Wheel Spacers ? Good or Bad thing

[Paza3]

Guys

Been doing some reading around these some mixed views about. There is talk of additional strain on bearings etc, is this founded?

As I was after a set of 15mm for the rears as they need it , and did not want to weaken the car for it. Would rather replace the alloys themselves. Also should I only buy H&r or are there other brands to consider or ones to avoid?

Anyone have experience regarding possible negative affects on the car?

Thanks Paza

 

[cj10jeeper]

Wheel spacers are always a compromise to achieve a wider stance and are reallty a rather crude engineering solution. Invariably they weaken the hub area by entending the forces outwards and put more strain on wheel bearings and the extended studs or bolts.

Better to have a wider axle or next best greater offset on rims.

Will it matter - probably not for normal use and reasonable mileage for the size you're looking at.

 

[Darren Slone]

I've got 13mm spacers on the front of mine, haven't felt any negative effects, there must be an enormous amount of people with them fitted, not sure on how any extra load will affect bearings and if they do, over what mileage scale, to me it's not a problem.

 

[Beedub]

bmw use them on pretty much all their GT3 race cars as do sumo on the GTR race cars.. infact alot of race teams do ;-)..... dont worry about it, i went with bmw motorsport hexagon super light spacers (every single piece of waste material is removed)..... they weight literally nothing.... Very pleased and absolutely no downsides imo..... Very happy with them and spent many a time a the limit of front grip @ fradly hairpin....




note ; i use these with ARP 75mm wheel studs and magnesium wheel nuts for a more reliable/stronger setup.

 

[Paza3]

Ok cool guys thanks

Just wanted to check it out first any recommendation on brand?

 

[sars]

If you are going to fit the spacers to bring the offset to standard then you are putting no extra forces into the suspension, I was advised that you could go +/- 5 mm either side. The only drawback in fitting spacers of the through bolt type, is the increased loading on the bolts because the bolts are longer.

 

[M@r]{]

I run 15mm spacers on the front of mine.

Give DM-motorsport.co.uk a try for spacers. Good prices and made to order. Top quality as well

 

[Adamski]

My understanding was that excessive wear on wheel bearings only becomes an issue if you start really pushing the wheels out, i.e. 25mm or more. On some show cars I've seen 50mm spacers used to fill wide arch body kits, the most extreme was 70mm on a jap Honda Civic. I think this is where cj's comments about getting a wider axle totally make sense. Personally I think a 50mm spacer is asking for trouble. Anymore is insane for road use.

However, I thought 10mm-15mm would be ok


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[Anonymous]

Wheel spacers in fact usually help correct an offset to more centralise the tyres either side of the hub flange, Wheels are normally biased inwards. the lowest offset on the rear of an M is about et 27, so that means the centre of the tyre is offset 27mm, with 27mmm of the tyre more inwards than it would be if central. Putting a 27mm spacer would centralise the tyre, but then it would protrude the arch. Spacers that take it towards the arch will actually assist to centralise the loading on the bearings.

 

[JaEdBa]

..... or next best greater offset on rims.

isn't that effectively the same as a spacer?

 

[cj10jeeper]

..... or next best greater offset on rims.

isn't that effectively the same as a spacer?

In terms of relative position of the wheel centre to the hub yes. In terms of all the weaknesses and downsides associated with longer bolts, extra weight, etc then no.

I like the spacers used by, Beedub. Light, well manufactured and of reasonable thickness and as I said in my post and others echoed it doesn't matter on the Zed if kept in reason.

Perhaps I should add I come from the world of competitive Jeeps where bolt on spacers are common. In effect they bolt to the wheel then the wheel to the spacer 25mm - 50mm+ is common and it's also common with 36"+ tyres snap hubs off, so the forces are real. Interestingly they also reduce turning circle as on lock the wheel rotatesnback and forthnfurther into thenchassi.We overcome it by fitting wider axles, but this isn't a sports car issue

Edit - one of my Jeeps has a 6" wider axle and 3" wing extensions to compensate...