Asking from a few points of view. First, seems like spacers would place exs stress on the original lugs my moving the load bearing part of the wheel out further. Maybe this is not true, but it was just a thought of mine. Second, seems like by loading the hub/bearing differently, esp up front, that the bearings might be prone to failing prematurely from abnormal loading?

Does anyone else have these concerns? I quess just because there does not seem to be a consensus on the saftey of spacers am a little nervous about using them. Comments definetly welcome.

K

 

Thin 3/8" thick wheel spacers won't put much load on your studs, and are plenty safe. Thicker billet wheel adapters are also just as safe to your studs, since it's (to the car) identical to bolting on a set of proper offset rims. Thick slip on spacers are a danger, as it puts significant bending stress on the studs.

If the centerline of the tire is in the same location as the OEM tire was, then the hub and bearings will see exactly the same load. If someone is going for the import roller skate look with the wheels 2' out past the fenders, well, he's going to ruin his bearings very quickly, but probably has other issues if he did that in the first place.

http://www.skulte.com/adapterfaq.html for more...

 

The slip on spacers aren't all that safe...if you put a really small one then it won't be that bad. But if you put a thick one your in for some trouble. THe bolt on Billet type are very good and safe. I have the Skulte spacers on my car. I do extremly competitive and hard driving on my car. 85mph long slides, constant turns and shifts, hard braking, etc. And I've checked them out and their are no signs of damage what so ever. All the bolts are tight still and everything.

 

bolt ons are 100% perfectly safe

heh, if you wanted, you may even be able to make a arguement that its safer then the correct offset aftermarket rims.


think of this.... with the stock offset rims, this circle of metal comes out the back of the rim and bolts to the axle. of course, this metal is part of the rim and is designed to reach in that far and bolt up. athough the rims are usually cast alum.

with diffrent offset wheels, like say 4thgen ones where you 're using a 2" spacer, they dont reach in as far.... so you BOLT the adapter on.
you now have a billet alum block reaching out. the new rim bolts to that.
the stress the axle sees is identical to what it sees with the first "correct" rim.
the stress the new rim gets is the same as what it gets on any car with the correct offset

and you now have a piece of machined billet connecting the two for that 2" span instead of cast alum. so id say they're stronger.. overkill stronger, yes, but stronger.

no worries.

 

I've run Skulte's spacers for quite some time now with no problems whatsoever. Like he said, the bearings should not be affected at all. Lots of hard everyday street driving and track usage on mine. I recommend them to everyone who asks me how I got these wheels on my car.

 

i personally would never run a spacer but an adapter would be fine...never had problems with mine.

 

Wheel spacers of the slip-on type are just fine - if they are used correctly with long wheel studs and properly torqued nuts.

I run a custom made billet 1" spacer on the front with my 18" race wheels. Never a problem, and I run Goodyear roadrace slicks. Proper thread engagement of the nut to the stud is of course manditory, so long high strength studs are also manditory. The stud does not take any more load in this case as when the wheel is bolted directly to the hub, it is the friction between the parts that are all tightly clamped together that prevents relative movement - not the shear strength of the stud. The clamping force of all 5 studs properly torqued creates enough friction between all parts to prevent any movement. If the nuts are loose - then the parts can slide - and the studs will break. This can happen just as easily with no wheel spacers.

The bolt on type of spacer is again just as safe, if properly used. All fasteners must be tight to prevent relative movement.