Is it bad to install wheel spacers?
Are Wheel Spacers Safe to Use? Because a vehicle’s weight is not sustained by its wheel studs, the use of wheel spacers is generally considered to be safe. A vehicle’s wheels are actually held to their corresponding hubs with a clamping force that is achieved through the tightening of each wheel’s lug nuts.
Why are wheel spacers a bad idea?
That said, wheel spacers affect suspension geometry, and will change the scrub radius, affecting braking stability, and also reduce the effective spring rate at the wheels. Wheel spacers can also cause wheel bearing failure.
How much wheel spacer is safe?
As a rule of thumb, you want at least the same amount engagement as the stud is wide. For example a M12x1. 5 stud would need at least 12mm of thread engagement to be safe. At a 1.5mm thread pitch, this equates to about 8 full turns of the lug nut.
Should I use Loctite on wheel spacers?
Registered. Fact of the matter is a spacer is no different than a wheel, if it is torqued properly it will never come off. Nobody ever loctites their wheel nuts. The only reason for loctite is because spacers will not come off for many years in some cases.
Can you balance wheels with spacers?
If you have spacers on your wheels, Should they be in place when balanced on a spin-type balancer? The spacers are so close to the center of the rotating mass they won’t have an affect on wheel balance. In other words balance the wheels normaly without the spacers.
Do wheel spacers ruin bearings?
If your car has the more favourable set up of negative scrub radius then installing a wheel spacer can cause bigger issues. This reduces the life of the wheel bearing as they are not made to take leverage forces and can therefore wear faster, increasing rolling resistance and power loss of the car.
How much does it cost to have wheel spacers installed?
Wheel spacers tend to cost between $65 and $100 each. If you have a mechanic do it for you, it will cost around $200 to $400. If you do decide to have a professional do it for you, you will have a few options as to where to take your car for the installation.
Do wheel spacers throw off alignment?
LOL, spacers won’t affect your alignment at all.
Can you drive fast with wheel spacers?
Simply put, yes. Spacers are safe for both daily driving and track duty if installed correctly. Quality spacers are made of materials that are as strong if not stronger than the wheels and hub, so they shouldn’t be the weak link in your setup.
How do you attach a wheel spacer to a hub?
Attach the wheel spacer to your hub using the included bolts. Tighten the nuts that hold the spacer in place to the appropriate torque specification using a torque wrench. Do not overtighten or undertighten the nuts.
How do you install a spacer on a car?
Install your original lug nuts and tighten them to the appropriate torque specification. Tighten bolts in a star pattern to ensure proper seating of the wheel onto the spacer. Raise the vehicle with the automotive jack, remove the jack stand and lower the vehicle onto the newly installed wheel. Repeat steps 3-6 for each wheel.
What happens if you don’t put spacers on your wheel?
This is because the entire weight of your vehicle is dependent on the strength of your wheel assembly. Wheels can come off during normal driving if the stud length is not correctly adjusted after spacers are fitted. This is especially true with floating spacers which just in between the wheel and hub.
What kind of wrench do I need to install wheel spacer?
A calibrated torque wrench is required for this step. Apply torque evenly by repeating the star or criss cross pattern until the desired torque is reached. Once your installation is complete, drive the vehicle for 10 miles, then remove the wheels (See Step 2).