Spacers hard on bearings??

[fast.asleep]

-always looking to move up to larger wheels (1987).

I'm aware spacers are required for the larger GM vette wheels but heard spacers were hard on the wheel bearings. any truth to that?

(the car is not a daily driver if that helps)

thanks

 

[korvettekarl]

I'm not sure, but I will be finding out as I have 1 1/2" spacers on my 57 Bel Air that uses a 1987 Vette rear end and 2000 style Vette wheels. I haven't driven the car that much since I put the rear end in. It's been at the paint shop and I just took it home last month and haven't been able to put the windows and stainless back on the car yet. I will post if I find any problems.

 

[WhalePirot]

It's simple physics, actually mechanical engineering, that says YES. Think of how a lever works (a longer moment arm). The further out the wheels (load), the longer the arm, which increases the force on the bearing surfaces.

It would seem to indicate faster wear of those bearings and races, but who's to say how long?

Who's to say if that 1/2" will ever matter?

 

[G Winter]

It all depends on the backspace or what we used to call the reverse. the key is whether or not the center of the wheel is over the bearing .

 

[NevadaJim]

I guess only time will tell if they are harder or not; but I can tell you I've had mine on for over 4 years without any problems.

 

[Mart]

I can't see any extra force if the correct offset has been used and the wheel is still centered on the hub, or at least close to the correct center.

Mine has had spacers on for about 10 years that I know of, and I am just replacing the original hubs know, 220,000 Km's later (sorry guys, that's about 137,000 miles) I can live with that kind of life out of a stock hub.

Mart

 

[fast.asleep]

thanks guys