Spidertrax Wheelspacer Kit

Pros:

• Adds 2.500" of track to the front and rear of the Jeep.
• Allows for wheels with larger tires and smaller rims to be mounted with correct backspacing.
• Quick and simple install.

Cons:

• They are recommended for off-road use only.
• For larger tires, the extra track doesnt help much.

Cost: $129.00 per set. 2 sets are needed per vehicle.

As we all know changing tires and rims is a big moment in a Jeepers life. What style of rim to choose, what type of tire to use and what is everything going to cost, are all major questions each of us have thought about when upgrading our tires and rims. For my Rubicon, I really liked the looks of the factory rims and larger tires. The only problem was that when installing larger tires on smaller factory rims, things tend to rub and the backspacing ends up being a little off. After hearing about other Jeepers using wheelspacers to correct these issues, I began doing some research. The number one wheelspacer manufacturer was Spidertrax. I figrured I would give it a shot.

I put a call out to Spidertrax Offroad for a full set of their 1.25" wheelspacers. Spidertrax quickly sent out a full set of their top quality aluminum wheelspacers specifically designed for my 4.5 bolt pattern. The Spidertrax Offroad wheelspacer kit comes complete with everything needed for a quick and easy install. Included in the box is one set of 1.25" spacers, 10 lugnuts, detailed instructions and a package of Locktite 271. Since I had two axles, I would need two kits and each kit retails for $129.00, so be prepared for a total bill close to $300.00!

The installation of the spacers was quick and easy. In fact, it took more time jacking up the Jeep then it did putting the spacers on. Allow for about an hour of total install time with the correct tools for two sets of spacers. So with that said, lets move onto the installation.

The first step in the installation is to remove the tire and any drum/rotor retainer clips if present. Once these are removed you apply the supplied Locktite 271 to the factory studs and put on the spacer with the supplied lugnuts. Have a buddy (which is another good thing to have around) apply the brakes to prevent the drum/rotor from spinning while tightening the lugnuts in a criss cross pattern to 85-110 ft-lbs of torque. Once you have the spacers installed, go ahead and mount your tires/wheels as normal to the lugnuts coming from the spacers. Torque these down to the required specs as well and you are ready to go.

** Important: Since the spacers are only recommended for off-road use only, it is recommended to double check the torque of the spacer after 50 miles of driving. I would highly suggest checking the torque after 300 miles too, just to be sure things are still holding tight.

All in all, the install was quick and easy. The 2.500" of track added to the Rubicon corrected any backspacing issues with my larger tires. One thing to remember though, is that you are still riding on smaller rims, so do not expect all of your ride issues to be handled immediately. The wider stance on my Rubicon has allowed me to run larger meats, but on the downside my rims are still only 8.5 inches wide. In the future, I plan on keeping the spacers and upgrading my rim width to allow for more control and stance issues. The Spidertrax wheelspacers are worth their weight in gold if you want a semi-wider stance or if you have backspacing issues due to larger tires and at $129.00 a set, who can go wrong?? I am even going to pick up a set for my WJ, just to allow for a meaner and wider look. Thanks for the great product Spidertrax!!

For more information and ordering check out Spidertrax on the web @ www.spidertrax.com

Submitted by: scuba