Spacers bad for car?
04-27-2008, 11:01 AM
#21
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Originally Posted by hiz-n-herz
OK, Fine... Theoretically, a more aggressive offset will increase the load on wheel bearing and that can lead to increased heat, premature breakdown of lubricants, and possible premature wear of the bearings.
But the key is - by how much? Wheel bearings do not last forever - true.
There are more factors to wearing wheel bearings than changing the offset slightly - we are talking an inch or less normally here, not inches. So do you only get 95% of the life expectancy of your wheel bearings?
So the only important question is "Does increased offset _significatly_ reduce wheel bearing life?".
Other things that can possibly reduce wheel bearing life (Avoid these if you care):
- Increased rim width
- Increased tire width
- Stickier tire compound
- Braking (creates heat, reduces bearing lubrication life)
- Bumpy roads
- Aggressive driving
- increased Spring rate
- Increased Damping rate
- larger Sway bars
- Driver weight
- Passenger weight
- Stereo component weight for those that upgrade the stereo
- manufacturing tolerances in mechanicals and lubrication
- and the list goes on
Put 'Em on... Look good... Go drive your car...
But the key is - by how much? Wheel bearings do not last forever - true.
There are more factors to wearing wheel bearings than changing the offset slightly - we are talking an inch or less normally here, not inches. So do you only get 95% of the life expectancy of your wheel bearings?
So the only important question is "Does increased offset _significatly_ reduce wheel bearing life?".
Other things that can possibly reduce wheel bearing life (Avoid these if you care):
- Increased rim width
- Increased tire width
- Stickier tire compound
- Braking (creates heat, reduces bearing lubrication life)
- Bumpy roads
- Aggressive driving
- increased Spring rate
- Increased Damping rate
- larger Sway bars
- Driver weight
- Passenger weight
- Stereo component weight for those that upgrade the stereo
- manufacturing tolerances in mechanicals and lubrication
- and the list goes on
Put 'Em on... Look good... Go drive your car...
04-27-2008, 11:03 AM
#22
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Originally Posted by Spike100
I cannot imagine how the minimal width of a 10-15mm spacer (only a fraction of an inch) would place enough additional stress on the Z’s suspension causing damage (unless of course, there was a poor mount or uneven spacer resulting in a “wobble”).
With this said, I also wonder why anyone would install a spacer instead of mounting a wheel with the desired offset (but, I’m sure someone will tell me).
--Spike
With this said, I also wonder why anyone would install a spacer instead of mounting a wheel with the desired offset (but, I’m sure someone will tell me).
--Spike
spike the reason why (this goes for me too) is because some people order factory offsets to avoid getting screwed with the wrong offsets. many wheel company's don't offer refunds on custom built wheels, so if you pick the wrong sizes....ur basically fuc*ed.
04-27-2008, 11:09 AM
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Also, some cars do not have the option of a good offset without paying for very expensive custom wheels. My other car has a 5x100 bolt pattern and needs a 12et 17x9 in the rear. The closest wheel I was able to find was a 17x9 in a 38et, which works in the front, but I had to use a spacer in the rear.
04-27-2008, 06:09 PM
#27
Thr reason stock sports cars don't come with spacers is becasue I would hope whoever built my car got the wheel offset right the first time. That doesn't mean spacers are unsafe or are detrimental in some way.
There are good spacers that are hubecntric like Eibach and H&R. And there are bad spacers that are lugcentric like the junk on e-bay.
Unless your a race team and have a cutom wheel budget and deal with FIKSE, Foregeline, CCW etc... spacers will have to do for the rest of us.
JET
There are good spacers that are hubecntric like Eibach and H&R. And there are bad spacers that are lugcentric like the junk on e-bay.
Unless your a race team and have a cutom wheel budget and deal with FIKSE, Foregeline, CCW etc... spacers will have to do for the rest of us.
JET
05-29-2008, 01:46 PM
#30
the Unitech car I bought my wheels from were running rather large spacers on their car without issue. There are plenty of professional drivers who run spacers as well. I guess ill wait for my car to explode!
Run spacers, but just so often check your wheel bearings, its easy, jack up the car, try to wiggle the tire back and forth, no wiggle? ok.
Run spacers, but just so often check your wheel bearings, its easy, jack up the car, try to wiggle the tire back and forth, no wiggle? ok.
05-29-2008, 02:23 PM
#31
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I have 10mm spacers all around (Eibach hubcentric with nismo 50mm studs). I couldn't ask for a better look, to be honest. Night and day difference. I run them with volk GTS wheels (9.5/10.5, offsets are 17 f. and 18 r.). They are perfectly flush with the fenders (even stick out slightly with a conservative drop). But I've had them for over 5 months and every day I wished they'd have lower offsets. My previous set was way more aggressive with crazy offsets, and when I got the GTS, it was a huge disappointment fitment-wise. Way weaker fitment, etc. Flush is not enough for some people. I like when i can see the tire and lip in my side view mirror. But that's just a style thing. Some like it, some don't. It adds a meaner look to the car, no doubt. However, most people get spacers because their wheels have too weak of an offset to begin with and they want to get them just flush enough for a decent look.
And as far as safety goes... I asked Rick at status about it. He said he had 15mm H&R spacers all around on his Z (with TE37 wheels and such), tracked and drifted his car no problem. He said the only way the studs break (or strip) is if you take them on and off too often. Other than that, no problem whatsoever. As long as you get hubcentric spacers from a known name, you'll be fine. And about the hub bearings and whatnot, they'll wear out eventually, spacer or no spacer.
And as far as safety goes... I asked Rick at status about it. He said he had 15mm H&R spacers all around on his Z (with TE37 wheels and such), tracked and drifted his car no problem. He said the only way the studs break (or strip) is if you take them on and off too often. Other than that, no problem whatsoever. As long as you get hubcentric spacers from a known name, you'll be fine. And about the hub bearings and whatnot, they'll wear out eventually, spacer or no spacer.
Last edited by TheShaddix; 05-29-2008 at 02:25 PM.
05-29-2008, 03:45 PM
#32
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Originally Posted by davidv
Spacers must be good for a car. Think of all the top end sports cars that come with spacers.
05-29-2008, 11:47 PM
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Originally Posted by BEbengali
In what situations are they breaking studs? During track/autocross events, or when removing/tightening/torquing the lug nuts? If the latter, do you know if they only daily driver their cars, or do they track/autocross as well?
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