steering wheel shake w/ spacers?

mwhit02 · 02-07-2014, 08:42 PM

Is it possible, if your wheels/tires are perfectly balanced, for wheel spacers to cause your steering wheel to shake?

I ask because I keep having my wheels/tires balanced and each time my steering wheel is still shaking. Car has 18,xxx miles on it. Lowered on H&R springs only. Never any damage. I can't figure it out. Tonight actually, I even had the wheels balanced with the spacers connected, and it made it WORSE!!!

KN21283 · 02-07-2014, 09:58 PM

Check if the spacers are installed correctly

Minato · 02-08-2014, 09:25 AM

What type of spacers did you get? Do they have a lip on them? Good quality hub-centric spacers should NOT cause any vibration, unless something else is wrong. Lug centric (no lip on the spacer) can cause some slight vibrations, due to the wheel not being perfectly centered on the hub.
Remove the spacers and see if you still have a vibration.

Chuck33079 · 02-08-2014, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwhit02

Is it possible, if your wheels/tires are perfectly balanced, for wheel spacers to cause your steering wheel to shake?

I ask because I keep having my wheels/tires balanced and each time my steering wheel is still shaking. Car has 18,xxx miles on it. Lowered on H&R springs only. Never any damage. I can't figure it out. Tonight actually, I even had the wheels balanced with the spacers connected, and it made it WORSE!!!

You've found your problem. Remove and reinstall the spacers.

mwhit02 · 02-08-2014, 10:20 AM

I have the Ichiba version 1 on the fronts . There's two sets of holes. Only one fits. It has a hub centric ring. The thing is , there's a little bit of play in the lug area where I can actually turn the spacer a touch to the left or right. I will recheck tonight and report back

mwhit02 · 02-08-2014, 10:46 AM

Here's another thought. I used the studs that were supplied with a previous set of front spacers. Maybe it's possible the I china ones are thicker or something .

Grindkiezer · 02-08-2014, 11:42 AM

It's possible that they are still loose even if you have them torqued to spec, I recommend just tightening the **** out of them

mwhit02 · 02-08-2014, 07:19 PM

since they're the Ichiba version 1's, they can't be put on "backwards", so that takes care of that. The only thing I can come up with is that the play around the lugs is causing my problem. That, or the RoadForce wheel balance machine is not accurate for my Nismo wheels.

I dunno. You're not supposed to balance spacers WITH the wheels when you go to get them balanced, right. I mean, they are still connected to the hub.

critical · 02-08-2014, 07:28 PM

z1 bolt on spacers installed myself. never any shaking or vibration. you're not suppose to be able to turn the spacers at all by hand. and no you get the wheels balanced separately.

mag_black · 02-08-2014, 07:53 PM

H&R DRS and no vibrations for 4K.

KN21283 · 02-09-2014, 12:02 AM

Are the spacers bolt on or stud through? What size are they?

cptspeed · 02-09-2014, 06:51 AM

I had the ichibas on mine for a while. After removing them, smooth sailing. Ended up getting h&r's. Still had a tiny bit of vibration. Eventually got new rims.

DEpointfive0 · 02-09-2014, 08:22 AM

Still installer error, there is always a bit of play. Your wheels have a bit of play too...

What size spacers are you installing? Also, have you tried installing them with some anti seize on the backs? When you install them, do you drive around a bit, make a few left/right turns like you're in a slolam, then re tighten the spacer's lug nuts?
Lastly, DO NOT over torque them like someone mentioned above...

Chuck33079 · 02-09-2014, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEpointfive0

Also, have you tried installing them with some anti seize on the backs? When you install them, do you drive around a bit, make a few left/right turns like you're in a slolam, then re tighten the spacer's lug nuts?

I think this is where people mess up with spacers. I'd even say one re-torqueing isn't enough. hit it again after a few hundred miles.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEpointfive0

Lastly, DO NOT over torque them like someone mentioned above...

This. Torque to spec. That's why there's a spec. Overtorque it and you'll break something.

DEpointfive0 · 02-09-2014, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

I think this is where people mess up with spacers. I'd even say one re-torqueing isn't enough. hit it again after a few hundred miles.

This. Torque to spec. That's why there's a spec. Overtorque it and you'll break something.

Yeah, I retorqued them once after a few mile drive of driving like I was drunk, and they were fine for many, many thousands of miles, even up to 155MPH

02-07-2014, 08:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
mwhit02 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: St. Louis Posts: 358 Drives: '15 Audi Allroad Rep Power: 13	steering wheel shake w/ spacers? Is it possible, if your wheels/tires are perfectly balanced, for wheel spacers to cause your steering wheel to shake? I ask because I keep having my wheels/tires balanced and each time my steering wheel is still shaking. Car has 18,xxx miles on it. Lowered on H&R springs only. Never any damage. I can't figure it out. Tonight actually, I even had the wheels balanced with the spacers connected, and it made it WORSE!!!

