Have a set of Bimecc spacers arriving today, 12/15mm, planned to clean the surface of the hub with a wire brush and the mating surface of the alloy but just wondered if anyone had any fitting tips.
Read comments on here previously recommending using copper grease to avoid the spacer fusing to the hub but also comments saying avoid doing this!
Cheers Jeremy
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Spacer fitting advice, copper grease??
- enuff_zed
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Spacer fitting advice, copper grease??
I always put the smallest smear of copper grease on the mating faces, both on the spacer to hub, and wheel to spacer.
The discussions are more often with regard to copper grease on the bolt threads. Whilst this can prevent them sticking, it also affects the tightening torque, less resistance due to the grease meaning the bolts go round a little bit further before the torque is reached.
Again this seems to come down to personal preference, but my advice would be yes, do the mating faces, but leave the bolt threads alone.
The discussions are more often with regard to copper grease on the bolt threads. Whilst this can prevent them sticking, it also affects the tightening torque, less resistance due to the grease meaning the bolts go round a little bit further before the torque is reached.
Again this seems to come down to personal preference, but my advice would be yes, do the mating faces, but leave the bolt threads alone.
- TheDan
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Spacer fitting advice, copper grease??
I fitted 10mm spacers to mine recently and decided against copper grease between disc and spacer but I still grease between wheel and spacer.
The reason I omit the grease between disc and spacer is because I actually don't mind if the spacer fuses slightly to the disc (as long as it can be knocked off with a crowbar or similar). Also, I fitted new coated discs with new spacers so the contact surfaces are super clean and rust free.
This way whenever my car goes to a garage for wheels off work (or I do my own wheels off work) the spacer doesn't fall off with the wheel and either the garage or myself forget to put it back or lose it. Plus when the garage does refit a spacer that falls off I guarantee they wont copper grease it.
In regard to what enuff_zed says about greasing the bolt threads... its a big no no for me personally.
The reason I omit the grease between disc and spacer is because I actually don't mind if the spacer fuses slightly to the disc (as long as it can be knocked off with a crowbar or similar). Also, I fitted new coated discs with new spacers so the contact surfaces are super clean and rust free.
This way whenever my car goes to a garage for wheels off work (or I do my own wheels off work) the spacer doesn't fall off with the wheel and either the garage or myself forget to put it back or lose it. Plus when the garage does refit a spacer that falls off I guarantee they wont copper grease it.
In regard to what enuff_zed says about greasing the bolt threads... its a big no no for me personally.
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Spacer fitting advice, copper grease??
If you look at torque settings for bolts with and without grease it is around 10-15% differance
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Spacer fitting advice, copper grease??
When was the last time you had your torque wrench calibrated
- enuff_zed
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Spacer fitting advice, copper grease??
Torque wrench? Wheel bolts are three white knuckles on a 1/2" drive ratchet handle.
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Spacer fitting advice, copper grease??
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- iiNNeX
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Spacer fitting advice, copper grease??
I also have a set of 12/15 bimmecs arriving soon, I usually apply a tiny amount of copper grease between spacer and wheel, they will be going on new discs so surfaces are not rusty thus shouldn't fuse so badly. I also use copper greases on wheel bolts but again a VERY small amount. Torque wrench is a good investment but can do fine without once as you get a "feel" for how tight something is.
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- Chris_D
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Spacer fitting advice, copper grease??
Greasing advocate here.
Grease on everything in fact. Spacer, wheel, disc faces. Always on bolt threads after a clean. Door hinges, spark plugs, brake assemblies, my creaky left knee. You name it, I'll grease it!
Grease on everything in fact. Spacer, wheel, disc faces. Always on bolt threads after a clean. Door hinges, spark plugs, brake assemblies, my creaky left knee. You name it, I'll grease it!
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