Wheel Spacer Question..

I Just realized when I was installing new suspension on my recently purchased Tacoma that it has 1 inch wheel spacers on all 4 sides. I am not sure why since the previous owner was running stock wheels with all terrains.

My question is, should I remove them? I will be adding 17 inch wheels (TRD Pros off a 4runner) this weekend and will most likely add 285's or 275's tires. My truck has a decent lift 2 1/2 in the front and 3 1/2 lift in the rear so I don't believe it will rub. Plus I'm not a fan of having my tires stick out. What do you all think? Would I benefit by keeping them on so my tires wont rub? I have no knowledge with wheel spacers since I have never used them before.

Thanks.

 

IMO wheel spacers are a last resort. Used when you absolutely need to run a particular set of wheels but also absolutely need a more aggressive offset for one reason or another.

If your new wheels and tires don't rub without the spacers, don't use them. It's just one more link in the chain to fail eventually and one more useless thing to think about.

There's 2 types of wheels spacer users: those that have no option other than to use them for legitimate reasons, and those that want the bro truck look without wanting to purchase new wheels.

 

Stock wheels have a lot of positive offset, so (depending what size tires were on it) the spacers might've been needed for tire clearance at the UCA.
If you're changing to 0 or negative-offset wheels, you can (and maybe should) remove them.

 

Taking them off should make the new tires less likely to rub. If you're not a fan of poke, that is probably the way to go. The new wheels are probably 7" wide and +4 offset, depending on exactly which ones. If you can confirm the dimensions and offset of the current wheels (model #'s?) and new wheels that will allow you to determine how far the new ones will poke, comparatively.

 

4R wheels have +4 offset. With the spacer it will put you in negative offset territory. It will rub with 285 or 275. Lift has no effect on scrub radius

 

I'd keep them on until you have the new wheels and tires installed. Check your clearance on the UCA and then decided if you can take them off without rubbing

 

Personally, I'd keep them on if they are a quality spacer and you are going to run 4R wheels. I find their offset to be too high and I like more aggressive fitments, but you may have to do more work for clearance with the wheels farther out. Won't know until you try it. Putting in the extra work is worth it IMO.

 

P.S. They may very well rub with 275 or 285's.

 

I was also curious how raked this thing is lol.

 

It’s not that raked lol

 

That’s what I was thinking about too. I might just stick with 265s

 

That is definitely not a 3.5" rear lift. These trucks are around 1" higher in the rear stock, so if you added another 3" to the rear and only 2" to the front would have it sitting stink bug as hell with a 2" higher rear end. But this looks pretty even which is a good thing. Rip ride quality at that lift height though; I also hope you have or are planning to install aftermarket control arms for the front. Hard to tell from the pic if they are still stock.

 

Judging by your pic, (the spacers, the Lift, and the mud flaps removed), my guess is the previous owner had bigger tires on it at one time. Regardless, lift or no lift, there is a really good chance that 275/285s will rub, hence the spacers.

P.S. Looks good.

 

I use the Spidertrax 1.5" spacer.
I installed them and left them alone.
Spacers are something you probably don't want to repeatedly take off and on.
They are also something I wouldn't buy used. Hub centric and all.

 

Thanks man, I will most likely stick with 265's

 

I did install aftermarket uppers, I don't mind ride quality, I have a 84 toyota pickup with a solid axle. Not matter what I do with this 3rd gen it will still ride better than the 84 lol

 

I think of it as the truck was designed for balance with the +25mm stock wheels.
I don't know the maths behind how much, but once you go taller with a lift. One way or another, you should probably widen the stance.

 

I have 4runner pro wheels on mine with 285/70r17 and I rubbed plastics. It cleared the stock upper control arm but it is kinda close. I had to move the inner fender plastic forward, trim a tinny bit of the inner part of the front bumper, removed the mud flaps, heated and remolded the inner fender plastics at the rear. I'm about a 1/2" from rubbing the cab mount at full lock and flexed out. If you don't offroad you won't have to trim as much. Look in your inner fenders and see if it is already trimmed for larger tires. No way someone lifted that truck and removed the mud flaps and didn't have larger than stock tires.

Some people including me had to grind the hub centic lip on the rear axle for these wheels to fully seat. They tighten up but then the lugs loosen because it isn't actually flat against the axle flange. I took off like a 1/16 I think it was and they fit.

 

Race teams everywhere using spacers without issue. Come to the 3rd gen forum? The same people arguing about getting 23mpg are telling you your wheel spacers are staring death in the eye.

 

I think you missed the point. Spacer will cause OP a rub and more money for cutting based on his future updates