Do you create problems if use wheel spacers?

[mustanghammer]

What he said. Had them for years with ZERO issues.

I have bolt on spacers on my road race RX7. They are a necessary evil because I needed to convert from the 4x114.3 pattern to 4x100 pattern on the front of the car. 4x100 wheels are cheaper and lighter than 4x114.3 wheels.

Any way, I looked around at what was available commercially and decided it was better to have them made. So www.santafegarage.com made me set of spacers using USA 6061 billet material and ARP studs. Also everything is hub-centric. They are a pain in the ass but I found a way to keep them torqued without a helper. Adds another item to the nut & bolt check.

All of that said. my RX7 weighs 2475lb wet with my fat ass in it. Much lighter than my 3968lb Mustang so keep that in mind. I did hit 132MPH at Indy with this setup.

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[Dana Pants]

Bolt on spacers are fine … JFC… been rocking ‘em since the 90s.

people being too smart and technical worried about the end of the earth. Better chance of being bit by a shark than a problem with a bolt on wheel spacer

hundreds of thousands of happy customers
Want to be extra safe … don’t road race with them… that’s it.

As someone who broke several OEM studs without spacers, spacers are inherently insufficient because they still use OEM studs. ARP is mandatory for exquisite levels of hooning.

 

[GTP]

I run that exact setup OP. Extended studs a most and grab some open end lug nuts while you're at it. That way you can take the spacers off and go back to street wheels and tires too if needed.

Street on top without spacers, track on bottom with spacers.

25mm Spacer with longer studs

Did you have your calipers powder coated?
High temp powder?
How did you source such a good color match?

 

[Optimum Performance]

Do some reading on"kingpin inclination angle" to see what effect this will have on the steering before you do this on a daily.

Does not apply to S550 with double ball joint suspension. Also if you look at what Ford has produced, 17x7 to 19x11 which moves the tire center line patch out about 2.5" proves it has zero effects.

 

[Porsche Dude]

As already stated by track veterans, hub-centric slip-on spacers with extended wheel studs is the ticket for track days. I personally wouldn’t touch the bolt-on spacers. They’re at the root of too many failures.

Damn straight.

 

[Howitzer]

As someone who broke several OEM studs without spacers, spacers are inherently insufficient because they still use OEM studs. ARP is mandatory for exquisite levels of hooning.

Also - since we're talking about road course use...if using bolt on spacers, you can't even check the torque of the inner nuts without taking the entire wheel off. I always do checks on my car throughout the day - having hidden nuts securing the spacer to the hub that I can't check easily just seems dangerous.

 

[Optimum Performance]

I have it in my head that using a wheel spacer is a bad thing, and I don't know why. I plan to run a 19x11 wheel and 305s all around at some point, for track only. I'm told it can be done with spacers up front and sounds great UNLESS I will be causing some other issues. Importantly: car is my daily and will only see a track day, maybe two, per season at this point. Thanks for any information/experiences. -Dave

https://www.opmustang.com/store/c2/WHEEL_STUDS_-_HUBS_-_SPACERS_AND_TIRE_ACCESSORIES.html#/

Assuming you are planning on an 11" wheel with a +52 offset (ie Apex wheels)
Our extended studs and 25mm spacers are all you need. When not running them you simply slide off the spacers and use your factory wheels, although typically you can run the same spacer with the Factory wheel to place the wheel out to the fender edge so it isn't tucked in. This also improves feel because you widen the track width in a heavy car.

 

[mavisky]

Also - since we're talking about road course use...if using bolt on spacers, you can't even check the torque of the inner nuts without taking the entire wheel off. I always do checks on my car throughout the day - having hidden nuts securing the spacer to the hub that I can't check easily just seems dangerous.

While it's a good idea to check for loose lug nuts, I want to make sure that people aren't reading this wrong and re-torquing lugnuts while hot after a track session. Great way to have them fracture and fail once they cool

 

[NightmareMoon]

While it's a good idea to check for loose lug nuts, I want to make sure that people aren't reading this wrong and re-torquing lugnuts while hot after a track session. Great way to have them fracture and fail once they cool

Good point, don't touch any bolt while its as hot as wheels studs can get.

I broke (1) stud at the track trying to change wheels while things were still hot. That sucked, will never do that again. (and I also bring at least one spare stud all the time now)

 

[kz]

Also, don't most bolt on spacers use 12 mm studs vs. 14 mm OEM ones ?

 

[DrZed]

Right, longer studs and slip on spacers are ok. Bolt on spacers OTOH introduce a bunch of issues - 2x additional points of failure, can’t easily check torque, lower torque, questionable fastener quality, etc.. Bad news.

Slip on spacers are just sandwiched securely between the wheel and hub via longer studs and dont really add any complexity or problem areas. Plus the common ARP studs are at least as good or better than the factory studs.

The Toyota GR Corolla uses 10mm spacers in the rear so the tires can be rotated. I wouldn't have believed it myself until an owner showed me. If an OEM is using them (with the appropriate length stud) them I'm okay with it. Until that day recently, I was always hesitant.

 

[Optimum Performance]

Good point, don't touch any bolt while its as hot as wheels studs can get.

I broke (1) stud at the track trying to change wheels while things were still hot. That sucked, will never do that again. (and I also bring at least one spare stud all the time now)

We have hundreds of take out stock studs if any one puts it in the notes on a regular order we can send them with the order.

 

[rocsteady]

Really appreciate all the info and experiences fellas. Thank you.

 

[Optimum Performance]

How often do you replace your hubs?

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