4 lug spacers, Yea, or nay Options

[ChrisReale]

I have room up front to push out my wheels about one inch. Where can I get 4 lug spacers? If I played my cards better, when I got my Panasports I would have had two made with a different backspacing to allow for the more room up front, but I was not wise. Are spacers generally considered ok for this? I know I would have to have longer lug bolts, or have longer studs put in. Anything else?

[Blake]

I'm not pro or anti spacers, but I do believe that people should be aware that they are ALWAYS a tradeoff. So are wheels that have extra offset built in. It doesn't matter how you widen the track; only that you do! Highly skilled engineers designed the suspension geometry for a particular set of specifications. When you change the track of the vehicle you will doubtlessly increase stress to the bearings, as well as many other things. Even if bearings don't show signs of obvious wear, you are still not immune to catastrophic failure when you least need it. Anyone other than me experience this first hand?!? I'm not going to say a 1/4 inch spacer is okay and that a 1 inch spacer is not, nor will I provide any guidance other than to say less is more.

BTW, I am always amused when people point to race cars as examples of what compromises may be acceptable for street cars. Racers (including race engineers) make the most extreme compromises imaginable to shave a tenth (or less) of a second off of a lap. Anything for a fraction of a second, so long as the reward outweighs the risk. Race car engineering belongs on the track, not the street! Be conservative and stay safe.