Any chance you can post a photo?
The reason I like to avoid spacers is because, as a suspension and alignment specialist, I understand how that changes "scrub radius". If you draw an imaginary line through the upper and lower ball joints as viewed from the front, that line was carefully-designed to intersect the tire tread at a very specific point on the road. That has a huge affect on steering response, handling, and braking. Scrub radius changes when you install most lift kits, install wider wheels, taller tire diameter, or wheels with a deeper offset, which includes adding spacers. No alignment specialist would ever raise his truck or lower his car. In fact, we have to get real picky about ride height and that it is within the published specs to insure there is minimal tire wear, and that we don't become party to a lawsuit.
Lawyers and insurance investigators love to find these kinds of modifications when they're trying to shift the blame for the crash from their client who ran the red light, to you. They will convince a jury that you were partly at fault because you were less able to avoid the crash, and they will be right.
That is why I'd like you to use spacers only as a last resort. I'd prefer to remove a little casting flash or non-structural metal if possible.
Wednesday, February 25th, 2015 AT 9:44 PM