are wheel spacers safe on a track car?

[hughesclio]

im thinking of putting a set of spacers on my phase1 172 but want to know if its a good idea,the car only gets used on trackdays and is on sportline springs for now,
the wheels that are fitted are pro race1s which are et45 so i just want to bring the wheel out by about 5mm but want to be sure its ok to do it as the last thing i want is a wheel falling off on track.
if so which are the best ones to go for?

 

[Da]

Should be fine if you opt for hubcentric ones. It's the universal spacers that seem to cause issues for people.

 

[JCC]

If they're 5mm you won't get hubcentric ones so I wouldn't bother.

 

[hughesclio]

so would 10mm hubcentic ones be ok then?

 

[Da]

Fine yeah, although that takes the ET down to 35. H&R do 10mm Hubcentric kits.

 

[Hutchie]

convert to studs. 15mm hubcentric. done.

 

[franx]

Fine yeah, although that takes the ET down to 35. H&R do 10mm Hubcentric kits.

yep, scrubbing when lowered (front, rear just okay)
I would go for the H&R 's too, these are TUV legal (pretty strict German certificate of safety)

 

[caister]

5mm will be perfectly fine as the wheels still rest on the hubs

 

[Bluebeard]

I had 25mm ones on the front of my 172 track car. Improved turn in massively!

 

[sideways danny]

I've seen track cars and drift cars running stacked up spacers and they weren't a problem, Wouldn't do it myself, but i can't see 5mm ones being a problem. I run 5mm spacers on my mk1 to make the front wheels miss the coilovers.
The only time i've seen wheelbolts come loose actually was on painted wheels where there was paint on the bolt seat

 

[Hutchie]

I had 25mm ones on the front of my 172 track car. Improved turn in massively!

yey, i run 25mm on the front of the sunshine bus with et38 wheels, and nothing catches
removed the front half of the front arch liner though.

 

[DannyR]

I run 25mm on the front too. No problems and wheels sit nicely!

 

[hughesclio]

I run 25mm on the front too. No problems and wheels sit nicely!

good to know
which ones do you have fitted danny?

 

[ChrisPearson]

Should be fine if you opt for hubcentric ones. It's the universal spacers that seem to cause issues for people.

Other way round imo

 

[bomber]

The only time i've seen wheelbolts come loose actually was on painted wheels where there was paint on the bolt seat

mine and andy's cars yea? was so glad when i realised thats all it was!!

 

[DannyR]

The delta mice ones from fkautomotive I think. Around 40-50 quid IIRC

 

[hughesclio]

The delta mice ones from fkautomotive I think. Around 40-50 quid IIRC

nice one do you have them alround or just up front?
sorry for so many questions

 

[clio_luke]

sorry to hijack the thread butit saves starting a new one...

so to confirm a few points about 5mm spacers.
is 5mm on each corner likely to improve handling?
are 5mm safe with 5mm longer wheelbolts?
will they damage the bearings?
will they cause wheel wobble or tramlining?

 

[mat-nos]

5mm spacers should not need longer bolts
yes they cause extra bearing wear but tends to be on cars that run on track more
yes they help handleling as its increasing the track of the car.
cheap steel ones are heavy and makes the unsprung weight heigher which can cause wobble but if you get dearer alumimium ones like h&r or fk then they are really light.
i had 25mm fk ones on my gt and had no wobble even at 125 mph...

 

[Andyman]

sorry to hijack the thread butit saves starting a new one...

so to confirm a few points about 5mm spacers.
is 5mm on each corner likely to improve handling?
are 5mm safe with 5mm longer wheelbolts?
will they damage the bearings?
will they cause wheel wobble or tramlining?

5mm no damage no wobble but imo fit 5mm longer wheel bolts to compensate and to be safe. Their cheap enough.

It'll improve your handling yeah as already mentioned

 

[Dean Mac]

http://www.fk-automotive.org.uk/websale7/FK-Wheel-spacer---20-mm-System-A---fit-for.htm?Ctx={ver%2f7%2fver}{st%2f3eb%2fst}{cmd%2f0%2fcmd}{m%2fwebsale%2fm}{s%2ffk-automotive%2fs}{l%2fEnglish%2fl}{mi%2f166-2834%2fmi}{pi%2f1500348%2fpi}{po%2f1%2fpo}{fc%2fx%2ffc}{p1%2f326a9a47b86ab286a6fb8f09cee7954f%2fp1}{md5%2fb04cf99b6d02b07a38e3a5feabc72163%2fmd5}

does the the 20mm spacer mean 10mm either side?

 

[Craig.H]

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?524306-Knockhill-Sunday-1st-August

Check that thread second page is what happens wen you use s**t spacers
....oops!

 

[bomber]

what spacers were you using H3ppy? cba to read the whole thing

 

[Craig.H]

halfrauds finest.......it was a combination of things that contributed to it happening but the spacers didnt help.

expensive lesson learnt!

 

[bomber]

hell yea, i still havent invested in any but will be getting some large ones from Eibach or FK at some point