Wheel Spacers and Suspension questions

[nis350]

I have 18 x 9.5, +45 offset on the back. I have about .75" gap between the fender and the tire. I am thinking about adding .25" spacer to extend the back wheels out so it looks nicer. Here are my questions:

1. Will it screw up the alignment?

2. Will it screw up the balancing of the wheels?

3. Will it screw up the handling?

4. Are all spacers similar? Are the ones at Pep Boys, autozone any good? Any recommendations where to get them?

5. Any additional pro/con comments would be appreciated

Thanks.

 

[Cees-Jan]

Be very carefull using spacers, the studs may be too short, result catastrofal breakdown of all studs at one time and loosing your wheel......

It will change setup for better, allignement stays ok, handling will be slightly better, but 0,25 inch will make the studs 0,25 inch shorter .

For the rear fender try and press down the car with (heavy)people, look if the wheel stays clear.

 

[nis350]

Be very carefull using spacers, the studs may be too short, result catastrofal breakdown of all studs at one time and loosing your wheel......

It will change setup for better, allignement stays ok, handling will be slightly better, but 0,25 inch will make the studs 0,25 inch shorter .

For the rear fender try and press down the car with (heavy)people, look if the wheel stays clear.

I currently have about 3/4 of an inch of the stud going into the lug nuts. With a 1/4 in. spacer, I would have about 1/2 of an inch going into the lug nuts. Would it be save enough?

I found some 1/4 inch universal spacer at pep boys. Would this be good to use and not messing up the balance of the wheels or suspension? Any suggestions as to which spacer is the best.

Thanks.

 

[vtecNSX1]

the spacers at pep boys are no good because they are not hub centric. That means that all the load goes onto the studs instead of the center of the wheel. the best thing to do is get some wheel adapters that are hub centric. They are more expensive but its cheaper than having a wheel fall off.

 

[nis350]

the spacers at pep boys are no good because they are not hub centric. That means that all the load goes onto the studs instead of the center of the wheel. the best thing to do is get some wheel adapters that are hub centric. They are more expensive but its cheaper than having a wheel fall off.

That is great info. Where can I get the hub centric spacers?

Is 1/2 inch into the lug nut save enough?

 

[NSX-Racer]

You should go with "real" adapters that have their own studs - i.e. you mount them like they were wheels and then you have another 5 studs to mount the real wheel - hope you know what I mean.

Attention: Usualy you should mount the wheel on the adapters with less torque than you would do when you mount them directly without adapters. At least that's the case with my adapters (22 mm) because it's different material - about 20 Nm less than the recommended stock torque.

 

[D'Ecosse]

I am thinking about adding .25" spacer to extend the back wheels out so it looks nicer.

You seriously think 1/4" is going to make any real visual difference?

 

[apapada]

... no good because they are not hub centric. That means that all the load goes onto the studs instead of the center of the wheel. the best thing to do is get some wheel adapters that are hub centric. They are more expensive but its cheaper than having a wheel fall off.

I have researched this claim is have found it to be wrong. As long as the back of the wheel is in flush contact with the spacers and the spacers is in flush contact with the hub, the load is NOT carried by the studs. The load is carried by the surfaces in contact (back of wheel-spacer and spacer-hub). The studs are only working in tension as they clamp the wheel, spacer and hub together. The hubcentric part is only there for correct "alignement" and cocentricity of the wheel, spacer and hub, so that these surfaces are indeed flush and that contact is maximum (max contact surface = least local stress pressures).
The real reason wheels fall off is that people who use spacers do not go with longer studs to compensate the loss of length due to the spacers. This results in a smaller area on the stud supporting the same CLAMPING force which causes premature failure of the studs. It's the increased clamping pressure that causes those studs to fail, not the vehicle's load.

just tought to share the conclusion of my research...

 

[nis350]

I have researched this claim is have found it to be wrong. As long as the back of the wheel is in flush contact with the spacers and the spacers is in flush contact with the hub, the load is NOT carried by the studs. The load is carried by the surfaces in contact (back of wheel-spacer and spacer-hub). The studs are only working in tension as they clamp the wheel, spacer and hub together. The hubcentric part is only there for correct "alignement" and cocentricity of the wheel, spacer and hub, so that these surfaces are indeed flush and that contact is maximum (max contact surface = least local stress pressures).
The real reason wheels fall off is that people who use spacers do not go with longer studs to compensate the loss of length due to the spacers. This results in a smaller area on the stud supporting the same CLAMPING force which causes premature failure of the studs. It's the increased clamping pressure that causes those studs to fail, not the vehicle's load.

just tought to share the conclusion of my research...

That makes sense. The reason I just want to go with 1/4 of an inch is to fill in the gap between the fender and the wheel. I can't use the ones that comes with the studs, it would be way to thick and cause the rear wheels extend beyond the rear fenders. I have 9 1/2 in with 45mm offset for the rear now.

Can someone tell me if 1/2 of an inch of the studs into the lug nuts safe? And if I can use the Pep Boys spacers or please recommend me where I can get the better ones.

thanks.

 

[apapada]

That makes sense. The reason I just want to go with 1/4 of an inch is to fill in the gap between the fender and the wheel. I can't use the ones that comes with the studs, it would be way to thick and cause the rear wheels extend beyond the rear fenders. I have 9 1/2 in with 45mm offset for the rear now.

Can someone tell me if 1/2 of an inch of the studs into the lug nuts safe? And if I can use the Pep Boys spacers or please recommend me where I can get the better ones.

thanks.

