Wheel Spacers and Center of Gravity

[efmoto]

Physics - Mechanics: Ch 15 Torque (1 of 27) When Will A Car Tip Over? - YouTube

 

[Texasmark]

I tie a weight on a string from the highest point in the centerline of a vehicle where I worry about CG problems. As long as I don't hit any hard bumps/holes, as long as the weight of the vehicle and it's contents are within a line extended from the "pendilum" to the lower (down hill) outer tread of that tire, I don't worry about it. If it gets critical then you have to investigate the weight distribution and height and location and on and on.......but then comes the bounce and all bets are off....how fast were you going, how steep is the slope, what kind of ground contact, how hard was the bump, was their any weight redistribution as a result.........

 

[Mace Canute]

It does place the bearings under more of a load when wheel spacing is greater than the factory range of adjustment. Whether it is enough to affect the bearing life isn't something we can reliably determine here on the forum. Many would agree that using 9" spacers sure sounds like a bad idea. Somewhere between the factory spec and 9" there must be a point where it does start to matter.

Reports of "I installed 4" spacers 5 years ago and my tractor is still OK" don't provide any real information. When manufacturers employ both engineers and bean counters, the design is often the least expensive approach that will meet certain minimum criteria.

The load on the outer bearing never changes regardless of wheel spacing. The bearing on the inboard end of the axle does see a difference in loading depending on wheel spacing but it is never more than the load on the outer bearing.