spacers for track use
 

Hi guys,

Looking into spacers for my car sport package with 265/285 re-11 combo so I did research and found 20/25 mm seem to make the wheels flush. Now i track my car a lot and want reliability and safety; what spacers are you track guys running, and which ones do you trust?

thanks for the help,

Jay

None....

That simple huh? ....

Rims will get pitted and scratched anyway, what is the obsession of jamming the tires right up against the fender? Your car and your choice.

I run a 10mm Ichiba spacer in the rear with no issues as of yet. Had no issue on my 350 either. I only do this because it's a small spacer. Not sure how I feel about bigger ones.

Spacers which are bolted to the axle hub and which contain their own studs to which the wheels are secured are banned by our sanctioning body .. spacers which attach to the back of the wheel and which require longer wheel studs to effectively secure the wheel are acceptable.

I would not use a spacer which has its own set of wheel studs attached ... on safety grounds - you cannot check the wheel nut torque with the wheel in place which is dangerous.

Spacers (a la SPOHN) can be used to alter the track relative to front and rear and are a handling tuning aid to shift balance of grip front to rear (or vice versa) to dial out understeer/oversteer

Hope this helps ....

RB

:iagree:

I use a 20mm spacer with longer wheel studs so that I can use a square offset set of wheels. I've got over 10000 track miles on my spacers now with no problems. H&R

Done all my tracking with 15mm front and 20mm rear spacers...stud replacement type. No problems.

And for everyone that claims they don't want a failure on the track, I'd much prefer my car had a failure on track than on the street. Much fewer consequences!

I am on the stock Nismo wheels and tires Mike. Do you think these will be ok for autox even with a small drop from some swifts? Also, how wide of a tire can should I run? Thanks in advance. Love your car.

as long as they are torqued correctly u really shouldn't have a problem. I know several guys that track extensively with both bolt replacement and bolt on....
if you can check the torque in between runs to double check for safety that would be good...

I try to avoid spacers one less thing to worry about....


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=33.890732,-118.309389

thanks. I have run 275/285 and 295 width tires. I like the square setup. I have only autocrossed it once as thats not my thing, but I think on stock wheels, 295/255 or 65 is a good combo.

Our club only allows a 1/4" spacer max (<6mm).

I used to auto-x with 15mm spacers and didn't have any issues, although I did eventually break a H&R stud. I use the Nismo studs now.

I avoid spacers at all costs. I just buy proper offset wheels.

thread...

^ what they said. Spacers are a commitment to checking torque twice a track day at least, definitely before first run. Better than standing around looking at other guy's chicks..

spacers
 

I run 20mm H&R spacers with their own studs. I use them as a balance tuning aid. Basically the wider the track the more lateral grip you will have. So for example, if you want to free up the car, add spacers to the front and/or remove spacers from the rear.

I am a little concerned about the safety issues of studs breaking and also the extra stress they put on the wheel bearings, so I will likely figure out something else. I have tried the car with and without the 20mm spacers, and the lap times are fairly close, but with spacers on the car has more lateral grip and is just slightly quicker.

Good afternoon guys I hope everyone is ok! I want to revive this thread for those people like me that want to know what is better for track use... with spacers or without spacers... I already read the thread and almost everyone in their comment said that stay away from them to track use at least for the bolt-on spacers... But my question is... You are going to get better lap time without them installed? I dont know if everyone try that already but is something that i want to know... Im going to track my Z next month and i was thinking if remove my rear 20mm spacers or leave it their... Of course if i decide to leave the spacers installed im going to re-torque them and check that everything is ok before run the Z in the track... Any comment or advice are going to be great! :tup:

they won't make any discernible difference in your lap times.

Ran 3800 miles of the OLOA with spacers, ran another 3000 miles with them on around town. Checking the torque every track, or track day. Never showed loosening up, and never had an issue.

Tracy Ramsey

Thanks a lot guys for let me know your opinion! Well i drive every day my Z and i never have problems with the spacers.... so with the info that you guys give me and my personal experience im going to leave the spacers installed:tup: Just im going to make sure that the torque is perfect and check if everything is ok like everyone that are going to track their car suppose to do!:tup:

The real question is what are you looking to improve with the addition of spacers? Running a square set-up? Go for it.

yep....or at least.. here is my issue my friend! when i ordered my actual wheels Gram Lights 57DR i have ordered in 18x9.5+12 & 18x10.5+15... after a long wait of 2 1/2 months and a few talks with the shop (i was angry already of course) the wheels finally arrive... when the shop check the package the front wheels arrive perfect and guess what... the rear wheels arrive in 18x10.5+22... wrong offset :mad: if i want the 18x10.5+15 like i ordered i have to wait like 2 months again and that is not an option in that moment cause i have my friend oem wheels installed and i have to return his wheels back... i take the wheels and installed but the rear wheels dont match the front wheels... the rear looks more inside than the front so i buy the 20mm spacers for the rear wheels and now the car looks perfect... like square setup... soo yes right now looks more than square setup... not like a drift car like the Z of Chris Forsberg ;)

Sorry for all that writing haha but i have to explain what happen :tup:

Dude, no need to apologize. People can't help you unless they know where you're coming from. Your less than ideal situation is kind of why spacers exist.

Thanks bro! :tup: i explain cause you know that some people like to say negative comments with out know the reason ;)

But thanks a lot for your help! I know the comments that you guys give me are going to help a few members with the same question that i did!