We first need to know which components the wheels rub against, in which cases wheel spacers can be used to fix rubbing, and in which cases wheel spacers are not able to fix. Many people encounter the situation where the wheels rub with the suspension support arm when steering, and the rubbing with the suspension occurs in the case of full steering, this may be because the offset value of the wheel is too high, that is, it presents a positive offset value, the contact surface of the wheels and hub assembly is outside the center line of the wheels, and the suspension or support arm rubs with the inside of the wheel friction occurs.
There are several solutions to the above situation. Replacing the aftermarket rims with a negative offset or zero offsets, OEM offset wheels will represent the contact surface of the wheels and hub assembly overlapping the centerline of the wheels, the OEM offset situation will not cause friction because the factory offset value does not cause any friction in the stock wheel. Negative offset wheels will provide more space, as the contact surface between the wheels and hub assembly is on the inside of the centerline of the wheels. Customers who choose negative offset wheels often need to expand the space between the wheels and hub assembly due to upgrading to a larger brake package.
Wheel Spacers Help with Rubbing
Wheel spacers are the most common solution, if you do not want to replace the wheels, choosing wheel spacers will be the most cost-effective solution, wheel spacers are installed between the hub assembly and the wheels, and the role is to increase the backspacing to adjust the offset value, the former wheels and hub assembly contact surface into the wheels and wheel spacers contact surface, the wheels are pushed outward away from the suspension and support arms. The original contact surface of the wheels and hub assembly becomes the contact surface of the wheels and wheel spacers, the wheels are pushed outward away from the suspension and support arms, and the reduction of backspacing improves the rubbing situation.
Wheel spacers can not solve the friction between the front and rear of the wheels and the liner, this happens because the wheels are too big or the tire pressure is too high, or the suspension is aging and damaged, the solution can only be solved by replacing the appropriate wheels or cutting the liner and adjusting the suspension, wheel spacers can correct the offset value, that is, the horizontal position, can not correct the vertical position when the wheels and the front and rear of the liner friction wheel spacers can not be solved. In order to prevent tire rubbing, you must first diagnose what is causing it.
If tire rubbing occurs when any part on the wheel is replaced or modified, fender rolls should be performed to increase wheel offset, thus leaving more space between the fender and the tire. On the other hand, faulty suspension components, such as shocks or bushings are more likely the cause and you should replace them.
Right Thickness Wheel Spacers
The wrong thickness of wheel spacers may lead to friction between the wheels and the outer fender, the location of the friction mentioned above is in the inner liner, and the installation of wheel spacers will indeed help keep the wheels away from the inner liner, but too thick wheel spacers may also cause the wheels to stick out of the fenders, in general under normal conditions, the spring travel will help maintain a certain distance between the two, but encounter bumpy road or too many occupants, may produce the two friction, so the safest practice is to install the appropriate thickness of wheel spacers, so that your wheels hidden under the fenders, to ensure that in the driving process will not happen accidentally.
