Wheel Spacers 101

Bonzo · 05-08-2014, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEpointfive0

What level of bullshit is this?

From:
IS250 with Spacers Installed - my.IS - Lexus IS Forum

Which part are you talking about? The part about the bearings is exactly what I was talking about in my post above. There will be more wear on the bearings for certain, I guess I'm just wondering how much. I don't want to have to be replacing bearings every 50,000 miles.

As for the the other stuff, no clue.

Chuck33079 · 05-08-2014, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonzo

Which part are you talking about? The part about the bearings is exactly what I was talking about in my post above. There will be more wear on the bearings for certain, I guess I'm just wondering how much. I don't want to have to be replacing bearings every 50,000 miles.

As for the the other stuff, no clue.

I know on Subarus, spacers caused premature bearing failure often. However, the hubs and bearings on them were weak and undersized to begin with and often failed completely stock. So spacers do cause accelerated wear, but on a bearing that's not a problem the question becomes "how much accelerated wear?" If it would have gone 250k without issue and now will only go 200k, that's probably ok. We just don't know. There haven't been a lot of reported failures. I won't run them but plenty of people seem to have no issues.

Bonzo · 05-08-2014, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

So spacers do cause accelerated wear, but on a bearing that's not a problem the question becomes "how much accelerated wear?" If it would have gone 250k without issue and now will only go 200k, that's probably ok. We just don't know. There haven't been a lot of reported failures. I won't run them but plenty of people seem to have no issues.

Exactly. If no spacers gets me 120,000 and with spacers gets me, 115,000, that's not a big deal to me. But if no spacers is 120,000 and with spacers is 80,000, then that's huge. Thing is, the guys who put on spacers aren't typically going to be the ones jumping on the forum talking about how their bearings failed prematurely. That's the only way we are going to know.

If Nissan had only designed the car with a 1" wider stance on each side we wouldn't be having this discussion, and the spacer business would plummet.

DEpointfive0 · 05-08-2014, 05:55 PM

To Bonzo and Chuck.

Wow, I didn't know that... I guess it makes sense now that I think about it because the bearing gets more "flex"

Current me if I'm wrong, but that means that the Nismo will have bearing failure sooner than a normal Sport, and the sport will have bearing failure before a base model? (all things being equal)

DEpointfive0 · 05-08-2014, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonzo

Exactly. If no spacers gets me 120,000 and with spacers gets me, 115,000, that's not a big deal to me. But if no spacers is 120,000 and with spacers is 80,000, then that's huge. Thing is, the guys who put on spacers aren't typically going to be the ones jumping on the forum talking about how their bearings failed prematurely. That's the only way we are going to know.

If Nissan had only designed the car with a 1" wider stance on each side we wouldn't be having this discussion, and the spacer business would plummet.

I agree that if the wear is even 10% faster, who cares.

As for Nissan making the stance wider, (again forgive my ignorance,) but that means Nissan would have to make the axles and hubs/suspension assembly longer, not wheels wider (same question I posed in the post above)

Bonzo · 05-09-2014, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEpointfive0

To Bonzo and Chuck.

Wow, I didn't know that... I guess it makes sense now that I think about it because the bearing gets more "flex"

Current me if I'm wrong, but that means that the Nismo will have bearing failure sooner than a normal Sport, and the sport will have bearing failure before a base model? (all things being equal)

Just like ricers who put on wheels with ridiculous offset, and you can see the wheels "bending" up. Those bearings will be shot in no time.

When car makers design the car they design it all to work together in harmony as much as possible. In this area, they design the tire/wheel/hub/bearing/suspension to all be balanced as much as possible, so the wear on the bearing takes place evenly. Change the offset and you change that balance. Putting on big fat tires and wheels with more offset looks awesome for your Saturday driver or show car, but it's not a good idea for a daily driver if you want things to last.

As for the Nismo question, I don't know. Do those wheels have more natural offset?

Bonzo · 05-09-2014, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEpointfive0

As for Nissan making the stance wider, (again forgive my ignorance,) but that means Nissan would have to make the axles and hubs/suspension assembly longer, not wheels wider (same question I posed in the post above)

Correct. This generally happens and doesn't happen because to save money auto makers use common platforms for different cars, and changing that costs more money. I'm not familiar with how many Z parts get shared elsewhere (I believe the Infinity 37 is the same?) in particular, but I'm sure that was part the decision to stay a bit narrow. Just pure speculation on my part though. I've been off this forum so long I consider myself way out of the loop anymore.

DEpointfive0 · 05-09-2014, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonzo

As for the Nismo question, I don't know. Do those wheels have more natural offset?

Nismos are wider and have a lower offset

kenchan · 05-09-2014, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonzo

Just like ricers who put on wheels with ridiculous offset, and you can see the wheels "bending" up. Those bearings will be shot in no time.

