How is using spacers worse than an improper offset?
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Just curious, the general consensus is that using spacers produces excessive wear on the bears, due to load shifting.
BUT as I was thinking about this, it occured to me that using a spacer should in theory produce any additional load on the bearings compared to (in the Z's case) using an exceeding low offset
For example... if I have a wheel that is 9" wide, with a 35mm offset, and I decide to add a 10mm spacer to move the wheel OUT... it should, in theory, be no worse than a 9" wide rim with a 25mm offset, since the 25mm offset wheel achieves the lowered offset by moving the wheel face IN towards the car relative to the rim... correct?
Allow me to illustrate:
____|____ <- 9" rim with 35 mm offset (wheel face is in the middle in this example)
______|__ <- 9" rim with 25 mm offset (wheel face moves towards the by 10 mm to achieve a lower offset)
Have I mixed something up here in my calculations, or is using a spacer no worse than choosing a rim with a low offset?
BUT as I was thinking about this, it occured to me that using a spacer should in theory produce any additional load on the bearings compared to (in the Z's case) using an exceeding low offset
For example... if I have a wheel that is 9" wide, with a 35mm offset, and I decide to add a 10mm spacer to move the wheel OUT... it should, in theory, be no worse than a 9" wide rim with a 25mm offset, since the 25mm offset wheel achieves the lowered offset by moving the wheel face IN towards the car relative to the rim... correct?
Allow me to illustrate:
____|____ <- 9" rim with 35 mm offset (wheel face is in the middle in this example)
______|__ <- 9" rim with 25 mm offset (wheel face moves towards the by 10 mm to achieve a lower offset)
Have I mixed something up here in my calculations, or is using a spacer no worse than choosing a rim with a low offset?
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oops forgot to add a third "diagram"
____|=___ <- 9" rim with 35mm offset AND 10 mm spacer (the mounting point is at the same spot as the 25mm offset wheel and therefore, the load on the bearings should be exactly the same?)
____|=___ <- 9" rim with 35mm offset AND 10 mm spacer (the mounting point is at the same spot as the 25mm offset wheel and therefore, the load on the bearings should be exactly the same?)
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Originally posted by Jason@Performance
as long as you are running a good quality spacer you should be fine...
H&R Trak Spacer
as long as you are running a good quality spacer you should be fine...
H&R Trak Spacer
![](http://www.performancenissanparts.com/catalog/images/hr.jpg)
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Ok, thanks for the link to the spacer, but i'm still really confused with this spacers/offset business...
on one hand, we have people running 19x8.5s and 19x9.5s with +25 mm offsets without being criticized (even though the rear sits 14mm closer to the struts compared to the stock wheel)...
on the other, we have people with 19x8.5s in the back with +40 mm offsets and a 1inch (25.4 mm) spacer being criticized (even though the rear sits only 4mm closer to the struts)
but isn't the 2nd case with the spacer actually BETTER for the car than the 1st? since the equilibrium point of the wheel is nearly the SAME location as stock, but the +25mm (lets say they're volks) is actually much further off, thus producing a lot more abnormal wear on the bearings?
on one hand, we have people running 19x8.5s and 19x9.5s with +25 mm offsets without being criticized (even though the rear sits 14mm closer to the struts compared to the stock wheel)...
on the other, we have people with 19x8.5s in the back with +40 mm offsets and a 1inch (25.4 mm) spacer being criticized (even though the rear sits only 4mm closer to the struts)
but isn't the 2nd case with the spacer actually BETTER for the car than the 1st? since the equilibrium point of the wheel is nearly the SAME location as stock, but the +25mm (lets say they're volks) is actually much further off, thus producing a lot more abnormal wear on the bearings?
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i just ordered the 15 mm spacers for front and rear (Track wheels). Just ups the looks a bit and it doesn't put to much strain on the bearings. Also the drive of the car will still be about the same... if you go wider the car will start to pull towards the grooves in the road. it will become nervous.
Last edited by peter; 03-01-2004 at 04:23 PM.
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Remember that with spacers you are also reducing the thread engagement of your lugnuts, so unless you go with longer studs, you may run into issues with threads stripping.
Finally, a spacer will add an additional tolerance stackup, so if you are using a hub-centric mounting configuration you will have additional runout and face runout of the wheel location surface (with a lug-centric mount you will only need to worry about face runout).
