Wheel Spacers

[Webb Sledge]

I'm asking this as a general question, not necessarily aimed at old, new, or British cars:

What are the pros/cons of wheel spacers?

 

[VitSport6]

I think it may have to do with how they are done, If you just throw on a set of 1/8-1/4" spacers on there you will have that much less thread holding, I have seen some nice expensive sets that you bolt on the spacer and than the wheel is bolter to the spacer...I dont know what your question may be, But if at all possible I would avoid them, I had a set of the 1/4" ones on a old Landcruiser and the lugs would slowly loosen....But it did see some hard driving/roads.
I would look into different back spacing on the wheels. IMHO.
Good luck

 

[frankenstang57]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gifI worked as a tire monkey for a major national chain for a few years. Wheel spacers=bad JUJU. Thing about wheel spacer is they make a wheel lug centric, and prone to vibratins. Also read, if the wheel isn't mechanically centered on the hub by the center hole, then you are relying on the lugs and studs to center the wheel on the hub. This can be disturbed by the weight of the vehicle(if on the ground) while torquing the lugs. If you do run 'em, I recommend torquing them in the air... As far as studs go, the rule of thumb I was taught: The benefit of the amount of threads inside the lug nut is only equal to the diameter of the stud. So if you have 3/8" studs, then as long as the threads of the lug are on atleast 3/8" you have the full benefit of strength. While I don't buy into the former statment 100%, it does have some merit...

 

[Webb Sledge]

Good points. I know that you can buy some hub-centric spacers which alleviate the tendency for the wheel to become lug centric. Also, new and longer lugs could be fitted. Do you still have the same opinion of spacers even if these two "solutions" were instituted?

 

[tony barnhill]

[ QUOTE ]
So if you have 3/8" studs, then as long as the threads of the lug are on atleast 3/8" you have the full benefit of strength

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm trying to picture that...

 

[coldplugs]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
So if you have 3/8" studs, then as long as the threads of the lug are on atleast 3/8" you have the full benefit of strength

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm trying to picture that...

[/ QUOTE ]

Tony, 3/8" diameter studs with 3/8" thread engagement would work fine - you just need 25 or 30 of them on each wheel. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

(I think the poster meant 5/8?)

 

[tony barnhill]

Ah, so if you used a wheel spacer & only had about 3/8" of the lug sticking out to grab with a lug nut, that'd be enough for a full-up SCCA car?