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Thread: Spider Trax Catastrophic Failure

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Getting Dirty WanderingTs's Avatar
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    Spider Trax Catastrophic Failure

    Hello from California everyone. I have been absent from the forum for some time as life has caused my priorities to be elsewhere. I do feel a loyalty to this community so I wanted to post what happened to me as a warning to others.

    First off, let me start by saying Spider Trax very clearly marks on their instructions that they are for off-road, non-continuous use. I (like I think a lot of people) ignored that safety warning as just something they have to say to protect their liablility and ran them all the time. After having checked them regularly for a while and seeing no wear, cracks, or other problems, I fell short on what should have been regular inspections. I can honestly say the last couple times I rotated the tires it didn't even occur to me to inspect the spacers.

    This November, I took my XK places that I never thought I would see. I went through by far the most challenging trails I have ever wheeled. Since then, I have used my XK to pull a cargo trailer a few times and put about 400 on-road miles behind me without incident.

    The other day I was driving on a two lanes highway at about 70mph when I felt an odd vibration as if I was driving on the rumble strip. (For those in area that may not have rumble strips, it is a safety system built into the road where a series of grooves is cut in the pavement. When you run over it, it makes noise and a slight vibration to alert you that you have drifted off the road or out of your lane.) The Jeep's vibration got worse as I slowed down. As I pulled of the road it the vibration got much worse.

    I got out and walked around the Jeep and saw that I only had one lug left on the front passenger side tire. I got back in and drove very slowly to a place about 100 yards forward where I could get safely away from the 70mph traffic flying by on the highway. I had to turn slightly and the remaining lug snapped. The Jeep fell onto the tire, bending the fender and popping off the fender trim.

    Thank god I stopped. Thank god the wheel didn't come off at 70mph on a rural two lane highway where I could have gone off the road and flipped, or worse yet been in a head on collision.

    I jacked it up and found that all the lugs had snapped on the Spider Trax spacer. I took the spacer off and was able to get the tire back on the lugs on the hub. This left me enough motion to get the Jeep loaded on the tow truck, but I wouldn't want to drive it this way as it could rub on the curvy highway between where I was and home.

    I have not had a chance to take the wheel back off and inspect the spacer or diagnose what might have gone wrong. I will try to take an post some photos as I get time.

    Mostly I just wanted to post this since I know lots of people on this forum run Spider Trax, or other spacers. Don't be like me. Don't get lazy. Inspect regularly.

    My plan now is to buy new rims with the correct spacing and have my off road tires mounted on them. Then I am going to buy some mall crawling tires for the existing Jeep rims to use when I am not wheeling. It will be a little more expensive in the short term, but will save miles on my good wheeling tires. There is also no price you can put on not crashing at 70mph.

    I would love to hear if anyone else finds anything.
    The best things in life can not be found on a map; they can only be found while Wandering.
    __________________________________________________ ___

    2007 XK - 4.7L Flex Fuel // Rocky Road 2.25 lift // Rocky Road Super Sliders // Toyo Open Country 265/70R17 tires // 4xGuard Front Guard // 4xGuard Belly Guard // 4xGuard Matrix-HC with optional front hitch // Warn XD9000I hitch mounted winch // Graco Carseat for the Youngun

    http://www.xk-forum.com/blog.php - The Wild(life) Side of Jeeping

  2. #2
    Lifetime Member Getting Dirty Core XK's Avatar
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    I am sad to hear your story considering I am running spidertrax spacers. I am glad your okay and nothing worse happen. You threadlocked and torqued these when put on im assuming?

    Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
    2010 Silver HEMI XK QTII

    My Garage: http://www.theultimatejeep.com/showt...re-XK-s-Garage

  3. #3
    Super Moderator Getting Dirty 07JeepXK's Avatar
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    I ran Spidertrax spacers for over three years with many crazy off road adventures during that time frame. I never had any issue with them and logged over 75,000 miles with them. Took them off almost two years ago when I got my 17x8 wheels and sold them to my brothers boss who has a 2012 Wrangler. He has been running them ever since again without any issues. How many ft lbs did you have the spacers torqued to the hub and how many ft lbs did you have your wheels torqued to the spacers. Also did you use a good torque wrench when you installed them?
    2007 4.7 Liter XK | Front Modified OME HD Lift | Rear 4" Superlift | JBA UCA's | Rusty's Rear Adjustable Track Bar | Rysty’s Adjustable Upper and Lower Rear Control Arms w/Heim Joints | Mickey Thompson Classic III 17x9 Wheels | 315/70R17 Goodyear Duratracs | Airflow Snorkel | Flowmaster 40 Series Muffler | Superchips Flashpaq | Mopar Skids | 4xGuard Belly Guard | American Rebel Rear Diff Cover | Rear Powertrax No-Slip | Front Electronic Locker | Rear Heat/AC Delete

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    Lifetime Member Getting Dirty WanderingTs's Avatar
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    I did torque them but I don't remember without looking at my paper at home what the torque was. Too many cars to keep that all in my head.

