First off let me say that I've searched. In fact, My problem stems from all the info I found throughout the threads, as it conflicts with other things I've been hearing.

Here's the deal: I'm looking to run spacers on 03-05 rays, as a way of curing that sunken look unti I can get some wheels later on (I also am happy with their look anyways). It seems that many here are comfortably able run 20/25 FR and even 25/25 without problems.

At the same time, I just had one owners of my local nissan specialty shop strongly advise me against spacers (due to balance issues, unreliability of studs, vibration issues and wheel bearing wear...which I had already known about) . He told me that if I had to, he would advise me to run less than 10mm spacers...which seems useless to me.

Given the fact that I don't track, and my car is simply daily driven with just a few spirited runs now and again, will runing 15/20FR or 20/25 really cause noticeable issues or reliability problems? Have any of you guys had serous problems with spacers? Of course I would go with hubcentric (probably ichibas) and not some shady ebay brand.

There seems to be so much info on what spacers to use or how great they look, but not much on how they actually hold up over time. I trust the shop's opinion, but it just seems odd to me that so many people seem to be using them, that I had to ask for a second opinion.

Thanks guys.

 

You will not have vibration, etc if you buy hubcentric wheel spacers. The ones that vendors sell on here are very reputable.

I wouldn't worry about it. A ton of people on the board run spacers and I haven't seen a thread with anyone bitching about how their spacers have fallen apart.

When you buy something like this, you just need to make sure the part is right for the job (as in no ebay crap).

 

i agree as long as its high quality then you wont have a problem. hubscentric is the way to go.

 

Yes, I had a professional alighnment shop do mine, he approved of them them. I also pushed them to see if I could get them to fail (I would rather fail on a controled setting than out on the public roads.

 

Spacers are for looks. Many members have set aside potential problems and went with spacers. You can rationalise any purchase.

 

I had to do it to clear a BBK.

 

i've ran 25mm all around on the same track wheels.

taken it to 120 mph, no probs

 

no probs with my 15 and 20mm spacers. And they give you a more stable ride, as they make your stance wider.

 

No problems with my 20mm front/25mm rear. I like the stance and less tuckage.

 

Thanks for the response guys. Really helps me out, feel free to add any more input if you guys have it.

davidv: I agree, they're definitely for looks alone (except maybe to clear BBK's as was stated), I don't deny that. I would rather have sunken in wheels than safety issues. Any particular reason why you said one can "rationalize any purchase"? Have you had any bad experiences with spacers? Just trying to get info from both sides. Thanks!

Edit* Also, any difference in quality between ichiba/HR/eibach? Or are the differences rather negligible?

 

i've ran 3 set-ups of spacers on my G35 19s.

front x back:
15mm X 20mm (6 months)
20mm X 25mm (9 months)
25mm X 30mm (2 months)

taken each setup to excess speeds. no vibrations or noises. checked to retorque after 50 miles and again after 200. no problems whatsoever for me.

btw i have project kics (all 3 times)

 

any pics of the differences?

 

^ Would also like to see this!

 

There is nothing wrong with spacing so long as you have a kinship front and rear----If your a blinger and trying to say "Look at me ---Im an idiot with my overspaced wheels that stick out past my wheel wells and Im "somebody" because of it" then........forget it

Spacers are fine. The main thing is quality in the spacers and a geometric balance

 

Might add ----Numbers never lie ---Measurements never lie. A tape measure and common sense will give you numbers that will reflect in the look you want

 

No, I'm not the blingy type. I'm not about having protruding tires, so much as just having a balanced looks where they're at least semi-flush with fenders. Still not sure if I should go 15/20 or 20/25.

Edit* Yep, was plannin on going out n measuring. Just so busy. Thanks for your advice!

 

I repeat ---Numbers dont lie--Measure what you have. Figure what you need to achieve what you want. Consider shock travel, consider wheel well clearance. Add or subtract from that, and it will be there when you install your spacers. It has to work----Its just Numbers

 

"Hubcentric" really has little to do with it. You'd get the same strain on the bolts if you had wheels with no hubcentric rings, and people run them like that all the time with no issues. They also in no way aleviate the rotational and lateral force being applied to the bolts.

Also, increased bearing wear is going to happen regardless of whether you go with a wheel spacer or a low offset wheel. It's the same thing.

 

I dragged my car with 25mm spacers before. Worked out fine wtih no issues. then again only had it on for roughly 5k miles before I got new wheels.

 

I've used spacers on my Z now for almost two years without issues. My Z is not a daily driver so I only have over 8K miles on it but I have driven it hard on autocross & road courses. I've also driven my Z over 100+mph without issues.

I have the following spacer setup:

STREET SETUP: 20mm front (225/45) / 25mm rear (245/45) with OEM '06 18" rims
AUTOCROSS: 20mm front (245/40) / 25mm rear (245/40) with OEM track rims
ROAD COURSE: 10mm front (275/40) / 25mm rear (275/40) with Kosei 17x9 racing rims

All my spacers are hubcentric -- either H&R or Ichiba. No rubbing or vibration issues, except I rolled my rear fenders to clear the 275 tires. Click on my signature link if you want to see pictures of my Z with various spacer setups.

In my case, it's all about the performance benefits on using the spacers. Having the tires flushed with the fenders is just an added bonus for me to enhance my car's curb appeal.