Spacers vs. Widening Kit

Boonie Buster · Mar 9, 2010

So are these things safe?! :eeek:

http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/new/detaproduct.php?id=127

I havent heard much about them, I know people run spacers all the time, but is there any advantage to the widening kit? :corn:

64FJ40 · Mar 9, 2010

Boonie Buster said:
is there any advantage to the widening kit?

Haven't ever used one (but do run spacers), so I'm just going with my first impression from looking at it. Obviously open to correction.

+ 6 less nuts to pull to change a brake rotor.
+ Moves the brake rotor & caliper outward, so it's not hanging in space inboard of the wheel (probably only a problem if you use BIG spacers or have very little backspacing)

- Basically identical in construction to a spacer, but is attached with button-head screws ( :eeek: ) instead of wheel lugs and conical nuts.
- More expensive than spacers

CHOP SHOP · Mar 9, 2010

Its right up your alley boonie, expensive and complicated for no reason.

Boonie Buster · Mar 9, 2010

CHOP SHOP said:
Its right up your alley boonie, expensive and complicated for no reason.

That's why i started a thread. :fawkdancesmiley::haha:

You're a poop mouth!

WHITE TRASH1 · Mar 9, 2010

Not a fan of the sky kit as it uses smaller rotors so you lose pad contact.

I ran ifs hubs and put the caliper on the outside of the mounting ears on the knuckle using v6 calipers and fj40 rotors. Worked fawking sweet and it was free for me to do.

charliesnyder · Mar 9, 2010

You could also go this route..

Linky

It adds bigger/better brakes to your truck as well as gives you a little more than 3 inches wider stance.

With both kits you need to aquire IFS wheel hubs but you have the added benefit of better brakes with the FROR kit. I've ordered from both companies and both were easy to deal with and have quality products.

P.S. Another added plus to the FROR kit is the ease of taking your knuckle apart without touching any of your bearings.. See below..

charliesnyder · Mar 9, 2010

WHITE TRASH said:
Not a fan of the sky kit as it uses smaller rotors so you lose pad contact.

I ran ifs hubs and put the caliper on the outside of the mounting ears on the knuckle using v6 calipers and fj40 rotors. Worked fawking sweet and it was free for me to do.

Also works very well....

crapyota · Mar 9, 2010

charliesnyder said:
You could also go this route..

Linky

It adds bigger/better brakes to your truck as well as gives you a little more than 3 inches wider stance.

With both kits you need to aquire IFS wheel hubs but you have the added benefit of better brakes with the FROR kit. I've ordered from both companies and both were easy to deal with and have quality products.

P.S. Another added plus to the FROR kit is the ease of taking your knuckle apart without touching any of your bearings.. See below..

stupid question,and im ready for the answer.. but do you need a longer axle,or something if the hub is moved out?

JOOP · Mar 9, 2010

crapyota said:
stupid question,and im ready for the answer.. but do you need a longer axle,or something if the hub is moved out?

That's what I was thinking. What's wrong with a regular wheel spacer?? A lot cheaper than the $229 for this kit.

graysquirrel · Mar 9, 2010

It doesnt actually move the whole hub assy out any farther, just the flange where the studs are and where the rotor rests against.

charliesnyder · Mar 9, 2010

here are the pictures of the two setups. First is a standard Toyota Solid Axle hub setup. Notice the distance between the rotor and the end of the hub.

Second pic is of the FROR kit. Again note the distance from rotor to hub, or in this case drive flange. Huge difference. From what I understand you don't actually gain any axle width. More of a gain in WMS to WMS.. Hope I didn't confuse anyone, because I sure as hell confused myself!:fawkdancesmiley:

Trashy am I right with my explanation?

charliesnyder · Mar 9, 2010

JOOP said:
That's what I was thinking. What's wrong with a regular wheel spacer?? A lot cheaper than the $229 for this kit.

Other than the requirement of taking off 6 additional nuts to get to the innards of the axle.. I don't see much. I was going to run them on my truck until I got my hands on my 2" BS wheels. Now I'm looking at this FROR kit and getting some 3.5" or 4" BS wheels... I would rather trust my junk to a stock toyota part than to an Aluminum piece. But I've seen lots who run spacers with great results.

WHITE TRASH1 · Mar 9, 2010

charliesnyder said:
here are the pictures of the two setups. First is a standard Toyota Solid Axle hub setup. Notice the distance between the rotor and the end of the hub.

Second pic is of the FROR kit. Again note the distance from rotor to hub, or in this case drive flange. Huge difference. From what I understand you don't actually gain any axle width. More of a gain in WMS to WMS.. Hope I didn't confuse anyone, because I sure as hell confused myself!:fawkdancesmiley:

Trashy am I right with my explanation?

Yup you got it right, it just moves the wheel mount out. Ifs and solid axle hubs share the same wheel bearings but the solid axle inner seal must be used.

Boonie Buster · Mar 9, 2010

I like front range's kit/brackets. can you hit the IFS wheel hubs with a grinder to clearance them for the tacoma rotors? or is it enough that a lathe needs to be involved? :eeek: Also, a '85 front w/ IFS hibs puts you at 61" WMS to WMS right? That's what i'm trying to achieve to match the tacoma rear axle...or slightly wider.

EDIT: Just looked at the Pirate Bible again, and that still only get's me to 58" which i would still need spacers to get to 61" which is slightly more than a taco rear.

WHITE TRASH1 · Mar 9, 2010

Boonie Buster said:
I like front range's kit/brackets. can you hit the IFS wheel hubs with a grinder to clearance them for the tacoma rotors? or is it enough that a lathe needs to be involved? :eeek: Also, a '85 front w/ IFS hibs puts you at 61" WMS to WMS right? That's what i'm trying to achieve to match the tacoma rear axle...or slightly wider.

EDIT: Just looked at the Pirate Bible again, and that still only get's me to 58" which i would still need spacers to get to 61" which is slightly more than a taco rear.

Sure you can grind the hubs down for taco rotors. We pulled the rear driveline and put the front corner up on a stand, put the truck in low low idling then whipped out the 7" grinder... :redneck:

I'm not a fan of that setup as the rotors.are the same size as the small ifs rotors. It is nice if you have to service the front end though.

crapyota · Mar 10, 2010

to much work,and money!!!and it still confsed me.
i have had my wheel spacers for 4years never been loose,only problem was when truck slid off the jack in the mud ,on the trail. one of the studs got messed up...keep it simple..

trailyota · Mar 10, 2010

kit

I have been using spacers for years, but I'm going to switch out to this kit now, especially since my new rig is a heavy 4runner loaded with my family.

On the side note.....This bracket looks easy to make, since there's no bends. Can anyone on here with a plasma table produce something similar for about 1/2 the price.

:stirpot::stirpot:

CHOP SHOP · Mar 10, 2010

trailyota said:
I have been using spacers for years

Then whats the reason to change to something more complex and expensive?

Is there an advantage?

Boonie Buster · Mar 10, 2010

CHOP SHOP said:
Then whats the reason to change to something more complex and expensive?

Is there an advantage?

That's why I asked.:;

Now I HAVE to get it, as it serves no real purpose or advantage and is twice the cost!

WHITE TRASH1 · Mar 10, 2010

CHOP SHOP said:
Then whats the reason to change to something more complex and expensive?

Is there an advantage?

Pretty sure he's talking about the fror kit that lets you use rotors and calipers off a late model runner. I think they are 12" rotors so yea there is an advantage to it.