If you are aware of those potential issues, and address them, then I see no problem with spacers.
-D'oh!
Finally, a spacer will add an additional tolerance stackup, so if you are using a hub-centric mounting configuration you will have additional runout and face runout of the wheel location surface (with a lug-centric mount you will only need to worry about face runout).
If you are aware of those potential issues, and address them, then I see no problem with spacers.
-D'oh!
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Originally posted by Strife350z
Ok, thanks for the link to the spacer, but i'm still really confused with this spacers/offset business...
on one hand, we have people running 19x8.5s and 19x9.5s with +25 mm offsets without being criticized (even though the rear sits 14mm closer to the struts compared to the stock wheel)...
on the other, we have people with 19x8.5s in the back with +40 mm offsets and a 1inch (25.4 mm) spacer being criticized (even though the rear sits only 4mm closer to the struts)
but isn't the 2nd case with the spacer actually BETTER for the car than the 1st? since the equilibrium point of the wheel is nearly the SAME location as stock, but the +25mm (lets say they're volks) is actually much further off, thus producing a lot more abnormal wear on the bearings?
Ok, thanks for the link to the spacer, but i'm still really confused with this spacers/offset business...
on one hand, we have people running 19x8.5s and 19x9.5s with +25 mm offsets without being criticized (even though the rear sits 14mm closer to the struts compared to the stock wheel)...
on the other, we have people with 19x8.5s in the back with +40 mm offsets and a 1inch (25.4 mm) spacer being criticized (even though the rear sits only 4mm closer to the struts)
but isn't the 2nd case with the spacer actually BETTER for the car than the 1st? since the equilibrium point of the wheel is nearly the SAME location as stock, but the +25mm (lets say they're volks) is actually much further off, thus producing a lot more abnormal wear on the bearings?
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so assuming I've got hub/wheel centric spacers, I should have a problem right?
also, genieman... I think I see what you mean... since spacers move the weight of the wheel further out from the stock point, then there's a higher level of wear on the bearings... sortof like the difference in weight when holding a hammer at the base and the middle?
also, genieman... I think I see what you mean... since spacers move the weight of the wheel further out from the stock point, then there's a higher level of wear on the bearings... sortof like the difference in weight when holding a hammer at the base and the middle?
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These nice H&R spacer kits are great. The probelm with spacers are the more common ones that are nothing more than a drilled out piece of aluminum (or whatever) that just goes over your studs. Generally you find these in 2, 3, 5, or 8mm sizes. By putting those on...you decrease the amount of usable stud to thred the lug nut on thus creating a possible hazard. I see no issues if you use the proper parts.
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Originally posted by DiscountTireDirect
The probelm with spacers are the more common ones that are nothing more than a drilled out piece of aluminum (or whatever) that just goes over your studs. Generally you find these in 2, 3, 5, or 8mm sizes. By putting those on...you decrease the amount of usable stud to thred the lug nut on thus creating a possible hazard. I see no issues if you use the proper parts.
The probelm with spacers are the more common ones that are nothing more than a drilled out piece of aluminum (or whatever) that just goes over your studs. Generally you find these in 2, 3, 5, or 8mm sizes. By putting those on...you decrease the amount of usable stud to thred the lug nut on thus creating a possible hazard. I see no issues if you use the proper parts.
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Originally posted by Jason@Performance
and remember... this is NOT about the H&R Spacers...
and remember... this is NOT about the H&R Spacers...
btw, PM a price for the H&Rs (4) in 5mm
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http://www.performancenissanparts.co...roducts_id=385
$68.95 a pair...
5mm / 15mm / 20mm / 25mm all come with longer hub bolts...
$68.95 a pair...
5mm / 15mm / 20mm / 25mm all come with longer hub bolts...
![](http://members.aol.com/performancenismo/hrspacer.jpg)
#19
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Originally posted by Jason@Performance
http://www.performancenissanparts.co...roducts_id=385
$68.95 a pair...
5mm / 15mm / 20mm / 25mm all come with longer hub bolts...
http://www.performancenissanparts.co...roducts_id=385
$68.95 a pair...
5mm / 15mm / 20mm / 25mm all come with longer hub bolts...
![](http://members.aol.com/performancenismo/hrspacer.jpg)
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Originally posted by rodH
Jason, is replacing the studs a requirment even with the 5mm version??
Jason, is replacing the studs a requirment even with the 5mm version??