If you’re considering a wheel spacer for your vehicle, you’ve probably heard about the potential for it to affect your alignment. But is that true? Can wheel spacers really throw off your alignment and cause problems with how your car handles on the road?
In this article, we’ll explore the truth behind this claim. We’ll look at whether wheel spacers can actually affect alignment and what steps you should take if they do. So buckle up and get ready to find out!
Table of Contents
What are wheel spacers?
If you’re not familiar with wheel spacers, they’re basically plastic or metal ring that fits between your wheel and your hub.
They’re used to give you extra room between your wheel and brake caliper so that you can run a larger wheel without rubbing on something (or someone). Spacers are typically inexpensive (and easy to install) so they can be a great way to upgrade your car.
One common question is whether spacers will affect alignment. The answer depends largely on what kind of spacer is being used, how much it expands, and whether it has any added weight. We’ll look at those questions in more detail below…
What are the benefits of wheel spacers?
They can add a wider stance to your car, which is nice if you’re going for an off-road look. On top of that, they can help protect wheels and brake calipers from excessive rubbing against each other in certain vehicles.
That said, it should be noted that spacers themselves do not affect ride height or overall stability so while they may make your car look like it’s sitting lower than it actually is (not always a bad thing), they won’t significantly alter handling. And speaking of stability…
What are the potential risks of wheel spacers?
When it comes to spacers, there are two main variables – how much clearance your suspension components offer and how far you’re trying to go. The further you go, in terms of rim size or spacer size, the more potential issues you can run into.
A large spacer can put a lot of stress on other suspension components, especially if they aren’t designed for it or haven’t been modified accordingly.
Do wheel spacers affect alignment?
Wheel spacers affect your car’s alignment, but it may not be for the reasons you think. If you space out your wheels, you are actually affecting your toe with the amount of inward or outward bend in your vehicle’s wheels.
When a wheel spacer pushes against one side of a tire while the other rests on a solid surface (like a curb), it creates an uneven force that bends your car’s wheels out of alignment.
This causes your tires to wear more quickly and impacts how much control you have over vehicle handling as well as gas mileage and safety.
Always check with an auto technician before installing wheel spacers on any vehicles to make sure they aren’t going to hurt anything else.
Yes, wheel spacers can affect your car’s alignment. If your car does not come with factory spacers or integrated spacers then you might be required to get your car’s alignment checked after installing spacers.
How do wheel spacers affect the alignment?
The basics When installing wheel spacers, a common concern is whether or not these items affect vehicle alignment. While most drivers aren’t familiar with wheel spacer basics, installing these products doesn’t affect your car’s alignment.
In fact, wheel spacers are perfectly safe for use, provided you choose quality spacers that are engineered to fit specific vehicles and made from durable materials such as metal rather than plastic.
When should you use wheel spacers?
You’ll want to opt for wheel spacers when you are going from a standard wheel width to something wider. If you have an aftermarket wheel and tire combo that you are trying to fit, a spacer is almost always necessary.
It’s also a good idea if your stock rims are badly damaged or bent beyond repair, as installing spacers will help keep your wheels in place while driving until you get them replaced.
Does wheel alignment change with wheel spacers?
It depends on how much of a spacer you’re using. If you’re adding or subtracting less than 1/4 of an inch, chances are your alignment is going to be fine.
However, if you install larger spacers (3/8ths or more), you could experience toe and camber changes that lead to abnormal tire wear and diminished handling. This is why it’s important to know what size wheel spacer(s) you need before purchasing them!
Final thoughts
When wheel spacers are installed between a vehicle’s hub and its wheel, it affects that vehicle’s alignment. To understand why wheel spacers change alignment, you have to take into account how wheels were designed and built.
When a car or truck rolls over bumps, potholes, or railroad tracks, each wheel moves up and down as well as forward and backward. This is called suspension travel, and it’s how wheels absorb shock by flexing.
I’m Md Nurul Islam, a blogger, and automotive enthusiast also. I started creating this website because I have always loved cars and bikes.