I'm using Pep Boys spacers for now, they are 5/16" thick. I get about 5-6 full turns on my OEM studs which according to some people here are not enough. I'm not exactly happy with this setup, but they are a temporary fix. I have known a couple of other owners that never had any problem with this setup. What ever you decide to do, research it as much as you can before you do anything. This forum is great for opinions, but make your own decisions based on your own research. I would recommend longer studs with H&R type spacers.

Hope this helps

 

[nis350]

I'm using Pep Boys spacers for now, they are 5/16" thick. I get about 5-6 full turns on my OEM studs which according to some people here are not enough. I'm not exactly happy with this setup, but they are a temporary fix. I have known a couple of other owners that never had any problem with this setup. What ever you decide to do, research it as much as you can before you do anything. This forum is great for opinions, but make your own decisions based on your own research. I would recommend longer studs with H&R type spacers.

Hope this helps

How long did you have this setup and I assumed that your lug nuts were secured and tight at all time?

How much of the stud goes into the lug nuts in term of length?

Any balancing problem at high speed and is it noticeable visually in term of getting the wheels closer to the fender?

Thanks.

 

[apapada]

How long did you have this setup and I assumed that your lug nuts were secured and tight at all time?

How much of the stud goes into the lug nuts in term of length?

Any balancing problem at high speed and is it noticeable visually in term of getting the wheels closer to the fender?

Thanks.

3 months
About half the length it used to go (10 turns)
No balancing problems. Photos here I am not using this setup on the track, just for pimping down the road

 

[nis350]

3 months
About half the length it used to go (10 turns)
No balancing problems. Photos here I am not using this setup on the track, just for pimping down the road

Nice car.

I guess if you lost about 1/2 of the length after adding a 5/16" spacer, you only have about 5/16" going into the lug nuts. That really is not much. I measured mine and I think I will have about 1/2" going into the lug nuts with a 1/4" spacer.

Did you have any problems centering the spacers on the hub? The 1/4" one is universal and it may not center well.

 

[NSXDreamer2]

after looking at apapada's pic, i have to ask, Why do you want to make the wheel "flush" with the fender, I had to tell you, my wheels I got push all 4 wheels flush to the fender, since I didn't lower it, the car actually looked lifted... imagine a 4 wheel drive lifted truck look. My cousin had the BBS LM and my other buddy had the ProDrive wheels with the offset that actually not pushing the wheels out that much, I can tell you, without lowering, the wheels tugged in with the narrower track... In Visual dept. it gives you a lower look since the fender blocked part of the tire.

Now if you need the wider track for the improved traction, then I would not argue about that. However, I heard of someone complaining the lost of the precise steering feel. I would blame on the wider contact patch and heavier wheels than stock to cause the lost of the precise feeling rather than the wider track though.

 

[apapada]

Nice car.

I guess if you lost about 1/2 of the length after adding a 5/16" spacer, you only have about 5/16" going into the lug nuts. That really is not much. I measured mine and I think I will have about 1/2" going into the lug nuts with a 1/4" spacer.

Did you have any problems centering the spacers on the hub? The 1/4" one is universal and it may not center well.

I think I have more than 5/16" going inside the nut. I would have not put on the wheels with so little contact. I may be wrong about the "half" estimation. I will check it out again next time I take the back wheels off and let you know for sure.

For the centering, with my wheels it was a two person's job as you try to keep the spacers cocentric to the hub and wheel. On person needs to hold the wheel onto the hub and another person to put the spacer at the right place with one hand and put the lug nuts with the other.

 

[Chuck]

For the centering, with my wheels it was a two person's job as you try to keep the spacers cocentric to the hub and wheel. On person needs to hold the wheel onto the hub and another person to put the spacer at the right place with one hand and put the lug nuts with the other.

To make life simple and make mounting a 1 person job, you can do what I did. Correctly position the spacer on the backside of the wheel and drill a 3/32" hole through the spacer and the wheel. Do this again directly across from the first hole and the drive a 3/32 x 1/2" split pin into each hole to secure.

 

[apapada]

nice tip ! but in my case this setup is temporary and should not have to do it again. I therefore will not alter my back wheels and proceed with the right spacers (should be no more than a couple of weeks wait anymore)

 

[nis350]

nice tip ! but in my case this setup is temporary and should not have to do it again. I therefore will not alter my back wheels and proceed with the right spacers (should be no more than a couple of weeks wait anymore)

I don't think I want to drill holes on the wheels.

Where are you getting the right spacers? Are they still gonna be 5/16 of an inch?

 

[apapada]

I don't think I want to drill holes on the wheels.

Where are you getting the right spacers? Are they still gonna be 5/16 of an inch?

I'm going to evaluate them first and let the NSX community know for sure if they are any good. They are like the H&R adapters with the embedded studs. Please note I said "adapters" and not spacers as they mount onto the hub with lugnuts and the wheel mounts onto the studs of the adapter with a second set of lug nuts. H&R makes those in 25 mm (1") thick, which would have been way too much for my application. The ones I am evaluating are 15mm (twice what I already have, it is the limit) and are not made by H&R. I will share my findings on this forums when I receive them and after I test them thoroughly (in a couple of weeks). What I like about the adapters versus the spacer with longer studs idea is that I don't have to compromise either way. (The longer studs no longer allow you to use the OEM wheels with the OEM lug nuts). Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention that they are supposedly hubcentric both side (male-female) with a 64mm centerbore.