Beware of cheap ebay spacers.

[nightphotographer]

If spacers were the most dangerous thing on the road, the roads would be a much safer place.

+1

I just don't get why there's so much hate around this subject - we all own VW's can't we just get along?

[gareth_oau]

I found out recently that spacers up to 12.5mm are legal in WA.

I find car rules and regulators very frsutrating somethimes - the logic that seems to be applied is "some spacers are dangerous - lets make them all illegal!!"

If Porsch can supply them as OEM and these are legal - that just proves the rule itslef is not correct.

Using the logic, some tyres are illegal on my car - the rules states i must purchase tyres that are legal - but why doesnt it just make all tyres apart from OEM illegal?

[Bflat]

*grabs popcorn and awaits the mods intervention*

[dylan8]

I found out recently that spacers up to 12.5mm are legal in WA.

I find car rules and regulators very frsutrating somethimes - the logic that seems to be applied is "some spacers are dangerous - lets make them all illegal!!"

If Porsch can supply them as OEM and these are legal - that just proves the rule itslef is not correct.

Using the logic, some tyres are illegal on my car - the rules states i must purchase tyres that are legal - but why doesnt it just make all tyres apart from OEM illegal?

interesting! is that 12.5mm each side? or 12.5mm over all track (half each side...)

[Ben J]

Very interesting. Wonder if there are many other things which may be legal over there which aren't here? Seems like QLD, VIC and NSW are all pretty similar. Maybe as a group of car enthusiasts we should all move over to WA

Back on topic of the spacer which actually broke, I pulled the wheels off and had a good look today, the spacer which broke dug into the wheel creating a small crack which is leaking. Not sure if I'll replace the wheel or get it fixed yet, going to take it to a wheel repairer in the next couple of days who'll check it's still straight etc and get a quote. Pulled the other spacer off too, it hadn't craked yet, although if you look at it closely you can see stress lines right down the middle, so doesn't look like it was far off following the other side. Ebay sellers name was "optionselects" so I would suggest staying well clear of them for anyone looking at spacers. It's true what they say, you get what you pay for.

[MK4Golf]

how much you pay and what were they made of dude?

[Ben J]

Spacers were like $35 + postage. Description says theyre made out of billet 6061-T6 Aluminium but I very much doubt they actually are

[Diesel_vert]

I find car rules and regulators very frustrating sometimes - the logic that seems to be applied is "some spacers are dangerous - lets make them all illegal!!"

If Porsche can supply them as OEM and these are legal - that just proves the rule itself is not correct.

Wheel spacers aren't actually illegal per se, nor is fitting them onto motor vehicles. The authorities would come door knocking with arrest warrants in hand, if they were!

However, depending on the regulations in your state, fitting them onto vehicles that are to be used on public roads may render the car unroadworthy, which is what's relevant to us.

Using the logic, some tyres are illegal on my car - the rules states i must purchase tyres that are legal - but why doesn't it just make all tyres apart from OEM illegal?

Unlike brakes, wheels, tyres, etc. that undergo certification processes derived from UNECE vehicle regulations (or self-certification in the case of U.S. Department of Transport regulations), there is no major regulatory body specifically covering the use of wheel spacers - only that whatever component the vehicle manufacturer chooses to fit to their car, must not constitute a safety hazard or create any danger (or something to that effect).

For the rest of the industry, it's basically a free-for-all.

So you have OEM spacers from Porsche at the top of chain, down to $19.99 specials on fleabay (which people actually buy), and everything in between.

And that is probably why the regulations here just said "no" to the lot of them - except for OEM wheel spacers.


Personally, I hold the TÜV (Germany's most famous certification body) in very high regard, so anything with their stamp of approval on it I would use with confidence.

[noone]

To fuel the debate, what about spigot rings?

These similarly adapt different wheel's center bore diameters to the hub size. I had no idea these existed until I had bought a set of used rims and found one had a broken bit of plastic in the hub mounting area...

Personally, I think that spacers should be used wisely, as should anything that relates to suspension, wheels, tryres, braking. There are many people out there who would tut and frown at lowering a road car for performance or looks, some cars run crazy camber, oversized rims, practically no tyre or no suspension travel. We are a forum containing many members who enjoy this field, its good to be discussed.

Who is right? No one (no, not me), but I hear a lot more about deaths and accidents from drink driving than stupid mods or bad suspension components. not to say that any death / injury from something like this would be acceptable, etc...

[Diesel_vert]

Personally, I think that spacers should be used wisely, as should anything that relates to suspension, wheels, tryres, braking. There are many people out there who would tut and frown at lowering a road car for performance or looks, some cars run crazy camber, oversized rims, practically no tyre or no suspension travel. We are a forum containing many members who enjoy this field, its good to be discussed.

Personally, I only tell people what the rules are, and leave it up to them whether they follow them or not.

As far as I'm concerned, I am not the law, nor do I administer the law, so I don't.

Also, this forum or myself is not responsible for anything anyone else does in relation to anything.