Spacers

Morning all. What’s the general feeling regarding wheel spacers on discovery 2? I’ve had 50mm spacers previously; however I had an issue with a slight blowout. Any advice would be welcomed.

Fine if you use quality hubcentric ones.

My opinion is run 30mm spacers with standard tyres OR bigger tyres. Not both, I think you're asking for excessive wear on bearings etc otherwise.

If fitting spacers, make sure all mating surfaces are clean and sound, torque up to standard wheel nut torque and check very feckin regularly!

Hubcentric a must as mentioned.

Some won't entertain the idea of using them, I think they make standard tyres look a bit beefier and cause no more wear or problems than larger tyres. But make sure they're fitted bang on! No standing on breaker bars to tighten as you risk cracking them, just like a wheel.

Be sensible and they're ok IMO, 50mm spacers with big tyres and wheel offset you're probably gonna see problems

Would you need to inform your insures if spacers are fitted. What's the difference between a slight blowout and a standard blowout?

Col

Colthebrummie said:

Would you need to inform your insures if spacers are fitted.

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You would

Colthebrummie said:

What's the difference between a slight blowout and a standard blowout?

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The amount blown out yer poo hole when it happened?

1988smithy said:

My opinion is run 30mm spacers with standard tyres OR bigger tyres. Not both, I think you're asking for excessive wear on bearings etc otherwise.

If fitting spacers, make sure all mating surfaces are clean and sound, torque up to standard wheel nut torque and check very feckin regularly!

Hubcentric a must as mentioned.

Some won't entertain the idea of using them, I think they make standard tyres look a bit beefier and cause no more wear or problems than larger tyres. But make sure they're fitted bang on! No standing on breaker bars to tighten as you risk cracking them, just like a wheel.

Be sensible and they're ok IMO, 50mm spacers with big tyres and wheel offset you're probably gonna see problems

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Thanks for that sound advice. I’m currently running on 235/85/15 BFG A/Ts with steel wheels. Maybe 30mm or is that asking for bother?

1988smithy said:

You would



The amount blown out yer poo hole when it happened?

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There was only a small amount of poo! About 3 inches tread on an insa turbo blew off

I won’t bother with the spacers then.

Daves disco said:

I won’t bother with the spacers then.

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I run the same size tyres as you, but I wouldn't touch spacers! Any spacer, or offset rim causes more wear on the wheel bearings, I've got standard freestyle alloys on mine. Also, with standard wheels you protect brake components more from mud and ****e than you do if running spacers or offset rims! Handling is shîte in my opinion with spacers too

Gottschalk said:

I run the same size tyres as you, but I wouldn't touch spacers! Any spacer, or offset rim causes more wear on the wheel bearings, I've got standard freestyle alloys on mine. Also, with standard wheels you protect brake components more from mud and ****e than you do if running spacers or offset rims! Handling is shîte in my opinion with spacers too

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I shall bear that in mind. Thanks for that

I may need to pick some brains on changing drop links.......

Gottschalk said:

I run the same size tyres as you, but I wouldn't touch spacers! Any spacer, or offset rim causes more wear on the wheel bearings, I've got standard freestyle alloys on mine. Also, with standard wheels you protect brake components more from mud and ****e than you do if running spacers or offset rims! Handling is shîte in my opinion with spacers too

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Lol. If you wouldn’t touch spacers, how do you know what handling would be like with them?

Daves disco said:

Thanks for that sound advice. I’m currently running on 235/85/15 BFG A/Ts with steel wheels. Maybe 30mm or is that asking for bother?

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It’s more about the rims than the tyres. Wheel spacers move the rims more outward, ie a wider track.

This is not the only way to achieve this. Rims with a different offset will attain exactly the same thing.

The advantage of this can be more steering lock. Or retaining steering lock with wider tyres and/or rim combinations.

A wider track may also provide a slightly more stable vehicle on side slopes.

Downsides can be more wheel bearing wear. Bump steer and wheels sticking out of the arches.

Handling can be made better or worse depending on other circumstances.

In reality there really is no problem running them. Although 30mm is probably more advisable than wider ones. And just as with any other modification. The more extreme, the more it’ll impact other parts of the vehicle and will either cause increased wear or alternative solutions.

Steel wheels are nut centric and do not require hubcentric spacers.

Daves disco said:

Thanks for that sound advice. I’m currently running on 235/85/15 BFG A/Ts with steel wheels. Maybe 30mm or is that asking for bother?

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I'm running 235/85/16 BFG AT with 30mm spacers on a 110. Factory option tyre size I believe.

Only put spacers on last week, I'll prob be posting about wheel bearings soon

300bhp/ton said:

Lol. If you wouldn’t touch spacers, how do you know what handling would be like with them?

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Mine had them on when I bought it!!

I’ve replaced all of the bearings on mine. Don’t fancy having to do it again, so I’ll keep away from the spacers.

When I bought my Defender it came with Disco alloys and spacers. my mechanic friend, who has extensive experience on Land Rovers, advised me to get rid as they cause wheel bearing wear.

Anyone want to buy 5 Disco alloys?

Daves disco said:

I’ve replaced all of the bearings on mine. Don’t fancy having to do it again, so I’ll keep away from the spacers.

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Good choice bud! I've driven defenders with spacers, and with fairly offset rims, and its not until you drive one with standard wheels and set up that you realise how shìte the handling is. It feels like your running on rails compared!

I honesty don't understand why anyone would say the handling isn't effected, it is. Every time you go to turn into a corner, you feel it in the steering. I can totally see why people run spacers or offset wheels just for the look, they DO look better with a wide stance, but in reality that's all they do!
You'd have to be doing a huge amount of slide slope driving to make yu think you need them, and even then, if you take a Landy across a side slope with standard everything, you'd be pretty reckless to think you needed to lean some more!
My 90 is a workhorse, and an everyday car, I need reliability, not looks! I stripped and rebuilt both my axles on purchasing it, and there is no way id put anything on that could even vaguely decrease part life!

Gottschalk said:

Good choice bud! I've driven defenders with spacers, and with fairly offset rims, and its not until you drive one with standard wheels and set up that you realise how shìte the handling is. It feels like your running on rails compared!

I honesty don't understand why anyone would say the handling isn't effected, it is. Every time you go to turn into a corner, you feel it in the steering. I can totally see why people run spacers or offset wheels just for the look, they DO look better with a wide stance, but in reality that's all they do!
You'd have to be doing a huge amount of slide slope driving to make yu think you need them, and even then, if you take a Landy across a side slope with standard everything, you'd be pretty reckless to think you needed to lean some more!
My 90 is a workhorse, and an everyday car, I need reliability, not looks! I stripped and rebuilt both my axles on purchasing it, and there is no way id put anything on that could even vaguely decrease part life!

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As far as I know they were only on mine to accommodate the alloys!
Which are for sale, if anyone's interested!

wattfield said:

As far as I know they were only on mine to accommodate the alloys!
Which are for sale, if anyone's interested!

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I could be wrong but I don't think you need them for alloy wheels, I have disco 1 alloy wheels (the freestyle ones), and they bolt right up to the hub nicely!