Home made 14 bolt wheel spacers?

[BlitzK5]

Anyone make home made spacers to try to match the rear axle width with the front? I was thinking of cutting off the flange of a old 3/4 ton 10 bolt rotor and grinding it flat and then put it between the hub and the rim on my 14bolt FF. It will only add about an 1/2" on each side but its better then nothing. what do you guys think? Anyone know why they made these axles 3" narrower in the back then the front anyways?

 

[atho]

Why are you so worried about it?

 

[BlitzK5]

Well for one thing I dont like the look and the wider it is the better stablility you will get.

 

[clarkjw24]

I'm sure you could make that work but 1/2" on both sides won't accomplish much. Maybe just find a van width 14bff.

 

[73k5blazer]

You need to ensure absolute flatness and perfect parallel surfaces. A grinder won't give you that. If you don't get it right, even just the slightest bit out, when you bolt the wheel down it will bend (if alum wheel, it could crack) to conform, ruining the wheel, making it wobble. That wheel will then be difficult to balance, will wear the tire very un-uniformily, make the whole truck shake (these CK vehciles don't need any more of that!).

 

[73k5blazer]

the wider it is the better stablility you will get.

That's not entirely true. All depends on vehicle dynamics. At highway speeds, engineers spend alot of time tuning track and width to provide a stabil vehicle. Alot of vehicles have a slightly narrower rear for better stability, and some for aerodynamics. No one really knows why these CK trucks have it, lots of people have their opinions, but you'd need an engineer from GM from the late 60's when these trucks were designed to get a real answer. I'm sure it's not by chance though, it's there deliberatly and my bet would be better on-road handling.
If you not running your truck on road, none of this matters.

 

[BlitzK5]

The thing is they would already be flat. The only part you would cut and grind down is the metal peices that connect the mounting flange to the rotor. As long as there grinded down flush with the inner flange there would be no issues.

 

[cbbr]

I thought that the rear was more narrow to help the turning radius? (which is already pretty wide)