Wheel Spacers

[Miner]

Lots of conflicting advice out there... lots of reasonable points and an equal amount, if not more of the ill informed garbage perspective... worth considering? Particular cases to consider (lifted and driving in sand)? Pitfalls?

Not a cheap purchase depending on whether you go AOR or H&R... what’s the thoughts / experience amongst the forum?

Car is a 2” lifted Gen 4-3 3.8L SWB with stock 16” rims and Geolandar AT-S rubber.

[Dicko1]

Lots of conflicting advice out there... lots of reasonable points and an equal amount, if not more of the ill informed garbage perspective... worth considering? Particular cases to consider (lifted and driving in sand)? Pitfalls?

Not a cheap purchase depending on whether you go AOR or H&R... what’s the thoughts / experience amongst the forum?

Car is a 2” lifted Gen 4-3 3.8L SWB with stock 16” rims and Geolandar AT-S rubber.

Answer is quite simple...they are illegal for on road use.

[old Jack]

Answer is quite simple...they are illegal for on road use.

Dicko is correct, the use of wheel spacers is illegal unless they were used by the vehicle manufacturer.

However if you are in luck enough to have 7x16 P46 offset rims as factory fit then 7x16 P38 offset rims from a MN Triton or PB/PC Challenger will physically and legally fit. These will increase your wheel track by 16mm.

OJ.

Edit; Just noticed you are not in Australia so the legality restriction may not be a concern. I seem to recall a forum member running P30 offset rims with a 26mm increase in tyre diameter but a standard width, and he did not report any clearance issues. However he did have wheel bearing failures which he believed the excessive widening of the wheel track was partially to blame. He regularly travelled at GVM+ weights over very rough tracks for extended periods of time.

[Miner]

Thanks guys.... any hard and fast rules on track width vs lift?

I have seen posts on the local off-road forums saying things like “Pajeros have a high CoG and are a roll risk in the dunes, if you lift one then your should really fit spacers”.... which I believe to be bollocks spouted by people who know bugger all and hoover up all the chat from the Jeepers. Use of spacers is rife here, lots of people concerned about rollover on the dunes.

There is however some sense in the above... more in line with my original point though.

The ET46 16” wheels fit ok, the 3.8 SWB has same brakes as the 3.5 LWB, so you can run them. They’re Enkei also, didn’t realise, nice and light.

There is a guy here who runs a Gen 3 SWB 3.8L with massive offset rims, regularly smokes jeeps on advanced drives... happy that the Pajero is more than adequate for my needs. [emoji1]


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[nj swb]

“Pajeros have a high CoG and are a roll risk in the dunes, if you lift one then your should really fit spacers”....

By what stretch of whose imagination does a Gen 3 / 4 Pajero have a high CoG? Compared to what? Got pics of all the rolled Pajeros?

Seeing the way you guys drive in the dunes, I'd be concerned about roll-overs too. But isn't the risk part of the fun?

Theoretically, any lift of independent suspension pulls in the wheels, reducing track. The effect is minimal, and given the limitations on how far the suspension can be lifted, wider tyres is probably all that is needed to put the outside shoulders back (or beyond) where they were. A mild decrease in offset (e.g. +46 to +38) will definitely help, particularly with scrub radius if you've fitted taller tyres.

[cruisn06]

Lots of conflicting advice out there... lots of reasonable points and an equal amount, if not more of the ill informed garbage perspective... worth considering? Particular cases to consider (lifted and driving in sand)? Pitfalls?

Not a cheap purchase depending on whether you go AOR or H&R... what’s the thoughts / experience amongst the forum?

Car is a 2” lifted Gen 4-3 3.8L SWB with stock 16” rims and Geolandar AT-S rubber.

I run spacers, 30mm hub centric ones. no issues at all, just make sure you install them correctly. torque to spec and use red locktite.

As for legal issues, everything is illegal in this country so just run it, as for insurance, if it causes the crash youre screwed. if it didnt, then your fine. they have to prove the spacers caused the accident.

as for tipping issues, the paj is quite sure footed, I think a 45* side angle like the old ones still. most people will stop pushing well before that point, plus just avoid side staddling dunes.

[Miner]

By what stretch of whose imagination does a Gen 3 / 4 Pajero have a high CoG? Compared to what? Got pics of all the rolled Pajeros?



Seeing the way you guys drive in the dunes, I'd be concerned about roll-overs too. But isn't the risk part of the fun?