When car makers design the car they design it all to work together in harmony as much as possible. In this area, they design the tire/wheel/hub/bearing/suspension to all be balanced as much as possible, so the wear on the bearing takes place evenly. Change the offset and you change that balance. Putting on big fat tires and wheels with more offset looks awesome for your Saturday driver or show car, but it's not a good idea for a daily driver if you want things to last.

As for the Nismo question, I don't know. Do those wheels have more natural offset?

yah, but dont forget car manufacturers also build these consumer cars for all kinds of people and roads... like snowy roads where a customer might need to run chains. yah, chains on a 370z.

thus needs clearance with the arches.

Bonzo · 05-09-2014, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

yah, but dont forget car manufacturers also build these consumer cars for all kinds of people and roads... like snowy roads where a customer might need to run chains. yah, chains on a 370z.

thus needs clearance with the arches.

Hey kenchan, long time no talk. I've been off the forum for a while now. Got back on a few days ago to post some pics in the Pearl White thread. Hope all is well with you.

Spacers are the last "aesthetic" mod I would love to make, but I've always been hesitant about it due to the bearing thing. I would love to have more info about it.

From all the pics I've seen, I think I would prefer 15 up front and 20 in the back (I'm not a fan of any poking). But the 15's up front have to do the longer lugs, which looks like a pain. What I'm considering doing is buying 1 pair of bolt on 20's and putting them on the front and back on the driver side only to see what they look like. From there I can either buy another set of 20's, or go down to 15 for the front, or even go up to 25's on back depending on what I see. Might cost a little more freight but at least I know where I'm going.

But I won't be able to do this until the fall at best. Too much other stuff going on right now.

Like I said, hope all is well with you.

Cheers --- Bonzo

kenchan · 05-09-2014, 02:30 PM

hey bonzo

actually id do 15 front / 10 rear bolt replacement type on the sport 19's if stock ride.

it would look very clean.

or just get the nismo set and run no spacers. that's a very nice setup too for stock height.

Bonzo · 05-09-2014, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

hey bonzo

actually id do 15 front / 10 rear bolt replacement type on the sport 19's if stock ride.

it would look very clean.

or just get the nismo set and run no spacers. that's a very nice setup too for stock height.

Thanks for the info. Like I said, I'm in no rush right now so I'll probably do some more looking around. Wife wants a new kitchen don't cha know.

kenchan · 05-09-2014, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonzo

Thanks for the info. Like I said, I'm in no rush right now so I'll probably do some more looking around. Wife wants a new kitchen don't cha know.

hahahaha

pseftis · 05-09-2014, 06:13 PM

Running 20f 25r spacers right now on my stock tires.
Thinking of going with Michelin PSS 245/40 f and 285/35 r
Will i have to put smaller spacer for that to avoid rubbing and camber wear?

kenchan · 05-09-2014, 06:52 PM

how about you just install the new 285/35's and go to 20mm on the rear if they rub?

05-08-2014, 05:55 PM	#259 (permalink)
DEpointfive0 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 14,824 Drives: a lot Rep Power: 17152	To Bonzo and Chuck. Wow, I didn't know that... I guess it makes sense now that I think about it because the bearing gets more "flex" Current me if I'm wrong, but that means that the Nismo will have bearing failure sooner than a normal Sport, and the sport will have bearing failure before a base model? (all things being equal) __________________ Do YOU want to know what/where I got my username from? ( Click to show/hide ) NSFW due to language:

05-09-2014, 06:13 PM	#269 (permalink)
pseftis Base Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Toronto Posts: 156 Drives: 10 Nissan 370z M6 Rep Power: 13	Running 20f 25r spacers right now on my stock tires. Thinking of going with Michelin PSS 245/40 f and 285/35 r Will i have to put smaller spacer for that to avoid rubbing and camber wear? __________________ Stillen G3/Ark Grip CBE/Berk HFC/Evo-R Side Blades/Shine Spats/Ings+1rep-f.skirt/25mm/20mm/SPC R-Camber/Swift Spec-R/25R Oil Cooler/Custom 180 Headlights/UpRev

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Wheel Spacers - please help !	saxx77	Nismo 370Z	32	08-12-2014 06:30 PM
[FOR SALE] 5mm Wheel Spacers $60	jspec11	Parts for sale (Private Classifieds)	8	11-26-2011 11:21 AM
[WTB] H & R wheel spacers...	6MT	Parts for sale (Private Classifieds)	0	08-19-2011 01:48 PM
wheel spacers	black09Z	Wheels & Tires	9	05-19-2011 10:10 AM
wheel spacers help	thispecialk	Wheels & Tires	1	10-18-2010 08:00 PM

05-09-2014, 02:30 PM	#266 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	hey bonzo actually id do 15 front / 10 rear bolt replacement type on the sport 19's if stock ride. it would look very clean. or just get the nismo set and run no spacers. that's a very nice setup too for stock height.

05-09-2014, 06:52 PM	#270 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	how about you just install the new 285/35's and go to 20mm on the rear if they rub?