1/8" Wheel Spacers Safe?? - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

The Fixer · 05-14-2007, 09:54 AM

Hey all,
I'm posting this here, cause it's tech for my Jeep. I ordered a set of Raybestos Brutestop rotors for my '01 Cherokee and went to install them on Saturday. I come to find out though, in mid-99, Jeep switched from composite rotors to cast rotors. The composite rotors measure 3 3/16" tall. The cast rotors are 3 1/16", and of course the Brutestops are made to the taller spec. That's a difference of 1/8". Does anyone think I could run a 1/8" spacer in between the hub and the backside of the rotor to make up the difference, then bolt the wheel on as normal? How safe are those spacers?

V · 05-14-2007, 12:08 PM

maybe im not fully sure of what the problem is, but could you get say early 99 caliper brackets? and use those, or is there somethign else not lining up?

edit: oh and next time, i wont pull so far out into the intersection, that way you can make the turn better, lol, i was in the beat up dodge ram. it was like down the road from your steet, parallel to the tracks. hehe

hardline_42 · 05-14-2007, 02:55 PM

Wheel spacers, no matter how thin, put an extra bending moment on your wheel studs. The widest you can safely run are 1/4" spacers, IMO. After that you have to go a different direction (wheel adapters).

The Fixer · 05-14-2007, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokingSS

maybe im not fully sure of what the problem is, but could you get say early 99 caliper brackets? and use those, or is there somethign else not lining up?

Well, I was trying to fix the issue on the cheap. See, the rotor diameter and thickness across is the same for all years. The difference is in the distance from the face of the rotor out to the axle hub (where the wheel bolts on). These spiffy new rotors stick out 1/8" further than where the axle hub sits, so when you go to tighten the rim, it tries to pull in the face of the rotor and make up the difference. When I put the brakes on on Saturday, when I tightened up the lugs, it actually pulled the rotor in far enough to lock it solid against the backing plate. If I put that 1/8" spacer between the rotor and axle hub, it would make up the distance. Would it be safe though? I assume yes, because the studs are long, and the wheel/rotor will be sandwiching against the spacer and wheel hub.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokingSS

edit: oh and next time, i wont pull so far out into the intersection, that way you can make the turn better, lol, i was in the beat up dodge ram. it was like down the road from your steet, parallel to the tracks. hehe

Hehehe, it's all good, I don't even remember it happening! Was I in my Cherokee, or wife's Liberty?

V · 05-14-2007, 08:29 PM

if you're around tomorrow, or anyday this week and gonna be home, give me a call and i'll swing by, and ill take a look at it with you. I'd call you, but I dont have your number anymore lol, i go through phones too often.

The Fixer · 05-14-2007, 09:05 PM

Sounds good Paul! I'll give you a ring tomorrow when I get home from work. Thanks!

Batman · 05-16-2007, 03:26 PM

You should be OK with 1/8", I wouldn't go past a 1/4" though

BigAls87Z28 · 05-21-2007, 07:43 PM

Can I ask...why not return the rotors for the correct ones?

The Fixer · 05-22-2007, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Can I ask...why not return the rotors for the correct ones?

Well, I wound up doing that. I wanted to run the slotted rotors, but they only make them in the 3 3/16" depth, so I will send 'em back. Unless some other Jeeper here wants them? Hmmm, maybe I'll make a For Sale post on 'em.