Wheel Spacers
Submitted: Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 10:52
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Gone Bush (WA)
In a previous post I mentioned that I fitted some wheel spacers to the rear of my 70 series TDV8 to make the rear track the same as the front.
There were many pursed lips and tutt-tutting (and a skirt twirl or two) over the legality of the issue for on-road use.
Look at this link (it applies to WA only):
http://www.4wddevelopments.com.au/tyres.htm
Here it says:
"Wheel track specification not to exceed 80mm above the maximum specification listed by the manufacturer for the particular model of vehicle."
For the VEHICLE, NOT for the individual axle.
All I've done is make the rear track EQUAL to the maximum specified for the vehicle, which is the front track.
I'm resting easy with what I've done. And I'm sure each State would have rulings with the same wording.
I wish we could use italics because I'm not shouting.
cheers
Reply By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 11:56
Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 11:56
Sounds perfectly logical to me ol' mate!!
Far too many people get all precious about various mods that some of us do to our vehicle/s.
I have a list a mile long of things that I know don't quite meet the regs when it comes to my truck. But I'm not in the business of doing stuff that is gunna end up with me or my family getting hurt (or anybody else for that matter).
There can be no logical reason why what you've done is a safety issue. The only downside MIGHT be that your rear wheel bearings will wear out a bit earlier than may otherwise have been the case.
As for insurance companies.....if you ever have a major bingle (I pray that you don't of course), then they would have to prove that the spacers contributed to the accident. Even if you did have a serious accident possibly resulting in the vehicle being written off, they (the assessor) would be unlikely to even
check the presence of spacers.....it would have to be a case of the rear axle broke/snapped , causing the accident; ahhh let's see if we can find out why the axle snapped; oh what have we here? etc etc. Highly unlikely IMHO...
Good onya champ, don't worry about the panzy brigade.
AnswerID:
290563
Follow Up By: Shaker - Saturday, Mar 08, 2008 at 19:15
Saturday, Mar 08, 2008 at 19:15
Unless ..... the vehicle was deemed to be unroadworthy at the time of the accident. Wheel spacers ??
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Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Sunday, Mar 09, 2008 at 10:44
Sunday, Mar 09, 2008 at 10:44
Yeh, but what I'm saying is that the wheel spacers wouldn't be obvious t first glance. If the vehicle was involved in a bad accident (let's say a head on collision) and was to be written off, it unlikely that the assessor would even bother removing the rear wheels as the area of interest would be at the front.
On the other hand, if the vehicle was w/off as a result of a roll-over and it was obvious to the assessor that the rear of the vehicle had "failed" in some way, THEN you would be in the brown stuff, cos they would go looking for causes of what broke on the back end.
Sort of the same thing as warranty claims. Some blokes worry that they will void their warranty if they modify a part of their truck........let's say
the block-off their EGR pipe.
Well if they have an issue with the brake master cylinder failing, the manufacturer is not gunna be able to say that blocking off the EGR was the cause of the master cylinder failing, eh!!??
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Reply By: mowing - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 16:09
Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 16:09
Hi Steve, The link that you have provided appears IMHO to refer to rims and tyres only, it doesn't mention anything about spacers. I would be contacting DPI to get a ruling as you know what insurance companies are like, if they can get out of paying, they will. Plus a yellow sticker would clash with the merlot TDV8.
Having said all of that, there would be a number of lifted 4WD's cruising around that have not been cleared by an engineer as to the lane changing rules.
Regards
Mark
AnswerID:
290596
Reply By: John S (NSW) - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 22:32
Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 22:32
Gone Bush,
Wheel spacers do not have ADR approval, and are for off road use only. But even still, if you have an accident with wheel spacers fitted, your insurance company will NOT pay out !! They are illegal to use on public roads (NSW) and if pulled over by the boys in blue they will give you a nice new red sticker. I helped a poor dude out a few weeks ago who didn't know better and got caught. He had to remove the spacers before he could drive it away - lucky his tyres still fitted without rubbing.
Changing the offset of wheels changes the forces on the axles. The wheel bearing is meant to take the weight of the vehicle. Moving the centre of a tyre in or out actually puts increased loads on the axle at the diff centre. This will fatigue the axle and cause early diff bearing failure. That is why you can only change the track by small amounts and if you have increased the GVM, these allowances are reduced.
Spacers are dangerous and I will never put myself or my family at risk just to save on a new set of rims.
AnswerID:
290686
Reply By: mowing - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 23:46
Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 23:46
Hi Steve, I stand by my post. Go to DPI and get a ruling, if they say the wheel spacers are fine, then you can come back on here and say that the goody two shoes are wrong. If they don't and you still use them someone might, if involved in an accident try to reduce your self managed super fund by sueing you. The fact that you have put the details on this website may have a negative impact in this regard!!!A solicitor would dance down St Georges Tce singing" Oh what a wonderful day"
You have a bloody nice cruiser, caravan and the time to see the sights of this great country. Enjoy!! I wish I could and I would live with a 80mm difference in wheel track.
Regards
Mark
AnswerID:
290695
Follow Up By: Gone Bush (WA) - Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 10:23
Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 10:23
I understand Mark.
They actually haven't gone back on the vehicle since I had the wheels rotated at my Dealer. I'll raise the subject with DPI and see what the result is. Although I hate asking a question if I don't already know the answer.
cheers
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Follow Up By: Member - LOS BUSH - Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 12:37
Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 12:37
Gday Gone bush If your spacers are 40mm then you are puting a force of say 40mm x 400kls extra on each side ,that a fairly small moment load that will add a bit to the wheel bearing load and a min. bending force or bending moment to the axil.This whole discussion about you seeing DPI is worthless because their advice will be not approved without the manufactures approval DPI will want their bums covered. GB I would expect a loaded roof rack would put more bending moment into the axil and more load on the wheel bearings when cornering or general offroad driving than 40mm wheel spacers ps why did the vehicle have different wheel tracks in the first place
LOS
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: John S (NSW) - Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 18:19
Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 18:19
'why did the vehicle have different wheel tracks in the first place'
Most vehicles have a wider track at the front to improve vehicle stability at high speeds. I don't know how much of an improvement, but that is the theory & reason behind it.
But I get why you need the same track front and rear and on a trailer for that matter when off road.
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Follow Up By: Gone Bush (WA) - Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 18:25
Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 18:25
The current Toyota trayback has a wider front track to accommodate the V8 engine.
Toyota were just too damn tight to widen the rear track (there is 4" difference) because there is a new workhorse range coming out in a year or so (rumour mill).
Great vehicle but some significant shortcomings.
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