Offsetting Rims PROS & CONS

[BadLux]

I'm looking into offsetting my 15 x 8 ROH trak 2 rims (sunrasia's) by 1.5" to give a wider track of 3". To get the rims cut and flipped is $40 each and then $30 each to powder coat them.

I just want to know what sort of effect offsetting the rims by 1.5" possibly 2" will have on wheel bearings, steering etc..

I don't have power steering in my hilux and running 33's is pretty tuff on the steering, with offset rims will it make the steering REDICULOUS or just a little worse.

[Gribble]

You can forget being able to steer on the spot. It will make your steering alot heavier as you drive as well. I would consider fitting power steer.

Yes your bearings will be stressed alot more and neet more frequent adjustment/replacement. Add to that your steering knuckle bearings will get flogged out quicker too. Plus with the extra offset your rubber will rub up on the back of the front guard, even if it has been body lifted 2".

On the bright side, the cost of getting the rims chopped and powder-coated is pretty good.

[Shorty40]

Wow, some people can get really negative when it comes to flipping rims or running rims with big offset

I have run flipped rims for over 3 years now. On my 40 series and now on my buggy. In the 3 years or so on the 40 I never replaced the bearings -never It also had 38" swampers aswell.

In theory, it should be worse on components than a standard vehicle, but in reality the differences are not that great.

The benefits of a wider more stable rig far outweigh the negatives of some minor maintetnance

This is from my experience with offset/flipped rims.

[Gribble]

Wow, some people can get really negative when it comes to flipping rims or running rims with big offset

I have run flipped rims for over 3 years now. On my 40 series and now on my buggy. In the 3 years or so on the 40 I never replaced the bearings -never It also had 38" swampers aswell.

In theory, it should be worse on components than a standard vehicle, but in reality the differences are not that great.

The benefits of a wider more stable rig far outweigh the negatives of some minor maintetnance

This is from my experience with offset/flipped rims.

Im not trying to be negative, just realistic. There are reasons why your not supposed to have widened track and thats them.

By all means to it, but remember the potential is there for shit to go wrong.

Just from my personal experiance running 12" wide rims on my lux with big offset as a day to day car as well, they do put alot more stress on the components.

If your just going to fit the offset rims for wheeling only then you most likely wont have to worry about it at all. In this instance i agree with you Shorty, a wider track is a far bigger advantage than a negative bit of extra maintenence.

[CV Smasher]

Offroad the wider the better, but if you do a lot of kms on the road or touring out in the desert they do cause the wheel bearings to chew out quicker and if bearings heat up and sieze it can cost you a lot more than a set of wheel bearings.

Just my 2 cents worth from my experience with 10" rims.

[Shorty40]

Wow, some people can get really negative when it comes to flipping rims or running rims with big offset

I have run flipped rims for over 3 years now. On my 40 series and now on my buggy. In the 3 years or so on the 40 I never replaced the bearings -never It also had 38" swampers aswell.

In theory, it should be worse on components than a standard vehicle, but in reality the differences are not that great.

The benefits of a wider more stable rig far outweigh the negatives of some minor maintetnance

This is from my experience with offset/flipped rims.

Im not trying to be negative, just realistic. There are reasons why your not supposed to have widened track and thats them.

By all means to it, but remember the potential is there for shit to go wrong.

Just from my personal experiance running 12" wide rims on my lux with big offset as a day to day car as well, they do put alot more stress on the components.

If your just going to fit the offset rims for wheeling only then you most likely wont have to worry about it at all. In this instance i agree with you Shorty, a wider track is a far bigger advantage than a negative bit of extra maintenence.

I wasnt having a go at your reasoning Gribble. In fact, I agree with your points. I figure if you are aware of the consequences of the modification you are making (and are willing to address the issues) then you are sorted.

Offroad - no question that flipped/big offset rims are the way Even onroad a wider track will be beneficial for handling. Especially if the rig is a bit higher than standard.

End of the day, Bad lux needs to weigh up is more important to him

BTW - they sre pretty sweet prices on flipped rims - Dont bother powder coating - rattle can all the way

[Gribble]

I wasnt having a go at your reasoning Gribble. In fact, I agree with your points. I figure if you are aware of the consequences of the modification you are making (and are willing to address the issues) then you are sorted.

