Spacers on stock Z?

semtex · 02-05-2009, 07:15 PM

The spacers are a no-go.

I installed one on the front driver's side. I was even taking pictures every step of the way so that I could provide step-by-step instructions. Then when I went to mount the wheel back on, lo and behold, it wouldn't go in all the way. If you look at the second and third picture below, you will see that the way these are designed, the stock wheel studs stick out a bit. Now, this normally isn't a problem, because the nubs just go into the spaces/slots in between the holes on the back of the wheel (see fourth pic). Well guess what? Those slots in between the holes aren't cut low enough. The nubs from the stock wheel studs can't clear them! Take a close look at the last picture. To figure out what was going on, I laid the wheel down flat on the ground, then placed a spacer on top. The spacer's wheel studs are in through the holes of the wheel. The holes you see in the picture are where the nubs of the stock wheel studs would go through. You can see through the holes that they're about halfway blocked by the bottoms of the slots. Way to go, Nissan!

I have three options: (1) take a grinder and grind out the bottoms of those slots just enough for the nubs to clear; (2) knock the studs out of spacers, knock the stock studs out of the wheel hubs, then install extra length studs back into the wheel hubs and pass them through the spacers; or (3) say screw it and return the spacers. I'm going with option 3. Option 1, grinding the stock wheels, just doesn't sound like a great idea to me. And option 2 would defeat the whole purpose of getting spacers of this design. If I wanted to change out the stock studs for extra length ones, it'd make more sense to go with the H&R DR series.

Well, I'm sorry it didn't work out. I know a lot of you were eager to see how the car would look with the wheels pushed out a bit. But at least this will save the rest of you a bunch of time and hassle. I've taken one for the team! (And you may thank me with rep points.

)

Minicobra1 · 04-12-2009, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semtex

The spacers are a no-go.

I installed one on the front driver's side. I was even taking pictures every step of the way so that I could provide step-by-step instructions. Then when I went to mount the wheel back on, lo and behold, it wouldn't go in all the way. If you look at the second and third picture below, you will see that the way these are designed, the stock wheel studs stick out a bit. Now, this normally isn't a problem, because the nubs just go into the spaces/slots in between the holes on the back of the wheel (see fourth pic). Well guess what? Those slots in between the holes aren't cut low enough. The nubs from the stock wheel studs can't clear them! Take a close look at the last picture. To figure out what was going on, I laid the wheel down flat on the ground, then placed a spacer on top. The spacer's wheel studs are in through the holes of the wheel. The holes you see in the picture are where the nubs of the stock wheel studs would go through. You can see through the holes that they're about halfway blocked by the bottoms of the slots. Way to go, Nissan!

Semtex, I discovered today while installing the longer studs, that the rear wheel has larger cut-outs in the back. Your pics show the front wheel, and for some reason the fronts don't have as large of an opening as the rears. It looks like the the spacer you had with the studs installed would work for the rears, just curious if you tried them on the rear ???

semtex · 04-12-2009, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minicobra1

Semtex, I discovered today while installing the longer studs, that the rear wheel has larger cut-outs in the back. Your pics show the front wheel, and for some reason the fronts don't have as large of an opening as the rears. It looks like the the spacer you had with the studs installed would work for the rears, just curious if you tried them on the rear ???

I was not aware of that. No, I didn't try the rears. The first wheel I tried was the front driver's side, and as soon as I ran into the issue with the cutouts, I packed everything back up. Thing is -- I wouldn't want to space out the rears without also spacing out the fronts. I'd want to keep the same proportions between front and back, if you know what I mean. I might actually re-order those spacers and just have my mechanic grind out the cutouts of the fronts as he had originally suggested. I mean, I've done so much other stuff to my car by now that it just doesn't seem like such a big deal anymore. Thx for letting me know about the rear cutouts!

Minicobra1 · 04-12-2009, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semtex

I was not aware of that. No, I didn't try the rears. The first wheel I tried was the front driver's side, and as soon as I ran into the issue with the cutouts, I packed everything back up. Thing is -- I wouldn't want to space out the rears without also spacing out the fronts. I'd want to keep the same proportions between front and back, if you know what I mean. I might actually re-order those spacers and just have my mechanic grind out the cutouts of the fronts as he had originally suggested. I mean, I've done so much other stuff to my car by now that it just doesn't seem like such a big deal anymore. Thx for letting me know about the rear cutouts!

Yeah, I thought maybe they forgot to cut-out yours, when I saw my rears. So I pulled the front off and sure enough, those were different. wonder why Nissan did that? I was waiting till I put the Eibach springs on, before I ordered the fronts wasn't sure if I was going with 15mm or 10mm. Now the the car is lowered it looks like it will clear the 15mm no problem. I'll probably order the 15mm's later today, I"m going with the press in stud route, just for the weight savings and security of less bolts.

Minicobra1 · 04-13-2009, 10:44 AM

Eibach springs installed, with 15mm spacers.
Review and pics as promised here: Eibach Springs & Spacers - Review+Pics

04-13-2009, 10:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
Minicobra1 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Orange County, CA. Posts: 1,205 Drives: 370Z Tour, Spt, 6mt Rep Power: 645	Eibach springs installed, with 15mm spacers. Review and pics as promised here: Eibach Springs & Spacers - Review+Pics __________________ 370z Tour\| Spt Pack\|Navi\|BERK CBE\|Berk HFC's\| Eibach Springs\| Hotchkis Sway Bars\|SPC Camber Arms\|15mm Ichiba Wheel Spacers\| 19"Factory Nismo Wheels-Matt Black\|Stop Tech Rotors\|TWM Shifter\|3M Tint\|Black Fangs\|Black Rear Valance\|JDM Fog Light\| MY BAND-www.myspace.com/petroleum

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