Are These Spacers Safe To Run

[fizzymike]

I rather start another thread about spacers and get yelled at than be unsafe.

I just ordered a set of custom hub centric/wheel centric 5mm spacers for my car thinking that there would be enough thread engagement for the stock studs(Aftermarket wheels). I have read online numerous times that its safe or isnt safe. I dont really know what to believe. I read people count the turns of the lugnuts and it has to be at least 7 turns. Other people i have read have had even larger than 5mm spacers and run them on stock studs just fine. I dont really know what to think. Of course longer studs seems like the obvious answer but it also seems like a pain to replace and I dont want to if I dont have to. What are your experiences with spacers of this size or larger? Thanks

[finch1750]

3mm or less for stock studs. Others that have larger spacers usually are bolt on and have studs built in to compensate. 5mm will be too thick if slip on spacers.

[Tcoat]

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106896


http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96360

[KnightRyderx2]

You heard right, at the very least 7 full turns of the lug nut is what you want. No less then that. Don't go crazy with torque and try to get that last 1/2 turn of engagement, you will brake the lugs. If its correctly torqued and you only got 6.5 turns, well to bad so sad.

[fizzymike]

Originally Posted by KnightRyderx2

You heard right, at the very least 7 full turns of the lug nut is what you want. No less then that. Don't go crazy with torque and try to get that last 1/2 turn of engagement, you will brake the lugs. If its correctly torqued and you only got 6.5 turns, well to bad so sad.

Thanks for the responses. I told them to change it to 3mm. Im running a wide body kit. My wheel specs came close to the perfect fitment that I wanted. But I want the wheels to poke a little bit. I think ill experiment with some 10 mm spacers as well with longer studs. Trying to go as wide as I can without rubbing.

[jamal]

Rule of thumb is to have 1 full diameter of thread engagement to reach the full strength of a fastener. The lugs are M12x1.25, that means to thread a lug nut on by 12mm you actually want over 9 (12/1.25=9.6) turns of thread. Going down to 7 turns then you are maybe only at 70-75% of full strength.

Eibach has spacers that include longer studs. ARP makes wheel studs in about stock length, 2in, 2.5in, and 3in. So if you are going to use spacers you should really just get longer studs, and possibly open ended nuts to go with them. Then you don't have to worry about it. You can swap to a bigger spacer if you need to because of different suspension/tires/alignment.

I mean, yeah, people put spacers on anyway with less than ideal thread engagement. There is some margin of safety there. But do you want your wheels to fall off when driving?

[OND]

I am contemplating 3mm spacers to avoid rubbing with two sets of camber bolts (shooting for -2.5 front camber). I bet they are fine for daily driving, but I am wondering if they can handle track use without issues.

Does anyone track or AutoX their car with 3mm spacers?

[fizzymike]

Originally Posted by jamal

Rule of thumb is to have 1 full diameter of thread engagement to reach the full strength of a fastener. The lugs are M12x1.25, that means to thread a lug nut on by 12mm you actually want over 9 (12/1.25=9.6) turns of thread. Going down to 7 turns then you are maybe only at 70-75% of full strength.

Eibach has spacers that include longer studs. ARP makes wheel studs in about stock length, 2in, 2.5in, and 3in. So if you are going to use spacers you should really just get longer studs, and possibly open ended nuts to go with them. Then you don't have to worry about it. You can swap to a bigger spacer if you need to because of different suspension/tires/alignment.

I mean, yeah, people put spacers on anyway with less than ideal thread engagement. There is some margin of safety there. But do you want your wheels to fall off when driving?

Actually the reason Im so concerned is because in a previous car my wheel did fall off. Im even skeptical of the spacers that bolt down to the car and then have their own studs on the spacer. I think the best way to go would be spacers with longer studs. Only thing is that Im looking for both hub centric and wheel centric versions. what do you think of these??

http://www.ft86speedfactory.com/isc-...l#.WJEaZ_krKUk

http://www.ft86speedfactory.com/h-r-...l#.WJEanvkrKUk

[gramicci101]

For racing, I would definitely use longer/better studs and slip-on spacers vs. bolt-on spacers. For daily driving, bolt-on is fine. Don't get a bolt-on spacer under 15mm and don't get a slip-on spacer over 3mm without also getting new studs.

[jamal]

I think a longer stud and plain spacer is possibly a better solution than the bolt on ones, especially the thinner versions since there is not much material where they are bolted on. Yes the cost of the studs is higher but then spacers are fairly cheap after that.

It is not really critical for spacers and wheels to be hub centric with tapered lug seats. Tightening the wheels properly will center them (ie not fully loaded and with a torque wrench).

[fizzymike]

Originally Posted by jamal

I think a longer stud and plain spacer is possibly a better solution than the bolt on ones, especially the thinner versions since there is not much material where they are bolted on. Yes the cost of the studs is higher but then spacers are fairly cheap after that.

It is not really critical for spacers and wheels to be hub centric with tapered lug seats. Tightening the wheels properly will center them (ie not fully loaded and with a torque wrench).

Best part is that they come with extended lugs! One of the reasons I want hub centric and wheel centric is so that the car transfers weight load to the hub as well as the lugs which eliminates vibrations at high speeds. Only thing im not sure of is if I can knockout the brz stock lugs with the hub on the car.

[fizzymike]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

For racing, I would definitely use longer/better studs and slip-on spacers vs. bolt-on spacers. For daily driving, bolt-on is fine. Don't get a bolt-on spacer under 15mm and don't get a slip-on spacer over 3mm without also getting new studs.

Its these constraints i was trying to keep in mind. Since I already ordered custom 3mm spacers I cant cancel but I think Ill order the 15mm to get that nice poke out the fender to sit more flush. Heres what it looks like now.

[gramicci101]

Why did you order custom 3mm spacers? They're commonly available and not expensive.

If that's your car and you've already got the kit installed and the wheels on, then before you order anything get a ruler, put it against the tire sidewall and the top of the fender, and see how much you want it to come out. If you're looking for a slight poke you could probably do 20 or 25mm, which would be no problem to bolt on. But measure first to make sure you get right ones.