2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Passenger wheel spacer

[NPloysa]

Hey all, rotated my tires couple weekends ago, knew of a spacer being on a friend's 98 2500. Didn't realize mine had the spacer also. I have done brakes and tires many times and did not put two and two together until now.



What is it for? Is the front axle shorter than the rear, therefore adding the spacer to make up the difference? Is it for alignment?



Thanks, Nick

 

[RustyJC]

The spacer was a Dodge "fix" to a steering pulling problem. To illustrate, take the following hypothetical situation - If the truck pulls to the left, they put a spacer on the right front. This effectively lengthens the moment arm from the kingpin axis to the center of the tire patch, thus creating a stronger pulling force to the right to counteract the natural pull to the left this particular truck exhibited.



Rusty

 

[NPloysa]

Makes sense, thanks.



The guy that has the 98 took his off and didn't notice a difference. But I will leave mine alone.

 

[JThomas]

Dodge front wheel spacers

The front wheel space was a fix for poor manufacturing and maintenance. When the front brakes went bad, and new pads did not cure, the dealers would put on a $100. 00 spacer (owner's expense!) to fix. There was no set side to install, just put on and see. If no fix, put on other side. The REAL cause of the problem was the calipers not being able to slide in and out anymore. Some of them never did. The large bosses the calipers rest on need to have a fairly smooth, clean surface, both on the back plate, and the caliper. That is the front and rear angled end of the caliper. Even if the mounting bolts for the caliper are clean, if the ends are frozen, no caliper movement, uneven braking force, pulls one side or the other. The local dealer did this to mine, and about a year later it started again. I removed the spacer, filed the angled bosses flat to get rid of the HUGE ridges caused by poor manufacturing, lubed with silicon grease, changed the BLACK brake fluid the dealer did not change, and have had perfectly straight braking ever since, SANS SPACER. Oo.



This a bit long, but really will solve a big problem

Thanks