Would anyone be interested in some small wheel spacers?
 

I'm looking to get some small (~1/8" or ~3mm) hub centric wheel spacers made by a local shop (5x114.5 only, sorry 4-lug guys :(). I contacted the shop and they said all I need is to provide the dimensions, material and quantity and they would get back to me on a quote and lead time. They are a tooling setup shop so this would not be mass production, but obviously the more parts, the cheaper.

My intent is to use them on the front as my current setup is just barely making contact with the spring perch but is also very near the fender so a large spacer isn't practical (Enkei RPF1's 16x8 +32 wheels, 225/50R16 Toyo T1R tires and Stance GR+ coilovers). This would also help people with contact issues with the larger diameter drop springs like the Tanabe's and Tein's...

After I gain some ability to adjust the camber on the rear I will also possibly be looking into some larger spacers for the rear (~3/8 or ~10mm).

I have all the dimensions needed for a hubcentric spacer except the outer diameter. I'm not sure if I want to match the wheel or hub outer diameter, so input here is appreciated. See the sketch below for the current design (ignore the 175 mm outer diameter - that is just for reference at this time).

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/jfrank04...t_20100402.png

One thing I have not yet decided is the material. I am currently thinking Al (6061?) but the 1/8" makes me worried. I didn't want to get into the more exotic stuff (magnesium infused whatever) to keep price down, but I also don't want mild steel for the obvious corrosion concerns. Any input would be appreciated.

Just curious if anyone would be interested. I would need to know pretty quickly actually (will be sending the final drawing on Monday), but I will inquire anyway on some larger quantities (10, 20, etc.).

I'd go with something in steel honestly. I would worry about deforming the spacer as you torqued the lugs down.

Also, your measurements are wrong. Should be 114.3mm shouldn't it?

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/....jsp?techid=92

dontbother. you dont need hubcentric spacers unless you're running steelies.
you're on rpf1's. just buy some off ebay. theyre a couple bucks.

FWIW, im runnin 1/2" ebay spacers on my rpf1's, no probs whatsoever

Correct, should be 114.3 - must have hit the wrong key in UG. I'm not really too afraid of deforming the aluminum - it is under compression after all. What are you torquing your lug nuts to anyway? I've some some aluminum lugs torqued to 70 ft-lbs right now (per Enkei's suggestion). My concern with steel is corrosion due to different mating materials.

Plans are changed a little - I'm going to try to get them to make a spacer + hug ring for the rear (10mm spacer + 59.6 to 76 mm hub ring for the Enkei's). I got a different idea for the front now... Ebay sells "hubcentric" rings in a number of sizes from 5-25 mm for $60-$120. I'm curious what the shop comes back with price wise.

Either way, the original plan was for something thin so if anyone is still interested I can correct the drawing above and still inquire.

FWIW, what does having Enkei's have to do with not necessitating hub rings?

If you're nice to the guys @ discount tire direct and phrase it properly, they'll send you a set of hub-centric rings for free. Then you're just looking at a set of off the self spacers.

I really like you're thinking though :icon_tup:

LOL, thanks!

I actually already have a set of hub rings and everything works fine sans the slight contact in the front. My concern with the off-the-shelf spacers is their cooperation with my current hub rings. They're only like 10mm in thickness so if the 10mm spacer had a center bore of greater than 73mm (Enkei bore size) then the hub ring would end up inside the spacer and not really do anything. I know eBay sells the spacers that are supposedly hubcentric quoting hub bore as either 59.5mm or 60.1mm. If the former were true I could just put my current rings over the spacer and all would be good. I may end up going that route as, just depends on what the shop comes back with.

Either way, I think I'm actually just going to have them quote a hubcentric 10mm spacer with the stock bore, then I'll just use my current hub rings. If anyone else were interested I feel this would get the best response - I'll see what a bulk price would be next week (probably Wed.).

One last question, I read another post here that in order to install longer wheel studs in the rear the hub has to be removed - is this correct?

The problem with that ill be I don't believe the step is 10 mm. So the 10mm spacer may completely cover the centering step.

See above

That is correct.

I agree, that is why I intend on designing a "hub feature" onto the spacer. I've made another real quick one for an Enkei-specific bore size so you can see what I mean:

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/jfrank04...i_20100402.png

I want to do something like this, but with the stock hub bore and I'm running into an issue - the ID of the spacer must be 59.6mm to accept the stock hub and the OD of the spacer hub must 59.6 to work with my current rings. The ID of the spacer needs to taper or step down to like 54mm or something to allow for material to be machined off to make the OD of the hub feature 59.6mm. I currently do not know what the "step" height is on the factory hub, which is needed so I know where the ID can step down in size (I think it's like 5mm or so).

What necessitates the need for the removal of the hub for longer studs? Is there just not enough spacer to feed the longer studs through the back when it's assembled?

Oh yeah, I corrected the first drawing.

I do really like the idea for your spacers. I think it's the right way to approach it. Whether or not it's physically possible is something else altogether.

I can't remember exactely, best to check it out and see if there's room. If there isn't room, the hub needs to come off though as the studs are obviously pressed in. Removing them while on the car may prove difficult though. Couple of sockets and C-Clamp probably won't be too easy.

Just spin a sacrificial nut on the studs a few threads and pound them out with a hammer, and use some washers and the same nut to pull the new studs through.

I usually torque my lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs (bad experience with me throwing them on 81). I think steel will be fine and won't react with anything as the disks themselves are steel. Aluminum might be fine if you're not worried about deformation--though they themselves may or may not react with the metal given the right catalyst (salt water, etc).

My big reason for going with aluminum is I'm more familiar with those alloys. There's a billion steel alloys out there and I'm not really sure which ones would fit this application.

Re-torqued lug nuts to 75 ft-lbs today :)

I also found a different solution for the front today - camber bolts. Used some camber bolts to pull the tire away from the strut at the bottom, then used the strut mount to dial the negative camber back in. Worked perfectly and cheaper than spacers.

I'm likely going to pose my second idea to the machine shop sometime this upcoming Wednesday. I'm going to try to have a 10-15mm hub centric spacer, with hub feature made (so I can use my existing hub rings). These will not have studs in them so they will require longer studs (2.5" ARP's should be fine).