Offroad - no question that flipped/big offset rims are the way Even onroad a wider track will be beneficial for handling. Especially if the rig is a bit higher than standard.

End of the day, Bad lux needs to weigh up is more important to him

BTW - they sre pretty sweet prices on flipped rims - Dont bother powder coating - rattle can all the way

Yeh i know, its all good.

[Midget]

Badlux

Sorry to throw in another spanner.
But i would check with your local authorities or RTA,Because you altering the wheel track of the standard vehicle,youmay be able to alter it slightly but i doubt that you will get them to pass or accept a wheel that has been cut and re - welded.
You may be better off trying to get a new set of sunrassia's in the offset that you want,or to maximum allowed..
Ionly say this for driving the vehicle on road,as if you are involved in a accident,then they will throw the book at you and wipe any insurance if it is not legal...

Just my 2 cents worth.

Jamie

[christover1]

33's are probably not legal on hi lux anyway.
I run 15 x 8 roh flipped and moved 65mm outwards...before that ran them standard with 50mm wheelspacers.
there is more strain on everything, but hasn't been any issues on me zook.
I would not go 65 again, too hard to make tires fit, due to scrub radius, but 50mm was fine...40mm per wheel would be fine, I think.

christover

[BadLux]

yeh I know there not legal, but not much is on my car these days, screw paying $1200 to organise a lane change test and then like another $50 for like the 5-8 permits that another $500, So to get it legal in Cop NAZI Perth it'll be like $1700 I just reckon thats a joke.. If they made it cheaper to get legal I would for sure, way I figure is that i've only got 3rd Party Insurance, so the insurance company shouldn't have to inspect the damage to my car Well thats what I'm hoping for anyway, I wouldn't have comprehensive though thats just a waste of money if you wouldn't get covered anyway. As far as the rims go yeh $40 is from Summerfield Engineering in Perth. Cheers for all the comments guys much appreciated.

[My Lil Lux]

Had my front axle apart yesterday, bearings are still in good condition after running flipped rims for six months with 35 boggers on, but as gribble said, steering box is stuffed, steering arms are bent, and guards on my lux are stuffed from tyres grabbing them, that was with 6' lift and 2' body, but compared to what my mates wheelspacers did when they came loose on highway at 100k's I'd rather be runnin flipped rims than wheelspacers.

[-Richo-]

You could also consider widening your track with an IFS rear axle and IFS front hubs with spacers, this will give you 3" of extra width. No where near as cheap as cutting and flipping but you get what you pay for (also alot more engineer/law friendly than flipped rims).

[CV Smasher]

I have the IFS rear and IFS front hubs and spacers and they work well.
You can get the hub spacers from Offroad Industries.

Email: sales@offroadindustries.com

[cbr]

yeh I know there not legal, but not much is on my car these days, screw paying $1200 to organise a lane change test and then like another $50 for like the 5-8 permits that another $500, So to get it legal in Cop NAZI Perth it'll be like $1700 I just reckon thats a joke.. If they made it cheaper to get legal I would for sure, way I figure is that i've only got 3rd Party Insurance, so the insurance company shouldn't have to inspect the damage to my car Well thats what I'm hoping for anyway, I wouldn't have comprehensive though thats just a waste of money if you wouldn't get covered anyway. As far as the rims go yeh $40 is from Summerfield Engineering in Perth. Cheers for all the comments guys much appreciated.

Not sure where you are gettig your prices from (I bet Russ at OL ) But if you talk to the right engineer then it will cost alot less. I havn't done mine yet but I have a estimate for about $700 for engineering and $200 to hire the track. If I get another person doing the lane change at the same time then the track hire is halved. So this works out about half your estimates.

If I was you I would try to get it legal or make it a trailered rig. The way things are going in WA you will get a yellow and then it will be alot harder to get it registered

Just my 2c

BTW I would go the IFS widening route, this I what I have.

Chris

[Da Lux]

I have the IFS rear and IFS front hubs and spacers and they work well.
You can get the hub spacers from Offroad Industries.

Email: sales@offroadindustries.com

make a deal, if my x over steerin stuff which i ordered 2 months ago arrives in tha next month i'll buy tha wide track kit from them, but i think tha odds are against that

[ausyota]

Get the widetrack IFS hub kit from www.abt4x4.com.
Sean will give you better service than ORI.

[Da Lux]

cheers