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      06-24-2017, 01:17 AM   #1
Violator
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Wheel spacers: Any safety concerns?

I plan on installing front/rear spacers (5mm/15mm) when I have the lowering springs installed. On my daily commute I drive 90mph - 120mph regularly, is there any concerns with using spacers at these speeds?
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      06-24-2017, 07:05 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Violator View Post
I plan on installing front/rear spacers (5mm/15mm) when I have the lowering springs installed. On my daily commute I drive 90mph - 120mph regularly, is there any concerns with using spacers at these speeds?
Thanks
I'm in a minority here, but I am always anti-spacer. They reduce suspension performance, increase tire scrub, and they're ultimately not as safe as a proper flush-to-the-hub mount.

Will you have a safety issue? Probably no. It's unlikely. However, is 5mm really worth all the drawbacks?
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      06-24-2017, 07:23 AM   #3
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That's exactly what I was thinking and why I made this thread.
Thanks for the advice.
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      06-24-2017, 08:10 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lowlevelhell View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Violator View Post
I plan on installing front/rear spacers (5mm/15mm) when I have the lowering springs installed. On my daily commute I drive 90mph - 120mph regularly, is there any concerns with using spacers at these speeds?
Thanks
I'm in a minority here, but I am always anti-spacer. They reduce suspension performance, increase tire scrub, and they're ultimately not as safe as a proper flush-to-the-hub mount.

Will you have a safety issue? Probably no. It's unlikely. However, is 5mm really worth all the drawbacks?
Hmm, what you are stating is contradicting each other in one sentence.

"They reduce suspension performance, increase tire scrub, and they're ultimately not as safe as a proper flush-to-the-hub mount. "

Porsche factory offers spacer addition, AC Schnitzer uses spacer for different car application, Brabus, TechArt, you name them.
What spacers do is just changing your wheel offset. Will it change the way suspension react? Yes, but it will be for the better.
And custom wheel with the perfect offset WILL cause the suspension to react the same as if you uses spacers.
Tire scrub, remember, Toes are the one that kill your tire, not camber. And adding spacer will not change those settings. What will change those settings are lowering. But even that will depends on how low you are lowering the car.
1" drop usually I wouldn't care. Most of my cars, the drop is about 2" or more.
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      06-24-2017, 08:55 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by r33_RGSport View Post
Hmm, what you are stating is contradicting each other in one sentence.

"They reduce suspension performance, increase tire scrub, and they're ultimately not as safe as a proper flush-to-the-hub mount. "

Porsche factory offers spacer addition, AC Schnitzer uses spacer for different car application, Brabus, TechArt, you name them.
What spacers do is just changing your wheel offset. Will it change the way suspension react? Yes, but it will be for the better.
And custom wheel with the perfect offset WILL cause the suspension to react the same as if you uses spacers.
Tire scrub, remember, Toes are the one that kill your tire, not camber. And adding spacer will not change those settings. What will change those settings are lowering. But even that will depends on how low you are lowering the car.
1" drop usually I wouldn't care. Most of my cars, the drop is about 2" or more.
You're incorrect in a couple instances, especially since we can safely assume that his choice to do this after lowering means he's sticking with the same wheels.

1. Spacers do not make your suspension "react for the better" if there is no change in the wheel. Spacers increase the effective moment of the wheel on all your suspension linkages and your dampers. They multiply the effect of wheel weight on your suspension. They have the same effect as increasing unsprung weight (though without the changes in wheel inertia).

2. You seem unclear on what tire scrub radius is. We aren't talking caster and camber. Scrub is based on geometry of the suspension, where the steering axis and tire centerline at the rolling surface intersect. By definition, a spacer always increases scrub. It's impossible to move the centerline outboard and not increase tire scrub radius for the same wheel. If you've drastically lowered your suspension, it might take your scrub out of negative and back to its designed point (though with a mild drop this is unlikely).

You sell spacers and like them. Lots of places sell and use them. They're still the worst solution to a problem that is correctly addressed with proper designed wheel offset.

As I said, he probably wouldn't have any issues. But, as always, caveat emptor.
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Last edited by lowlevelhell; 06-24-2017 at 09:17 AM..
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      06-24-2017, 11:21 PM   #6
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We have a three car SCCA road racing team, and have used 15mm front and 25mm rear
spacers for over 15 years. Nearly all of our competitors do the same. I have also installed
the H&R 15 mm spacers on my F15 with the extended lug nuts. There is nothing to worry about.
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      06-25-2017, 12:06 AM   #7
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Spacers are used ALL the time... no issues. OP choose the size you want and install them with confidence.
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      06-25-2017, 07:39 AM   #8
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      06-25-2017, 10:21 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lowlevelhell View Post
They're still the worst solution to a problem that is correctly addressed with proper designed wheel offset.
+1

Hmmm... I wonder if that is why BMW doesn't design wheel spacers into their cars?
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      06-25-2017, 11:30 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chadmatic View Post
+1

Hmmm... I wonder if that is why BMW doesn't design wheel spacers into their cars?
I just give the engineering answer to questions forum members ask. Folks are free to do as they wish, and I hope they have no problems whichever route they choose.
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      06-27-2017, 12:11 AM   #11
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      06-28-2017, 06:22 AM   #12
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I've used spacers on several different cars for quite a few years, including track days, and, plenty of high speeds. When I get new tires put on, I make sure the tire shop has, and uses a high quality (road force) balancer. I mention to them that they will be used at high speeds, on track, etc, so please get them as balanced as possible. I just mention this because I think it's important to get well balanced wheels and tires if you are going to run at high speeds AND, if you are using spacers, it's even more important, because any imbalance will be magnified by spacers. What might be a barely perceptible vibration at highway speeds will be MUCH more noticeable with spacers. Also, make sure the mating surfaces of the hub, the spacer, and the wheel are clean when installed, to make sure everything stays true. Are they safe? Sure. Unless they aren't installed correctly, but that can be said about wheels without spacers also. Make sure the proper bolts are used and the proper torque is applied and all that.
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      06-29-2017, 01:36 PM   #13
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I drive 90-120 mph regularly also, no issues with spacers. Only thing is I needed alignment done recently with spacers, but I think it was mostly from a lot of off-road driving and unpaved roads.
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