Wheel spacers

I have a 97 300tdi 110 hardtop at the moment with standard steel wheels.
I would like to fit alloys,I have a spare set of Disco 2 alloys.
My dilema is when people say spacers are hard on the bearings,is this as a whole or, vehicles that are off roading and generally getting down and muddy.
My option is 150 quid and fit spacers,the cheapest option to start with,
OR buy another set of wheels.
So spacers, or no spacers ? Your opinions please........

hi

provided the spacers are decent onesthat cover the entire face of the hub as well as the rear face of the alloy and are fitted properly then as long as your wheel bearings are in good shape you shouldn't have any problems

disco 2 wheels wont fit diffrent stud pattern,i have a set of black mods for sale in the for sale section which will take the offset out abit if you go down the route of new wheels,they are like new only months old.

there's a few threads about wheel spacers if you do a search

some people have them and never had any problems
some people have them and the wheel bearings were gone a lot quicker

this applies both off road or on road, doesnt matter.

I have wheel spacers, just take the risk of the wheel bearings requiring to be replaced more often

do you know how to replace wheel bearings? if you... get the spacers, wheel bearings are cheap.

if you dont know how to... well, its your choice to take the risk or not

gizgrey said:

disco 2 wheels wont fit diffrent stud pattern,i have a set of black mods for sale in the for sale section which will take the offset out abit if you go down the route of new wheels,they are like new only months old.

Click to expand...

Thanks, Disco 2s will fit with the spacers. the the part I don't get if you buy the wheels the extra offset shirley will be the same as having spacers on anyway.

[JP];1770459 said:

there's a few threads about wheel spacers if you do a search

some people have them and never had any problems
some people have them and the wheel bearings were gone a lot quicker

this applies both off road or on road, doesnt matter.

I have wheel spacers, just take the risk of the wheel bearings requiring to be replaced more often

do you know how to replace wheel bearings? if you... get the spacers, wheel bearings are cheap.

if you dont know how to... well, its your choice to take the risk or not

Click to expand...

Did a search, but most of it was whether people thought if spacers were good or bad,but didn't say if it was due to heavy off roading or just general wear and tear.
Wheel bearings are the ones in the hub yes ?. If so then yes,if they are the big silver round balls at the back of the wheels no.
I am on a big mechanical learning curve, I have always put my cars in the garage regardless of what was wrong, but now having a disco and 110,both 300tdi I figure that the guy in the garage has has had to learn at some point the jobs I give him. It's just his ramp that makes life easier.
I decided that I would at least try and do some of the jobs on them, and up to now I have got great satisfaction from doing some of them.

Ham Salad said:

Thanks, Disco 2s will fit with the spacers. the the part I don't get if you buy the wheels the extra offset shirley will be the same as having spacers on anyway.

Click to expand...

disco 2 alloys wont fit without stud adaptors the stud pattern is different

yep, its the things in the hub, the big silver balls, as you call it, is your swivel balls.

there's an how to, in Busters photo tour repairs, change the wheel bearings, easy job.

so just fit the spacers and see how it goes, if the bearings go quickly, just replace them and get rid of the spacers, everyone is a different case, so you better off trying.