When it comes to getting more out of your Toyota Hilux, strut spacers are an option well worth considering.
Regardless of what particular 4×4 vehicle you drive, though, every 4WD enthusiast knows how important a little extra lift on their vehicle can be when they are out there enjoying the Australian outback. One popular way to provide your vehicle with that additional bit of clearance is using strut spacers.
While some 4×4 drivers will testify to the effectiveness of strut spacers, there are some auto experts who warn about the wider implications of adding these devices to your vehicle, particularly when it comes to wheel alignment. We’ll fill you in, as well as give you some more things to consider when looking at strut spacers for your 4×4.
How Strut Spacers Affect Your Wheel Alignment
Technically speaking, if your car’s wheels are aligned well before, installing strut spacers shouldn’t throw off the alignment. In fact, strut spacers are just placed between the vehicle hubs and the wheels. They simply widen the track and change the offset, but they have nothing to do with alignment. Strut spacers are just an extension of the hub assembly. If they are properly set, they shouldn’t even affect the wear on the tyres, camber, toe, or caster.
However, in many cases, people fail to check the alignment of their tyres on a regular basis which means that when they do have strut spacers installed, they end up exacerbating existing misalignment issues. This can result in several problems, including causing uneven tyre wear. Moreover, there are also instances where strut spacers aren’t installed properly. In these cases, the strut spacers can change the camber and vertical angle of your tyres, which causes the alignment to be further skewed.
Why You Need To Realign Your Car’s Wheels After Adding Strut Spacers
Because you can never be certain about how adjustments and installations on your vehicle, such as strut spacers, can impact the alignment of your car’s wheels, it is wise to have the alignment checked to see if there have been any changes. You can then get them realigned as needed and drive away with confidence.
The main issue with installing strut spacers is that they move the wheels of your vehicle to a wider position while allowing the rest of the suspension arm to stay in the same place. Fitting strut spacers moves the wheels outward, which alters the scrub radius. If this was either positive or negative to begin with, then the installation of strut spacers will only serve to exacerbate this discrepancy, which can have some unfavourable consequences.
While it is always wise to have your car’s wheel alignment checked at regular intervals, it becomes even more pertinent following the installation of strut spacers. There are even several benefits to having your alignment checked after strut spacers have been installed, including improved vehicle handling, easier steering, and the prevention of premature wear of the car’s suspension components.
Do You Know the Signs That Your Car’s Wheels Need to Be Realigned?
While your car’s wheel alignment can slowly change over time and with regular driving, one of the big cons of spacers is that they can very quickly misalign your wheels. That’s why it’s important to know what to look out for once you’ve installed your new Hilux or other 4WD strut spacers.
Your Car Pulls to One Side
A common sign of misaligned wheels is that your vehicle will start pulling to either the left or right. The pulling will be more extreme depending on the severity of the wheel misalignment. In the less serious cases, you might just notice that the vehicle drifts to one side when you have a loose grip on your steering. In more extreme situations, your car will automatically want to go to one side, and you may struggle to keep the vehicle driving in a straight line.
Your Steering Wheel Is Off Centre
Another common sign that your wheels need to be aligned is an off-centre steering wheel. If you find yourself having to hold your steering wheel in a strange position while driving in a straight line, misaligned wheels are likely to be the issue.
Your Steering Wheel Feels Loose
A sloppy or loose steering wheel can be extremely dangerous as it can affect your car’s response time when you want to turn. This too can be caused by misaligned wheels and should always prompt you to have your vehicle checked out by a mechanic.
Your Steering Wheel Vibrates
A steering wheel that vibrates while the vehicle is in motion is likely to be caused by misaligned or unbalanced tyres. However, vibration from a steering wheel could also indicate other more serious problems, so it is worth getting your vehicle checked out by a professional mechanic.
You Notice Uneven Wear On Your Tyres
Inspecting your tyres on a regular basis is important for a lot of reasons, but catching signs of wear is up there. If you notice that the wear is more extreme on certain parts of the tyre, this is another indication your car’s wheels are misaligned. Although, misalignment is not the only condition that causes irregular tyre wear, which is why you should have a mechanic check your car’s suspension and steering to diagnose the problem properly.
What to Consider When Adding Strut Spacers to Your Car
Beyond their impact on wheel alignment and your car’s suspension infrastructure, there are several factors every driver should consider when making the decision to incorporate strut spacers into their vehicle.
Firstly, it is important to note that the installation of strut spacers won’t change the spring rate. This means there’s no stiffness or capacity change in the springs. If you plan to use your vehicle to carry heavy loads, or you’re trying to level out your rig to put more weight on it, you should consider appropriately set springs, not just the installation of spacers.
Something else worth noting in relation to strut spacers is that while they will allow the vehicle to gain height, they won’t increase suspension capability off-road. At the end of the day, increasing height limits the amount of suspension droop you have, which puts additional stress on the system and could cause potential fouling issues and lead to the strut bottoming out before it reaches the bump stop.
The Benefits of Adding Strut Spacers
Despite all the considerations you need to factor in before adding strut spacers to your vehicle, there are certain obvious benefits to this upgrade, which is why so many people do it in the first place.
Primarily, strut spacers are a cost-effective way to add that extra lift to your 4WD vehicle. What’s more, strut spacers are versatile, which means they’ll often work with your vehicle’s factory suspension, as well as an aftermarket lift kit, regardless of the particular kit you’ve chosen.
Moreover, since the spring rate remains the same, strut spacers can be installed with ease. If you’ve already got the springs set up the way you want them, the strut spaces can provide the additional lift without altering any other components.
Finally, while strut spacers do have certain limitations, especially when it comes to off-road driving, they are suitable for drivers who only plan to take their vehicles off-road very occasionally and on lighter tracks.
In short, when you start talking to auto enthusiasts about ways to enhance your 4WD’s ride quality, and the topic of strut spacers comes up, the chances are opinions will be divided. While strut spacers do provide a cost-effective solution to those looking to provide their 4×4 vehicle with a little extra life, they do have their limitations.
So, Should You Add Strut Spacers to Your 4WD?
It is, therefore, important to consider the implications of installing strut spacers onto your vehicle, especially when considering the potential impact on wheel alignment. With, however, wheel alignment is something that needs to be monitored at regular intervals regardless of whether you’ve had strut spacers installed. Moreover, if you notice any of the common signs of wheel misalignment, it is imperative that you have the vehicle assessed by a professional mechanic as it could be an indication of something more serious too.
At the end of the day, installing strut spacers onto a vehicle isn’t a decision that should be taken lightly. While strut spacers are a cost-effective way to provide your vehicle with some additional lift, it isn’t necessarily the right solution for everyone. Additionally, strut spacers won’t give you the lift needed for off-roading on a regular basis, but if you just plan to take your vehicle onto rough terrain occasionally, strut spacers could be the perfect option for you.
Looking for Toyota Hilux Strut Spacers & More?
Now that you have the lowdown on strut spacers and the implications of their installation, you are better placed to make an informed decision. Having weighed up the pros and cons, if you’ve decided that strut spacers are the best choice for your vehicle, then it is time to head to KAON.
As a proudly Australian-owned company, the KAON team love the outback and has a real understanding of the challenges of navigating across difficult terrain and the pressure this puts on a 4WD vehicle. So, whether it’s strut spacers or other components that can boost your 4×4 vehicle’s capacity, KAON will offer you an excellent selection of options. So, if you are shopping for strut spacers, don’t delay; get yourself to KAON today!
