Spacers - Disadvantages?

[Daz.]

I've been looking at pictures of 172's on standard alloys and I've got to admit it does look bloody good!

But I always thought there were repercussions with running spacers? firstly bearings spring to mind but what other issues can come of it? for me the thought of running something inbetween the hub and the wheel is a little scary!

 

[jesus]

Get the ones that bolt to the hub (hubcentric spacers) and you'll be fine!

 

[Mark One]

as long as you buy hubcentrics then the spacer grips the centre-bore and the wheel grips the bore on the spacer so it's all fine. Some use long wheel studs some use another set of studs to bolt the spacer to the hub before fitting the wheel

Looking at it from a mechanical point of view, I would expect marginally short bearing service life with larger spacers.

 

[Daz.]

that was my thinking - obviously the more extreme you go the quicker they will fail.

 

[c__w]

They also lower the spring rate slightly (at least on the front, not so much the rear as it's trailing), but probably not a big issue unless you start fitting 20mm+ spacers.

 

[ForceIndia]

Slightly more torque steer I've been told? As said, only use hubcentric spacers (perfectly safe, Porsche use them IIRC) as they keep the load off the bolts.

 

[mark smith87]

The extra strain on wheel bearings will shorten the life of them. Depends how wide the spacers are.

 

[Christophe]

i had 10mm spacers on my corsa (got longer bolts) and found the car vibrated a bit more. But i was on fk collies aswell

 

[MarcoB]

Which hubcentric spacers do you mean?

I can only find these and it doesnt look like the screw is screwed into the spacer?

Edit:
Found these
http://www.europerformance.co.uk/pa...aultclio;manufacturer=hrwheels;sub_category=1

 

[N6SHV]

Which hubcentric spacers do you mean?

I can only find these and it doesnt look like the screw is screwed into the spacer?

Edit:
Found these
http://www.europerformance.co.uk/pa...aultclio;manufacturer=hrwheels;sub_category=1

yes mate they are the Hubcentric ones that are the best to use for spacers

 

[Tom@JMS]

i had 10mm spacers on my corsa (got longer bolts) and found the car vibrated a bit more. But i was on fk collies aswell

This will happen if they are not correctly seated and you don't give the hub a good wire brushing before fitting them.

 

[Munson]

They'll also affect the geometry by shifting the streering centre away from the kingpin/contact intersection point . Whether or not this causes increased wear or any other side effects, I couldn't say. It may explain the increased torque steer that warren mentions.