Wheel Spacers, Good or bad idea?

[thezoneR32]

So I want to widen the stance of my car wihtout forking out wads for new wheels as I quite like the oem zolders.

I found some on ecs tuning and eurosprt acc selling H&R ones, but I was hoping to get some opiions on what would be a good size without endangering my life.

Maybe 5mm front 10mm rear? How does the whole system work, do I need extra bolts, its a bit confusing?

Cheers

Actually just found some on dubaddiction that look useful but they come with disclaimers.

*note - these spacers will only work with OEM wheels that have 57.1mm centerbore
**longer bolts may be required please consult local professional help before fitting**

[Ben J]

Anything more then a couple mm you really need longer bolts, I think ECS has kits which come with bolts though.

Spacers are a great idea Illegal though and may void insurance ect, so be careful.

[wai]

Check with your local registration authority.

I worked for the NSW Department of Motor Transport that then merged with the Department of Main Roads to become the RTA. My role there was to evaluate and approve or reject vehicle modifications, and there was a longstanding policy of not allowing wheel spacers.

You need to make sure that there are no issues in SA. As well as this, you also need to check with your insurer as well as they may deny a claim with these fitted.

After checking this and there are no blanket bans on them, you need to make sure that whatever you do is properly designed and certified as even without a blanket ban, if there is an incident and the vehicle is found to be faulty on inspection (because of the use of spacers), you could still find yourself without insurance as well as driving an unroadworthy vehicle.

[brimway]

Check with your local registration authority.

I worked for the NSW Department of Motor Transport that then merged with the Department of Main Roads to become the RTA. My role there was to evaluate and approve or reject vehicle modifications, and there was a longstanding policy of not allowing wheel spacers.

You need to make sure that there are no issues in SA. As well as this, you also need to check with your insurer as well as they may deny a claim with these fitted.

After checking this and there are no blanket bans on them, you need to make sure that whatever you do is properly designed and certified as even without a blanket ban, if there is an incident and the vehicle is found to be faulty on inspection (because of the use of spacers), you could still find yourself without insurance as well as driving an unroadworthy vehicle.

Good advice, here is an extract of SA regs, See (e)

REGULATION 25
(1) A motor vehicle must not be driven or towed on a road if it does not comply with the requirements
of this regulation.
(2) If a motor vehicle is driven or towed in contravention of subregulation (1), the driver and the owner
and the operator of the vehicle are each guilty of an offence.
(3) A car, car-type utility or car-type panel van must not be altered from its specification as originally
manufactured in any of the following respects:
(a) Fitting of an engine of greater displacement volume than engines available as an option for
the vehicle so as to exceed the efficient functioning capacity of the braking systems
provided for the vehicle;
(b) Fitting of an engine of greater displacement volume than an engine available as an option
for the vehicle with the braking system provided at the time of manufacture of the vehicle;
(c) Modifications to the braking systems –
(i) that consists of fitting of a smaller diameter brake drum, or narrower brake drum or
brake shoe that reduces the swept area of braking surface; or
(ii) that reduces the mass of a brake drum or disc;
(d) The widening of the wheel track of front or rear wheels by more than 26 millimetres beyond
the maximum specified by the vehicle manufacturer;
(e) Fitting of spacers between wheels and hubs additional to any provided by the vehicle
manufacturer;

The governments job is to make our roads safer but they take the fun out of everything in doing so!

[thezoneR32]

That’s ridiculous! SA is the most hypocritical state when it comes to car roadworthiness. We have no roadworthy certificate compliance when selling or buying a car and the amount of POS cars I see getting around that should be scrapped and on the flip side they have these anal laws! What a joke!

[brimway]

That’s ridiculous! SA is the most hypocritical state when it comes to car roadworthiness. We have no roadworthy certificate compliance when selling or buying a car and the amount of POS cars I see getting around that should be scrapped and on the flip side they have these anal laws! What a joke!

Agreed, take a look at Qld laws and enforcement, they are worse!!

[Preen59]

Heaps of people use them. And they are not dangerous. As long as you have the correct length of thread engagement you will be fine.. But yes, they are illegal.

Top Fuel Dragsters use wheel spacers. Yes, I'm not joking. (Pic here)

Many Porsches used to come OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR with spacers, depending on the wheel choice etc. And some of these were huge spacers with extremely long studs. I don't think Porsche would sell cars that they felt the wheels might fall off of..

[dylan8]

I don't think Porsche would sell cars that they felt the wheels might fall of of..

good call!

general rule if you get 5mm spacers, get bolts 5mm longer. 10mm, 10mm longer bolts

[thezoneR32]

good call!

general rule if you get 5mm spacers, get bolts 5mm longer. 10mm, 10mm longer bolts

Thanks fellas, this is the bit I'm confused about, where do the bolts go? If I pull my wheels off, there are bolts sticking out of the hubs?

[thezoneR32]

Heaps of people use them. And they are not dangerous. As long as you have the correct length of thread engagement you will be fine.. But yes, they are illegal.

Top Fuel Dragsters use wheel spacers. Yes, I'm not joking. (Pic here)

Many Porsches used to come OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR with spacers, depending on the wheel choice etc. And some of these were huge spacers with extremely long studs. I don't think Porsche would sell cars that they felt the wheels might fall of of..

Thats interesting! Goes to show, who would know what is oem and what isnt?