I’m considering install wheel spacers on the rear axle on my 2002 HD SRW, to align the rear wheels with the front. My rear wheels are about 3.5 inches narrower than the front. This will also move the rear wheels flush with the fender flares, for better appearance.
The 2 inch spacers I'm considering, from www.arrowcraft.com (http://www.arrowcraft.com/) , are machined from billet steel, not cast steel or aluminum, and the manufacture states this will not de-rate the weight rating or reduce safety. <?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Questions:
1). Will this significantly increase load, or overload the rear wheel bearings?
2). Is this unsafe?
3). Are there any drawbacks to adding 2 inch wheel spacers?

I pull a 12K 5ver, and safety is my primary concern. The axle is rated around 11K lbs, and presently is limited by the tires.
Thanks for any knowledge, experience, or thoughts you can provide.

I don't have any experience with spacers, but I've read that they are hard on the bearings and studs. It all depends on what you're using them for, I guess. I think a better solution to the offset front/rear would be a rim in the rear with less backspacing. Again, I've never used spacers, but these are the conserns I've read about.

On a different truck, I used spacers for over 100,000 miles wth no
problems.. (I wanted dual wheels on a single rear wheel truck, so
had to space out the wheels to allow for it.)

Mylash

I have CorrecTrac spacers on my '02 HD. No problems!

I have had 2" spacers on my truck for 30,000 miles. Tore the rear end apart this past weekend to replace a weeping seal (just one but I figured do both while there) and checked the bearings. No grooves, cracks, strange wear patterns or discoloration. Installed new inner bearings, just because I had them and they come out when replacing the seals, left the outers alone and feel confident they will last a loooong time. Really no need to replace the bearings when doing the seals, they are massive rollers and lubricated by the oil in the differential.

www.correctrack.com (http://www.correctrack.com) is the original. Was patented I believe. Pretty darn expensive, but those who have them swear by them...