47-55.1 Wheel spacer question

[8man]

I got my first ever wheel spacers - Hubcentric 2" - for the S10 frame under the 48. I put them on (we'll get to that) and the front tires are spaced nicely. However there are 2 issues.

The first is more critical. When installing the rider's side it went on snug, but bolted up to the spindle. On the driver's side, I carefully bolted it on to keep the small space between the spacer and the hub. I can see daylight through it. I don't think that is right and was wondering if I should take a Dremel to it to make it flush up?

Second the new spacer has 1.25 Metric studs. Of course my 85 S10 has 1/2" x 20 studs. I was wondering if I can just press out the metric studs and go back with some 1/2" studs?

Thaks.

[jweb]

Can you send the spacers back? It sounds like these will take some work to make them fit right.

I ordered spacers/adapters for the rear of my truck that were hub centric on the axle side and also into the wheel. They cost a little more but they are a perfect fit. It's been a few years but I'm pretty sure they came from here: https://www.uswheeladapters.com/

[mr48chev]

If I ever bought spacers/adapters they would be from US Wheel Adapters. US made and made to order most of the time.

The spacers should be hub centric and not lug centric

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by 8man

I got my first ever wheel spacers - Hubcentric 2" - for the S10 frame under the 48. I put them on (we'll get to that) and the front tires are spaced nicely. However there are 2 issues.

The first is more critical. When installing the rider's side it went on snug, but bolted up to the spindle. On the driver's side, I carefully bolted it on to keep the small space between the spacer and the hub. I can see daylight through it. I don't think that is right and was wondering if I should take a Dremel to it to make it flush up?

Second the new spacer has 1.25 Metric studs. Of course my 85 S10 has 1/2" x 20 studs. I was wondering if I can just press out the metric studs and go back with some 1/2" studs?

Thanks.

ok lets clear up a couple things:

space between the spacer and the hub? are you taking when you look in at the cap/dust shield of the bearing? or are you talking about the spacer wont seat flat to the spindle when you look down from the top?

if the first, hubcentric does not mean it will sit flat on the bearing "hat", it means only that the centerbore of the spacer will fit exactly to the mounting surface of the brake rotor.

if the second, the super 1st gens centerbore was slightly larger than the later. 70.8 vs 70.3mm. so if you ordered spacers to fit a later s10 that is your problem.

on that note, I have never seen an s10 that did not have a metric stud, we just worked on an 83 s10 over christmas and he thought like you that the studs were SAE, but they were metric. the brakes on these are called "metric" when on g bodys, starting in the late 70s. double check your studs.

in that same vein, if your studs on your rotor indeed are SAE, there is still no problem, just use the right lug nuts to bolt the spacer on and use the metric lug nuts to bolt the wheel on. I am betting they are metric though.

if you want to fix BOTH problems, buy new brake rotors from a 95+ S10. they will have ABS toothed wheels on the back side but will use the same bearings, have the smaller centerbore, and will have metric studs.

I just put hubcentric spacers on mine last night, and on the front I had to sand the bearing hat slightly to get them to seat. it was all the way out by the dust cap, no strength lost.



fwiw there usually isnt a reason to call for hubcentric spacers unless your wheels have that 70.3 centerbore and call for it. S10s were always lug centric.

[8man]

Thanks Joe, once again, I am learning as I go.

No, the space is between the back side of the spacer and the face of the front hub. I will take it apart and look again, but it didn't seem to be hitting the hat over the bearings.

I did strip the internal threads on a mag lug when I tried to tighten it down on the spacer. The spacer is definitely metric. The lug on the front hub and the rears for that matter are all 1/2" x 20. The mag lugs fit good to the studs, but to make sure I got out the trusty bolt/nut sizers, metric and sae. The S10 lugs are 1/2". The lugs on the spacer - metric, like 1.25 or close.

I read a number of write ups and they said "hubcentric is the way to go".

I like the spacer, the tires look good a little wider. I don't trust the spacer with the gap, so it looks like I'll be ordering a new set.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by 8man

I read a number of write ups and they said "hubcentric is the way to go".

I like the spacer, the tires look good a little wider. I don't trust the spacer with the gap, so it looks like I'll be ordering a new set.

the spacer is almost assuredly a metric if you ordered it for S10, because I have not run across a single s10 that has SAE lugs. Yours would be the first, I did an 83 over christmas and as a matter of fact shortened a 1982 ext cab frame just 3 weeks ago and it was also metric studs. I have no explanation!

you should NOT trust the spacer with the gap. people think lug seats hold the wheel on, its actually the clamping force of the entire mounting surface of the wheel (and in this case the spacer).

hubcentric is not needed unless you happen to use hubcentric wheels. I am sorry the writeups you read were probably just erring on the side of caution.

[8man]

Thanks Joe. I may be slow, but I can learn, usually by trial and error.

[joedoh]

no worries, like I said you should likely be able to fix BOTH problems with new brake rotors from a 95+ it will have the smaller centerbore and metric studs.

makes me curious what your rear wheel studs are. hmmm.

[jweb]

If you bought cheap spacers, spend the money and get a good set from US wheel adapters.

If the spacers you already have are good quality, I would take Joedoh's advice on the 95+ rotors. If nothing else, take one of your spacers to the local parts place and test fit it on the 95+ rotor if possible. Who knows what rotors were put on your S-10 donor in the past.

[8man]

I didn't get the cheap spacers from Ebay, I got good ones. I think Joe is right, it is the front hubs.