m1009 to use wheel spacers or not.

[Jmeggz89]

Hi, I have a m1009 and am considering putting wheel spacers on it to give it that wide stance. My questions are is this safe has anyone had any problems doing this to there truck and also what spacer size is a good one to use to get that wide stance look? Also what sizes are the stud diameter for them?

 

[HighPlainsPrepper]

Wheel spacer input

I'd like to insert myself into this topic. I put some ProComp Series 98 Rock Crawler, 16x8 rims (Part # PCW98-6883F) on my M1009 and the backspacing is 4". That's just too close, and I had to remove the lead balance weights to keep them from rubbing on the rod ends.
So while I may not need the wider stance for looks, some 1/2" spacers may restore the front/rear track to match the original 15x8 rims.
I spent some time last night looking for spacers and found 1/4" and 1/2", but no luck finding longer wheel studs.
What sort of rim/tire setup are you considering?

 

[srs78]

You could consider these 1.25" 7/16 billet aluminum spacers designed for the Blazer K5 4x4 for the rear wheels.

 

[Glockamolie]

To get a spacer thick enough to make a difference, you'd be changing lugs, buying the spacers, and then running an inferior setup when you're done. Why not buy different cheap steel wheels with the backspacing you want?

 

[Jmeggz89]

Thanks all. There is still a lot to consider about this before I do it. And I might just end up doing that Glock but my major purpose of the post was to see if anyone had any serious issues with offsetting there tires. I know with cars it has a pretty bad effect on the hub bearings so I was primarily trying to gauge any issues anyone might have had with offset wheels or spacers.

 

[vinny-socom1]

My Wifes truck runs 1 ton axles with 37" tires on H1 wheels with 2" spacer in the rear to match the front.

No issues and it looks better too. Before the axle upgrade we ran a wheel adapter -6 to 8- lug with no issues until we broke an axle shaft.(37's were to much for the 10 bolt) adapter held up.

Vinny

 

[wayne pick]

If you are refering to the disk type spacers, they will move the center of rim off the hub far enough to loose contact with the hub. The trucks weight is suported by the hub, not the wheel studs, so the disk type are a bad idea. The "billet" spacers, like the one pictured above, are also a bad idea becuase they are not hub-centric, meaning the trucks weight is again carryed by the wheel studs. Notice how close to the edge the studs are placed, not enough structural material there for me. There are steel spacers that are hub-centric. they are pricy at about $325.00 a pair. www.wheeladapters.com I had BS billet adapters on an 86 C10 I had back in the 90s, sold it to a friend of mine. I urged him to put the stock wheels back on the truck becuase I had two adapters break after hitting potholes, well he ignored my advice, the RF adapter broke and sent the truck into a phone pole totaling the truck and banging up my friend pretty good. I agree with Glock, get some wheels with the offset you want, or go with the steel spacers.

 

[donalloy1]

If you are refering to the disk type spacers, they will move the center of rim off the hub far enough to loose contact with the hub. The trucks weight is suported by the hub, not the wheel studs, so the disk type are a bad idea. The "billet" spacers, like the one pictured above, are also a bad idea becuase they are not hub-centric, meaning the trucks weight is again carryed by the wheel studs. Notice how close to the edge the studs are placed, not enough structural material there for me. There are steel spacers that are hub-centric. they are pricy at about $325.00 a pair. www.wheeladapters.com I had BS billet adapters on an 86 C10 I had back in the 90s, sold it to a friend of mine. I urged him to put the stock wheels back on the truck becuase I had two adapters break after hitting potholes, well he ignored my advice, the RF adapter broke and sent the truck into a phone pole totaling the truck and banging up my friend pretty good. I agree with Glock, get some wheels with the offset you want, or go with the steel spacers.

Thanks for input wayne! Been thinking about bringing out rears for cosmetic purposes only. DO NOT want to make unsafe modification DMLII sends respectfully

 

[vinny-socom1]

As to my memory the M1009, M1008 style trucks are not hub centric but lug centric...maybe I'm wrong.

Vinny

 

[patracy]

I have the billet spacers on my 1008 because I'm running the hmmwv wheels on mine. I'd rather not have the spacers, but I like the looks of the stock hmmwv wheels more than a re-centered one.

For that matter, I also have spacers on my 87 Monte Carlo SS. I had to run them because I've got C5 vette wheels on it and had to move the wheels outbound to clear the frame. Granted this car doesn't weigh as much as the 1008. BUT it's got two or three times the motor under the hood. (And a 12 bolt in the rear to stand up to it) Do I like it? No, once more I do not. But it's just part of it.

Now back to the original question. Any time you space the wheels outbound, you increase leverage on the axle bearings. Also the spacers of course have to cope with not only this leverage, but also sheering motion as well. If you don't have to, don't. If you do, then do, but always keep in mind you're loosing against the laws of physics...

Also FWIW, I've had at least 20 4x4 pickups in my lifetime. As memory serves only one of them had stock wheels. Yes, the chevy is hub-centric, but a huge majority of aftermarket wheels are not. I've had at least 19 trucks that had wheels/tires that weren't optimal for the original bearings/wheel studs. But only one failure. And honestly that one was my fault. (Failed to tighten the lugs on the rear passenger wheel)

 

[wayne pick]

Hea patracy, Wouldn't large heavy tires like 37s apply the same leverage on the axle bearings as spacers and stock 31s would? Just asking.

 

[ssdvc]

If memory serves me correctly (50/50 on that), don't the 1009 wheels have a zero offset?

What other wheel has that offset and will fit properly? I would love to ditch the stock 15" wheels (tires are expensive) and go with a 16" steelie, but I didn't think there was anything else out there.

 

[wayne pick]

If memory serves me correctly (50/50 on that), don't the 1009 wheels have a zero offset?

What other wheel has that offset and will fit properly? I would love to ditch the stock 15" wheels (tires are expensive) and go with a 16" steelie, but I didn't think there was anything else out there.

Check out www.roadkillcustoms.com they have a cross reference chart showing GM and non GM 6 lug 16in wheels with 139.7mm stud spacing that will fit the M1009.