Are wheel spacers safe?
 

Been wondering about wheel spacers, the type where the lug bolts are replaced with longer bolts, has anyone experienced any failures? I love the wider track that they provide but am somewhat concerned about losing a wheel at an awkward moment.

Any thoughts?

If you purchase the longer studs and properly torque your lugs there are no issues with spacers.

They are safe. For example, if you buy 15mm spacers, they are supplied with lugs that are 15mm longer, to allow for proper engagement of the lug nut so that you have enough threads to properly secure them in place. You are safe to do 5 to 25mm spacers. I would be cautious about anything longer than that. In that case, you should make sure the wheels you have/want to buy have the proper offset instead (always more desirable). Using 15mm for the front and 20mm in the rear is a very common configuration among 370Z owners. If you go with lowering and/or more negative camber, you could get away with 20 and 25 mm respectively and still have the tire positioned nicely in relation to the wheel wells. Good luck with your decision. The wider stance does look really good.

That's good to hear, has anyone done track work with this type of spacer?

I have tracked with 15/20mm spacers. No problems.

So if you put 15/20mm spacers what would be the proper/recommended offset to go with?

Sounds better all the time!

Stock Rays:
19x9 +47 front, 19x10 rear

New offsets:
Front: +47mm - 15mm = +32mm
Rear: +30mm - 20mm = +10mm

Personally I would avoid them, because I would rather have wheels with the proper back spacing. But that is not always an option, just for comparisons sake big dual rear wheel diesels come with huge spacers from the factory and they tow thousands of pounds.

There are potential problems that can come along with wheel spacers, twice as many jug nuts to keep properly torqued for example and they can cause increased wear on suspension components (that would be the same though with equivalent wheels) but spacers themselves are not a problem you just need to make sure you check everything periodically.

They are safe for street driving, and I am sure they are safe for track use as well but I personally wouldn't use em if you visit the track often. There are cases where people had trouble with spacers and whether that derived from a stud that wasn't installed correctly or a lug nut that was over-torqued, regardless.... you don't want your wheel to start wobbling on a track. With that said, if you only visit the track once or twice a year, you'll be fine.

Plus remember, when you take out your OEM studs, no matter what studs you replace em with even if its with OEM again, they are never going to sit as firm as they did from factory.

Not if you buy the spacers with extended lugs (e.g. H&R DRS series) that replace the OEM lugs.

Then you have to worry about the fit of the extended lugs.

Realistically, they're fine, and nothing to worry about though.

I used to be worried about them, but honestly what I have been seeing lately is alot of good things. I am amazed someone tracked on them, that should be enough info for you to go out and buy haha.

The extended lugs are the same thickness, have the same threads and do the same job as the OEM lugs. No problems. :tup:

Why wouldn't they "sit as firm as they did from factory"? They are secured in position from tension.

Bottom line, if you are buying new wheels, getting the correct offset (not using spacers) is best since you're paying all that money for nice rims anyways. But if you want to enhance the look of your OEM wheels, spacers are effective. Check out my signature picture with 15/20mm spacers.

I've tracked with 15/20 spacers and no issue. These are lug replacement all around.

FYI, Porsche lists 5mm spacers as an option on their cars. Just sayin'

Well, first of I'm in no way saying they won't sit firm or that they will be loose in any way, mine are in there firm as hell. It's just if you switch out studs often enough, you will start to shave the holes the studs are in and that can lose some of the firmness. Nothing to worry about of course, but I just mentioned it as related to track use.

ive been using spacers for over a decade. never encountered an issue. ive tried both types, the ones with new studs and once with built-in studs. i currently only use the ones with built-in studs (Eibach, Kics are my favorites, and even tried the garbage looking Ichiba's. they look like crap but work just fine).

most people have problems with over torquing or using the wrong type of spacer. like using spacers without hubcentring rings on hubcentric wheels and such.

I'm really wanting a set of spacers (15mmF / 20mmR) but I have heard that users with the built in stud versions have had some shaking issues at hwy speeds. So is the extra work involved with replacing the studs worth it? Are the built in stud versions hub centric ?

If you want 15mm for the front you have to swap out your studs.

Yup, like Azn says you must swap out the studs for the fronts on the 370z. You could use either for the rear, but why have to worry about tightening 2 sets of lugs per wheel (with the bolt on type)? Might as well do it properly and use the ones with replacement lugs.

Thank's for the info.. I am more towards replacing the stud.. Just for peace of mind..

theres some that have stud and hub centric built in... like this one.

http://www.more-japan.com/files/d_5815.jpg
FIC 20mm Wheel Spacer for 5/114.3 Bolt Pattern - More Japan :: Since 2003

I too have the 15/20 set up and have tracked my Z twice last summer with no problems.

I track with 15s in the rear now and used to use 25s in the rear with no problems. On the street, I run 15/15. I choose to use spacers so I can use the same wheels front and back for track use and rotate my tires.

The only issue I have had is a balance problem with ichiba spacers, because their hubcentric ring isn't deep enough to fit into my Nismo rims, so it doesn't center them. Switched to H&R and have no problems at all.

I hope that's not the issue I could have. I just ordered some Ichiba spacer (10mm). But I don't have the Nismo rims (see my sig). They are the extended studs models. I wouldn'y use the bolt on ones anyways. But was told they wouldn't work with my wheels anyways. I had these same spacers on my 350 with Rays wheels and they were fine. Guess I'm paranoid.

the ichibas are also fine with my 350z Rays wheels that I use for the track, and apparently, most people with the factory wheels have no problem either. they just don't work well with the Nismo Stune wheels.

I have stune wheels with 20/25 spacer. Steering wheel shakes after 65r 70mph.
Been trying to fix the problem.. and now it all make sense now. Thank you!
Thank you!
Did you go with the H&R DRM ,or DRS??

Check this thread for empirical feedback ........

IMPORTANT ADVICE: Don't run spacers! - Brakes & Suspension - Zclub - Australia's Largest Nissan 370Z and Nissan 350Z Forum

Note: there is nothing wrong with a space that is hub-centric and which requires longer studs - ARP do a 75mm long stud which is perfect.

My issue is with "spacers" that are fixed to the hub with the original studs, and the wheel is fixed to the spacer with a second set of studs .... it was this typre of spacer that is the subject of the link.

I have used up to 25mm spacers for my track wheels as I could not get a forged wheel with the right offset. These spacers are hub centric to the hub and centric to the wheel centre bore hole, all fixed to the hub with 75mm ARP studs.

The wheel nuts are thrown away after every 20 changes and the stud threads inspected before each track meet. I;ve lost a wheel "at speed" in my race car and it gains youur attention in the ost immdeiate manner possible.

THey are H&R, don't remember the model designation, but the hubcentric ones that use longer studs, not the bolt on kind. I mistyped though, I only use the 15s in the rear now. before I used 15/25. the 25 were the bolt on kind.