    I don't use threadlocker, but that shouldnt have made a difference. The studs on the spacer sheared, it wasn't just the lug nuts came off. The nuts keeping the spacer to the hubs were still tight and intact.

    Also to be clear, I am not blaming Spider Trax or saying they have an inferior product. I blame myself. This could just as easily have been a factory part that broke from lack of inspection.
    The best things in life can not be found on a map; they can only be found while Wandering.
    __________________________________________________ ___

    2007 XK - 4.7L Flex Fuel // Rocky Road 2.25 lift // Rocky Road Super Sliders // Toyo Open Country 265/70R17 tires // 4xGuard Front Guard // 4xGuard Belly Guard // 4xGuard Matrix-HC with optional front hitch // Warn XD9000I hitch mounted winch // Graco Carseat for the Youngun

    http://www.xk-forum.com/blog.php - The Wild(life) Side of Jeeping

  5. #5
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    So glad to hear from you and the warning is one we should all listen to. I too have failed to inspect the lugs... Another project for this weekend.
    2006 XK Limited, 5.7L Hemi
    Dark Khaki, QDII, Rocky Road 2.25" lift, Steel Armadillo front bumper with Warn PowerPlant winch, Steel Armadillo rear bumper w/ tire carrier, Rock Sliders, Light Bar & Front Fender Tube Fenders, 4xGuard belly skid plate & rear differential guard, BFG M/T A/T 255/75R17s on Rubicon rims, Spidertrax 1.5 inch wheel spacers, Rhino Rack Pioneer Tray with FoxWing Awning, Superchips VIVID Programmer, Air Flow snorkel, Steel Armadillo Secure Console, Cobra CB Radio, Lock Pick Video Programmer, ASFIR Skid Plates.

    Knappster's Garage


    Profile for Knappsters

    AKA: the Owner of The Steel Armadillo L.L.C.

  6. #6
    Super Moderator Getting Dirty 07JeepXK's Avatar
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    I had both my wheels and spacers torqued to 90 ft lbs as per the directions. I know that doesn't seem like a lot but again had zero issues
    2007 4.7 Liter XK | Front Modified OME HD Lift | Rear 4" Superlift | JBA UCA's | Rusty's Rear Adjustable Track Bar | Rysty’s Adjustable Upper and Lower Rear Control Arms w/Heim Joints | Mickey Thompson Classic III 17x9 Wheels | 315/70R17 Goodyear Duratracs | Airflow Snorkel | Flowmaster 40 Series Muffler | Superchips Flashpaq | Mopar Skids | 4xGuard Belly Guard | American Rebel Rear Diff Cover | Rear Powertrax No-Slip | Front Electronic Locker | Rear Heat/AC Delete

  7. #7
    Lifetime Member Getting Dirty 06JeepXKHEMI's Avatar
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    I had my spacers at 100 ft lbs and same as wheels, never any issues, either did previous owner. Total miles for me was 65k with no issues.

    Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk
    2K6 Limited Jeep Green Metallic/Saddle Brown Leather XK HEMI QDII Old Man Emu HD Suspension w/ Fox Emulsion 2.0 Rear Shocks 1.5" SpiderTraxx Wheel Spacers 265/70 GoodYear MTRs w/Kevlar True Dual Exhuast w/IMCO 50 K&N 63 CAI Diablo 91/Performance Transmission Tuned SA Belly Skid MOPAR Gas Tank Skid, Transfer Case Skid, Suspension Skid Front Tow Hooks 6k HID Lows/3k Fogs

  8. #8
    Lifetime Member Getting Dirty pjmjr508's Avatar
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    Glad it did not fail while doing 70, a good warning to keep up on the inspection of the spacers.
    Glad you & the family are safe.
    PJMJR508
    (Happy Jeep)

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