How worried should I be about these rear wheel spacers?
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
How worried should I be about these rear wheel spacers?
Hello All,
Last night, I put the Red Witch up on jack stands and lift bars. Trans and rear end service, as well as (+) cable and AC component replacement.
Well, after removing the wheels, I found that she had been fitted with rear wheel spacers. PET does not show such an animal as being stock on a 1986 928S.
The spacers are 21mm thick, and appear to be hubcentric on both the front and back sides. They do not attach with separate studs and short lug nuts. The wheel studs appear to be longer. There appears to be good length projection of the studs.
I have not tried to remove either of the spacers. I had no driving problems, no bad vibrstions, etc...
Photos:
So, as the title states, how worried should I be about these rear wheel spacers? Torque the wheels on and go? Never driver her again?
Thanks for your time!
Seth K. Pyle
Last night, I put the Red Witch up on jack stands and lift bars. Trans and rear end service, as well as (+) cable and AC component replacement.
Well, after removing the wheels, I found that she had been fitted with rear wheel spacers. PET does not show such an animal as being stock on a 1986 928S.
The spacers are 21mm thick, and appear to be hubcentric on both the front and back sides. They do not attach with separate studs and short lug nuts. The wheel studs appear to be longer. There appears to be good length projection of the studs.
I have not tried to remove either of the spacers. I had no driving problems, no bad vibrstions, etc...
Photos:
So, as the title states, how worried should I be about these rear wheel spacers? Torque the wheels on and go? Never driver her again?
Thanks for your time!
Seth K. Pyle
#2
Rennlist Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Near Mushroom Capital of the World
Posts: 3,019
Received 198 Likes
on
125 Posts
Many times spacers are used aftermarket for cosmetic reasons, since the cars were built to have wheels sitting in. Alignment is done afterwards to ensure handling is still factory specs. Stan put them in my weissach and I'm sure if Stan recommends them, they are ok.
The following users liked this post:
coach928 (12-27-2020)
#4
Rennlist Member
The spacers are 1 element of a two element puzzle- the other being the wheels and their relative offset. The main thing is that the threaded length engaged should be sufficient to secure the wheel correctly after that it is then a question of wheel track.
If nothing is rubbing I see nothing to worry about there- just ensure the threaded length engaged is correct.
Rgds
Fred
If nothing is rubbing I see nothing to worry about there- just ensure the threaded length engaged is correct.
Rgds
Fred
#5
Pro
If understand correctly the narrow stance was to allow room for snow chains on the rear, yes, no, maybe ?
#6
Rennlist Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Peachtree Corners, Georgia
Posts: 833
Likes: 0
Received 42 Likes
on
29 Posts
As long as the lug studs are the proper length (and they appear to be), then you are fine.
Looks like there's a lot of corrosion. Is that from salt? Where did the car spend its past life?
Looks like there's a lot of corrosion. Is that from salt? Where did the car spend its past life?
#7
Three Wheelin'
Seth, are you sleeping out in the garage buddy? Pace yourself...
Trending Topics
#9
Rennlist Member
#11
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
hlee96: Very true. I can see the cosmetic aspect, as the rear wheels were out nicely in the wheel wells.
My concern was they type of spacer. I have researched spacers a little, and thought I got the idea that wider spacers, something like over 15mm, should be installed with separate lug nuts on the factory studs, then attach the wheel to additional studs in the spacer.
I was just concerned that these spacers would be unsafe.
Cosmo Kramer: That's a relief. No more worries, then. Thanks!
FredR: Good point. To my knowledge, these spacers complement the offset of the rear wheels nicely. I believe there is plenty of thread engagement. I will measure when I put the wheels back on.
beran earms: Good point! However, I have no idea...
Mark R.: The Red Witch has been in Ohio since 1997. She has spent most of her time in a garage since 2002.
I am wondering if I should try to knock the spacers off and do a little clean-up, or wait until I do the rear brake rotors.
Crumpler: Nope, sleeping in bed.
Pace myself? H*ll no! I actually have a week off from work, and am taking advantage of it. Every day since Friday has been a 10-12 hour day out in the carport. I am bingeing...
RFJ: Thank you! She is a little scruffy under her skirts, but not bad.
Itoolio: Now that I actually have time off work, I am putting all my plans into motion. Right NOW, I am installing a shift kit in the transmission.
GT6ixer: I am a cat person. I have lots of not-so feral outside cats and kittens that I feed. They get fed in the carport.
Thanks!
Seth K. Pyle
My concern was they type of spacer. I have researched spacers a little, and thought I got the idea that wider spacers, something like over 15mm, should be installed with separate lug nuts on the factory studs, then attach the wheel to additional studs in the spacer.
I was just concerned that these spacers would be unsafe.
Cosmo Kramer: That's a relief. No more worries, then. Thanks!
FredR: Good point. To my knowledge, these spacers complement the offset of the rear wheels nicely. I believe there is plenty of thread engagement. I will measure when I put the wheels back on.
beran earms: Good point! However, I have no idea...
Mark R.: The Red Witch has been in Ohio since 1997. She has spent most of her time in a garage since 2002.
I am wondering if I should try to knock the spacers off and do a little clean-up, or wait until I do the rear brake rotors.
Crumpler: Nope, sleeping in bed.
Pace myself? H*ll no! I actually have a week off from work, and am taking advantage of it. Every day since Friday has been a 10-12 hour day out in the carport. I am bingeing...
RFJ: Thank you! She is a little scruffy under her skirts, but not bad.
Itoolio: Now that I actually have time off work, I am putting all my plans into motion. Right NOW, I am installing a shift kit in the transmission.
GT6ixer: I am a cat person. I have lots of not-so feral outside cats and kittens that I feed. They get fed in the carport.
Thanks!
Seth K. Pyle
#12
Studs look to be correct length for spacers. If you didn't have these factory spacers, your studs would be much shorter and the stance of the car would be narrower (if you are running seven slot manhole rims). If you are running a different off-set rim, sometimes these spacers have to come off and you have to get creative on lugnut arrangement.
Removed these spacers on my 84 when the Cup 1 rims went on. Rubbed with them, can't remember off-set of Cup 1's, sorry. Since the studs were way to long for the factory "capped" lugnut now. Simply cut the cap off of ten lugnuts (about a quarter inch), installed wheels, tighten fabricated lugnuts and then installed another set of capped lugnuts over the inner ones, mainly for cosmetics and to keep crud out.
Brian.
#13
Captain Obvious
Super User
Super User
As Kosmo said, stock spacers, move along.....these are not the droids you are looking for. My '85 has them too and I'm pretty sure they were a factory option in '85.
#14
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for the confirmation, Imo000. I appreciate it?
Now to get the valvebody out, and back in with out losing any check *****.
Seth K. Pyle
Now to get the valvebody out, and back in with out losing any check *****.
Seth K. Pyle