Hey all, I’m trying to put HMMWV wheels on my truck, but I need to run spacers to make them fit. What brands of spacers do you recommend, and which ones should I stay away from? I know spacers aren’t great for hubs, but I don’t have many options.
I don’t think spacers are a good idea. They create a lever effect on the hub, which puts a lot of stress on parts that weren’t made for it. It’s better to get the right wheel offset if you can.
Kai said:
I don’t think spacers are a good idea. They create a lever effect on the hub, which puts a lot of stress on parts that weren’t made for it. It’s better to get the right wheel offset if you can.
Yeah, I know it’s not ideal for the hubs, but HMMWV wheels don’t come with the right offset. I was more curious about which brands of spacers work well.
It’s not as easy as just adding spacers. Here’s some info from another thread on this:
‘To use H1 rims on a Ford without recentering them: You need a 76" wheel mounting surface. Stock single rear wheels are usually 67". For a 60 front, you need the dual wheel hubs. If you have a 44 front, get the dual rear wheel spacers from a newer Chevy or Dodge. For the rear, you’ll need a dual-wheel rearend, not from a cab and chassis truck. Then you can use a 2" spacer.’
Also, check out ‘balance beads’ for balancing. If you’re messing with beadlock rims, be careful with the o-ring and the rubber insert—it’s a real hassle. Most tire shops won’t deal with them, and it’s a tough learning curve. Also, if you plan to drive on a run-flat setup, expect the tire to get wrecked once you’re done, and you’ll probably need to replace it.
@Brett
I already have a set of beadlocks with the rubber run-flat removed and beads inside. I know how to work with beadlocks, so that’s not the problem. I just need 2" of spacing, and that’s why I was asking. The wheels are 8-bolts and in good condition, I got a deal on them for $400 with a 5th wheel. I was just hoping to get some opinions on spacers and brands people trust.
@Tatum
You’re going to need a pretty big spacer, like 3-4". With that much spacing, you’ll risk ruining your bearings fast.
Brett said:
@Tatum
You’re going to need a pretty big spacer, like 3-4". With that much spacing, you’ll risk ruining your bearings fast.
I only need 2" though. I don’t want to go too big on the spacers, just enough to make the wheels fit.
If you want to do it right, you could plasma cut the wheel centers and weld on new ones with the correct bolt pattern and backspacing.
Hux said:
If you want to do it right, you could plasma cut the wheel centers and weld on new ones with the correct bolt pattern and backspacing.
Yeah, I thought about that, but the wheels look good as is. I’ve been looking for a set that’s already been modified, but in the meantime, I was thinking spacers would work.