Theoretically, any lift of independent suspension pulls in the wheels, reducing track. The effect is minimal, and given the limitations on how far the suspension can be lifted, wider tyres is probably all that is needed to put the outside shoulders back (or beyond) where they were. A mild decrease in offset (e.g. +46 to +38) will definitely help, particularly with scrub radius if you've fitted taller tyres.

[emoji1][emoji1] Legend probably has it that someone who owned a Pajero and thought they were the next Dakar winner tried to keep with an advanced driver in a tricked up jeep and rolled in the process... therefore they’re unstable... or compared to a jeep which is much wider track and has a lower CoG as there’s nothing much metal higher than the door... therefore they must be prone to roll... or something like that. [emoji85][emoji1]

Done some cross cresting in the driving school patrols... easy when driving someone else’s car under instruction... [emoji23] think I’ll keep that sort of antics for on the bikes though. Easy to self recover. [emoji2957]

Makes sense regarding the track... that’s kinda what I was wondering as you must lose close to an inch on the rear camber adjuster post lift. Stuck with 265x70x16” (stock) just came down from 18” to do so. Just recently got the 16” though and had them painted... sneaking in spacers an easier option to hide from the mrs.


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[Miner]

I run spacers, 30mm hub centric ones. no issues at all, just make sure you install them correctly. torque to spec and use red locktite.



As for legal issues, everything is illegal in this country so just run it, as for insurance, if it causes the crash youre screwed. if it didnt, then your fine. they have to prove the spacers caused the accident.



as for tipping issues, the paj is quite sure footed, I think a 45* side angle like the old ones still. most people will stop pushing well before that point, plus just avoid side staddling dunes.

Sounds sensible.... agreed on the justification points... which ones are you using? Are you in Oz too? Or over my neck of the woods?

I’ve had it round some tricky stuff stock and it’s been fine... ASC/TC interference before I knew you could pull the relay was the biggest issue. It’s always felt fine.... my pants will be full before 45deg though. [emoji85][emoji1]

One thing they don’t have is the pitch/roll meters like the old ones (googiligogs as we called them [emoji1])... they used to bounce about like made though making them hard to read.


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[cruisn06]

Sounds sensible.... agreed on the justification points... which ones are you using? Are you in Oz too? Or over my neck of the woods?

I’ve had it round some tricky stuff stock and it’s been fine... ASC/TC interference before I knew you could pull the relay was the biggest issue. It’s always felt fine.... my pants will be full before 45deg though. [emoji85][emoji1]

One thing they don’t have is the pitch/roll meters like the old ones (googiligogs as we called them [emoji1])... they used to bounce about like made though making them hard to read.


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i cant remember the brand, made in OZ though. was in Perth but now the wagon is in Africa. ill eventually make it your way. haha

[Miner]

i cant remember the brand, made in OZ though. was in Perth but now the wagon is in Africa. ill eventually make it your way. haha

Ha ha.... it’s a long drive but it’s doable... [emoji23]


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[damienpajero]

30mm spacers, 0 offset and illegal

[Miner]

That’s a serious front bumper. [emoji41]


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[damienpajero]

its cost me a washer bottle so thanks

[redbruce]

I run spacers, 30mm hub centric ones. no issues at all, just make sure you install them correctly. torque to spec and use red locktite.

As for legal issues, everything is illegal in this country so just run it, as for insurance, if it causes the crash youre screwed. if it didnt, then your fine. they have to prove the spacers caused the accident.

as for tipping issues, the paj is quite sure footed, I think a 45* side angle like the old ones still. most people will stop pushing well before that point, plus just avoid side staddling dunes.

Actually they only need to determine it is illegal (unroadworthy) to refuse insurance.

https://magazine.unsealed4x4.com.au/en_US/16833/241090/11_reasons_wheel_spacers_are_a_dumb_idea.html

[nj swb]

Actually they only need to determine it is illegal (unroadworthy) to refuse insurance.

No. This is just one of many internet myths that refuse to die.

Legally, the insurance company needs to prove that the defect was a significant contributor to the cause of the claim. This goes to one of the fundamental principles of contract law, not just insurance law.

This doesn't mean they won't try.

This doesn't mean they won't get away with it.

This doesn't mean they're right.

If you're gonna play the game, you've gotta know the rules.

https://magazine.unsealed4x4.com.au/...dumb_idea.html

I agree. Dumb idea, end of story.

(And yes, I know that Porsche fit them in the factory. An accountant's solution to an engineering problem.)