspacing, you shouldn't need spacers. That's the most common set up out there.
Steel-little more durable and can be trued if the damage isn't awful (from my research anyway). But, they're heavier.
Alloy. Lighter, "purtier" (if you're into that stuff), and more expensive.