Is there any disadvantage in using wheel spacers?
06-21-2002, 05:23 PM
#1
Track Day
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Is there any disadvantage in using wheel spacers?
I have seen many people try to avoid using spacers when they upgrade to larger wheels. Yet, there are some folks here that use spacers on their track car to accommodate wider wheels and tires. So my question is what kind of adverse effect would the spacers cause other than some added unsprung weights? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
06-21-2002, 08:42 PM
#2
Keeper of the Truth
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Some spacers may be heavy and some may not be hubcentric and can cause a vibration. Also, the bigger the spacer, the more stress on your wheel bearings. If you can't use a properly fitted custom wheel, you could use a spacer as long as it is of good quality and not too big.
06-21-2002, 10:53 PM
#3
Race Director
The stress on the bearings depends upon what you are using the spacers to do. If you are using the spacers to position more-than-stock offset wheels back to stock offsets, then the lateral torque on the bearings will be the same.
However, if you are using spacers to take stock-offsets to less-than-stock (pushing the same wheels outward), then you are adding more stress on your outer wheel bearings.
This would be the case of say, adding wide-body fenders to a non-turbo car. Then using spacers to push the stock wheels outward. You'd be better off getting wider wheels with stock offsets.
If you are going to use spacers, then use Porsche spacers with longer studs. These are hub-centric and were designed for Porsche applications. Avoid the bolt-on adapters that bolt onto your existing studs and provide a second set of their own. These are not only very heavy, but they'll have a second set of lug-nuts that will be hidden and can't be checked easily.
However, if you are using spacers to take stock-offsets to less-than-stock (pushing the same wheels outward), then you are adding more stress on your outer wheel bearings.
This would be the case of say, adding wide-body fenders to a non-turbo car. Then using spacers to push the stock wheels outward. You'd be better off getting wider wheels with stock offsets.
If you are going to use spacers, then use Porsche spacers with longer studs. These are hub-centric and were designed for Porsche applications. Avoid the bolt-on adapters that bolt onto your existing studs and provide a second set of their own. These are not only very heavy, but they'll have a second set of lug-nuts that will be hidden and can't be checked easily.
06-22-2002, 06:03 AM
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Danno, any chance you have a stock/part number for the porsche spacers? My local dealer couldn't find them on their computer. 
I just bought some D-90's for my '84 and would like to get them mounted. TIA
Rob
I just bought some D-90's for my '84 and would like to get them mounted. TIA Rob
06-22-2002, 07:51 PM
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The two Porsche spacers I used on my '86 951 were as follows:
Front Wheel Spacers
#477.501.701 for the 21mm wheel spacer (came stock on rear of '82-85 944NA)
Rear Wheel Spacers
#930.331.611.04 for the 28mm wheel spacer (used on rear of 911-turbo)
I bought mine from Oklahoma Foreign. The fronts were $25 each and the rears were $50 each.
The 951 now looks like this!
Front Wheel Spacers
#477.501.701 for the 21mm wheel spacer (came stock on rear of '82-85 944NA)
Rear Wheel Spacers
#930.331.611.04 for the 28mm wheel spacer (used on rear of 911-turbo)
I bought mine from Oklahoma Foreign. The fronts were $25 each and the rears were $50 each.
The 951 now looks like this!
06-23-2002, 12:53 AM
#7
Race Director
"any chance you have a stock/part number for the porsche spacers? "
Even better, check out the 944-Wheels FAQ section of my <a href="http://members.rennlist.com/951_racerx" target="_blank">951 RacerX website</a> for a complete parts list and step-by-step procedure.
Even better, check out the 944-Wheels FAQ section of my <a href="http://members.rennlist.com/951_racerx" target="_blank">951 RacerX website</a> for a complete parts list and step-by-step procedure.
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06-23-2002, 01:52 AM
#8
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I do not think the additional stress on the wheel bearings from using spacers (within limits) is a to great concren. During hard (racing)cornering the bearings (as a result of weight transfer) will take nearly double the load compared to what a limited spacer will produce and the bearing has for obvious reasons been designed to take the load
So for normal road use it should be OK.
So for normal road use it should be OK.
07-15-2002, 02:41 PM
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I was just curious if anyone could tell me what size spacer is about the biggest that could be safely used for a street car? My 914 has some extremely wide fenders and I just got some Fuchs 15x8's. I'm thinking I might have to use those in front and 15x9 in the rear. Is a 1" spacer way too much? I'm thinking that's too big of a spacer but, I wanted to find out for sure. Anyone have any suggestions for spacers? I was considering H&R and I thought Weltemeister makes hubcentric spacers as well.
07-16-2002, 01:02 AM
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I went and looked through a catalog I had and checked out some spacer sizes. Right now I am looking at needing to use something between a 50-70mm (~2-3") spacer. Could someone tell me if that is an excessive size to use or if it is borderline acceptable? I found some Weltmeister 54mm spacers that I believe should be very close to filling out my fenders. I know I'd need 100mm studs for 54mm spacers but, I really want to make sure these sizes are going to be safe so that my wheels don't fall off! 
