New wheels - do I still need the wheel Spacer?

[SteveAZ]

Just replaced my factory steel 16 x 6. 5 wheels and 245/75 tires with Aluminum, Eagle's 16 x 8 wheels with Dunlop AT's 285/75's.

Tire dealer (nameless for now) handed back to me the wheel spacer that came of the right front wheel. Kinda thought I would still need that on the hub. Any thoughts?

Otherwise the truck rides nice, not as harsh.

Seems to need just a bit more brake to stop. Which brings up another question. When applying brakes at speeds above 60 to slow quickly to 45 (for example), truck will sometime shimmy somewhat like a rotor is warped. Doesn't do that all the time.

So, either I do have a warped rotor, or ABS does not like the bigger tires (Only ABS on rear) or that spacer not being installed is goofing things up.

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99' Qcab, 4x4, auto, chrome nerf bars, VA, Boost elbow, DiProcal Pillar mount gauges,

 

[Missouri Mule]

SteveAZ,
The wheel spacer I believe is shim, that was probably put there to keep truck from pulling to the right or left when braking hard(almost activating the rwal).
Yes it is in issue 14 in tsb section under Brakes. But TSB 5-95-95 all 4x4 club chassis
3500 2wd. Shim to be put in between wheel and hub/bearing assembly.
Surprised it was on 99. Mite be another TSB out for later models or maybe they checked for problems at factory and installed it there.

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Bill Thomas
Missouri Mule - 96 Wht 4X4 ST CC,5 spd, 3. 54, 8 ft bed, 1 ft high cheater boards.
99 Freightliner bl/wht FL60 ISB-5. 9 24v,215 hp,520 tq,6 spd, 3. 59 nsr,16 ft box, 19. 5 tires,Wt/gvw 11,000/23000

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Just remove one lug nut and check the threads. If braking is OK, you don't need the spacer. The extra braking effort may be due to the added inertia of heavier/taller tires.
I too hate the tendency to wander. More positive caster would help, but I haven't gotten it aligned. Stiffer trailing arms and bushings might also help. "Someday" I'll find or make them. Right now the only aftermarket arms I know of are longer for use with a lift kit.

 

[SteveAZ]

#ad


[This message has been edited by SteveAZ (edited 01-07-2001). ]

 

[SteveAZ]

Wow, cool the image thing works!

 

[dslcummins]

Okay, what year is this truck and what color is it. It doesn't look like any color in the 2001 Dodge book you get at the dealer.

 

[Cooker]

Wow green grass. I wonder what that is like this time of year? It been an unusually hard winter for us, the green grass makes me think of summer and warmer weather to work on my truck.

Anyway, nice wheels. I'm looking at a set of used Eagle 589's from a guy right now but we can't seem to agree on a price.

I think you'll be happy with the Dunlop AT's. My dad has a set of them on his Chevy and with 25,000 they seem to be wearing well, but I don't think they'll go another 25k.

 

[Big MAK]

Remove it/them if you can. They put one on my wheel to "fix" brake pull. Didn't make a bit of difference. I removed it.

Alignment and wheel shops freak when the see that -- they don't think it's safe :O

- MAK

 

[Rattler]

Steve, did your tire shop torque the lugs when they installed your tires? The shimmy you feel could be a little bit of warpage in the rotor. It is very important that you torque the wheels in a criss-cross pattern as you tighten them and do that in about 3 steps. Dont mean to alarm ,but this is an often overlooked item.

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Rattlin' Randy J 1999 Quad-Cab, 2500, 5-Speed, 4x4, Short-Bed, Rhinolined,
Limited Slip, Tow Package, Camper Special,K&N filter, staight exhaust with 5 inch
chrome tip,diamond tread alu. tool box ,Centerline Rattler wheels with 285-75 BFG's,Also 1971 Convertible Barracuda Tored
340 4-Speed

 

[SteveAZ]

Truck is a 99' Bought it New Years Eve 12/31/98. The party hasn't stopped yet.

I noticed that 99 seems to be the last year for the two tone Metalic Red/Silver. 00 was all solid one color, not sure about the 01. Hope they keep that color.

Yup no snow here, maybe 70 or so here. The grass turns burnt brown in the summer. (As does everything else including us)

I watched them use a torque wrench on each lug. Went back after a couple days to have them re torqued.

Pretty happy with the Dunlops A/T's, nice and quiet in the cab. Can hear a slight tire roar if the windows are down. Much quieter than the BFG AT's that I had a Bronco.



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99' Qcab, 4x4, auto, chrome nerf bars, VA, Boost elbow, DiProcal Pillar mount gauges,

 

[SteveAZ]

Okay, no warped rotors. Can't duplicate the problem. Shuddering while braking. Could have been the road and the new feel of the tires that I didn't have before.

But, I'm getting that left brake pull problem AGAIN!

I was looking for a set of 00 or 01 wheels, but the ones I saw in the classifieds here on the TDR were in the $1000. 00 range w/ 265/65 Michelins 50 miles on them. (Plus shipping)

Fair deal, but this set cost me just over $1200 out the door; warranties, everything, and they are nicer.

The bare wheel itself w/o center cap and lugs was $80. 00 ea. Get prices on new, then negotiate on the used. #ad

 

[ata]

SteveAZ
My 97 reg cab 4x4 came with a 3. 5MM shim on the right front hub. Asked the dealer about it and it was to correct pull to the right while driving. Asked a front end shop about it and they really had no idea what it was suppose to do? I removed it and it did`nt make any difference in my opinion. Tires are wearing ok. The truck wandered before and after i removed the spacer. But thats a dodge for you.
Aluminum wheels have thicker centers than steel. So if you leave the 3. 5MM spacer in you won`t have any threads on your studs showing out of the lug nuts. D. O. T. regulations require atleast 3 threads showing. Thats probably why the tire dealer did`nt put it back in.

 

[SteveAZ]

I'll have to pull the wheel and check out the difference in numbers of threads. Good point.

I know what you mean about the wandering. It was like that before somewhat. Bigger tires slightly enhance that effect.




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99' Qcab, 4x4, auto, chrome nerf bars, VA, Boost elbow, DiProcal Pillar mount gauges,