02-08-2014, 11:42 AM	#7 (permalink)
Grindkiezer Track Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 824 Drives: A Car Rep Power: 14	It's possible that they are still loose even if you have them torqued to spec, I recommend just tightening the **** out of them __________________ Z

02-08-2014, 07:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
critical A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Washington Posts: 1,252 Drives: 09' 370z 7AT Rep Power: 16	z1 bolt on spacers installed myself. never any shaking or vibration. you're not suppose to be able to turn the spacers at all by hand. and no you get the wheels balanced separately. Z-Girl 12 likes this. __________________ Quaife w/ gears \|Stillen Gen 3\|SOLD FI Resonated Test Pipes \|SOLD FI 18'' \| 25row Stillen Race \| Progress 35mm/25mm sways \| Swifts/Koni\|Volk G25's\| Stoptech SS lines\|\|SPL Front/Rear Arms\|

02-08-2014, 07:53 PM	#10 (permalink)
mag_black A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,400 Drives: 09 370Z MT6 Rep Power: 667	H&R DRS and no vibrations for 4K. __________________ fujimura ≠ abbeyRoadCompany ≠ fastIntentions ≠ motordyne ≠ avantGarde ≠ ecutek ≠ nismo ≠ stillen ≠ stoptech ≠ gtm ≠ spl ≠ carbonfiberelement ≠ stance™

02-09-2014, 06:51 AM	#12 (permalink)
cptspeed Track Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: tampa Posts: 799 Drives: 09 370z Rep Power: 17	I had the ichibas on mine for a while. After removing them, smooth sailing. Ended up getting h&r's. Still had a tiny bit of vibration. Eventually got new rims. __________________ FI CBE, 20" forged specialties rims, swift springs, boston subs, kicker amp, focal components

02-07-2014, 09:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
KN21283 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Nyc Posts: 312 Drives: Pw Rep Power: 14	Check if the spacers are installed correctly

02-08-2014, 09:25 AM	#3 (permalink)
Minato Base Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Ft Collins Posts: 107 Drives: 11 370Z M6 Sports Rep Power: 0	What type of spacers did you get? Do they have a lip on them? Good quality hub-centric spacers should NOT cause any vibration, unless something else is wrong. Lug centric (no lip on the spacer) can cause some slight vibrations, due to the wheel not being perfectly centered on the hub. Remove the spacers and see if you still have a vibration.

02-08-2014, 10:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
mwhit02 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: St. Louis Posts: 358 Drives: '15 Audi Allroad Rep Power: 13	I have the Ichiba version 1 on the fronts . There's two sets of holes. Only one fits. It has a hub centric ring. The thing is , there's a little bit of play in the lug area where I can actually turn the spacer a touch to the left or right. I will recheck tonight and report back

02-08-2014, 10:46 AM	#6 (permalink)
mwhit02 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: St. Louis Posts: 358 Drives: '15 Audi Allroad Rep Power: 13	Here's another thought. I used the studs that were supplied with a previous set of front spacers. Maybe it's possible the I china ones are thicker or something .

02-08-2014, 07:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
mwhit02 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: St. Louis Posts: 358 Drives: '15 Audi Allroad Rep Power: 13	since they're the Ichiba version 1's, they can't be put on "backwards", so that takes care of that. The only thing I can come up with is that the play around the lugs is causing my problem. That, or the RoadForce wheel balance machine is not accurate for my Nismo wheels. I dunno. You're not supposed to balance spacers WITH the wheels when you go to get them balanced, right. I mean, they are still connected to the hub.

02-09-2014, 12:02 AM	#11 (permalink)
KN21283 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Nyc Posts: 312 Drives: Pw Rep Power: 14	Are the spacers bolt on or stud through? What size are they?

02-09-2014, 08:22 AM	#13 (permalink)
DEpointfive0 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 14,824 Drives: a lot Rep Power: 17152	Still installer error, there is always a bit of play. Your wheels have a bit of play too... What size spacers are you installing? Also, have you tried installing them with some anti seize on the backs? When you install them, do you drive around a bit, make a few left/right turns like you're in a slolam, then re tighten the spacer's lug nuts? Lastly, DO NOT over torque them like someone mentioned above... __________________ Do YOU want to know what/where I got my username from? ( Click to show/hide ) NSFW due to language:

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