Spacers -- Bolt On vs Stud Replacement
 

Any feedback from users and experts on advantages or disadvantages of having stud replacement vs bolt on spacers. I tried to do a search. Did not find any that spoke to the safety and reliability of each. Was told stud replacement was safer but with a huge labor expense. Your help is appreciated on this. I will be using H&r Trak 20mm all around.

I am not a fan of bolt-on spacers, especially if the vehicle is tracked. Our sanctioning body prohibts their use in favour of extended wheel studs.

Check the feedback from the OZ forum below as a "for instance". Simplest and easiest to use longer studs ... ARP sell them and whilst it is a pest to install them (or costs a few bucks to have a shop do it), better all round to use extended studs.

Web reference here:

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

Hopefully you can see the web reference as a guest .... if not, let me know and I'll cut/paste into this thread ....

RB

I went with the stud replacements for my Z, my mechanic insisted. Even though I have no intention of tracking the car, it just seemed to make more send to spend the extra $ for more peace of mind.

Great info BGTV8-repped!

To this day, I cannot recollect any story about a 350/370 with spacers failing during track use. I can recollect many stories about them holding up just fine.

While I personally feel quality bolt-on spacers (like H&R) are perfectly fine for track use, I can understand why people would rather prefer the stud-replacement type.

I personally run stud-replacement in the front and bolt-on in the rear. Had bolt-ons for my 350 with over 100k miles for spirited driving (but not track use). No problems whatsoever.

Either way, neither spacer option compares with a proper wheel offset setup that bolts directly to the hub.

Best of luck!

Save yourself the anxiety and get the stud replacement. You're driving a $40k+ car. It and your safety are worth the few extra bucks the stud replacement will run you. :tup:

stud vs no stud was dependant on size for me

Was safer to go stud replacement in front as I was going 20mm

For the rear it was bolt on for 25mm

Funny, I got mine from Z1 Mototrsports and it seems they no longer have 25mm

Also to note, one reason they say labour will be more is because you have to remove the hub also on some cars, not on the Z (check out one of the DIY) The shop can slide the studs through, pads could still be on...

i been running z1 motorsports 15mm stud replacement in the front and 20mm bolts on in the back. no vibration nothing. car drives great. i drive like i stole it all the time. so far so good. i installed the rear myself since it was bolts on but i paid a mechanic here in dallas (FQmotorsports) $90 labor

From a metallurgy standpoint, stud replacement should be less safe. Since the studs are longer, it gives more way for the studs to bend and flex. That's just from my standpoint...

Also, once you remove your original studs, you can never put replacements in as firmly

I have bolt on ichibas, 20mm front and back, I have driven over 120mph hundreds of times and I have made plenty of high speed maneuvers with no ill effects... I think the installation and torque specs of whatever spacers you install make the difference in safety

This I agree with. Plus, you are dealing with an additional mating surface which will require more clamping force from the longer stud.

A properly designed and torqued bolt on unit is very reliable.

I agree also. I dont know of any 370z that have had this problem but I have several friends with other cars that have had their studs removed for longer ARP stud to only have them strip out the back of the hub and spin loosely when trying to remove a lugnut. Have to cut the stud out once it breaks loose form the back. Major PITA. They also were constantly removing the wheels and swaping with new ones so that could have been a factor, but still never heard of the stock ones coming loose once pressed in.