Spacers

Hey Doc! FYI - Can't see the pics. just a '?'. 

How about now?

Looks like the previous owner wanted a push his wheels out a bit.

Phil, how close is the tire/wheel to the lip of your fender?

Take those spacers off, mount the wheel, and see how they fit.  If your steel wheels are 5.5" or 6.0" ,with a 30 to 40mm offset, you shouldn't need the spacers.

Unless there is a conflict with the disc brakes or something of that nature I would agree with Ron.  Normally a spacer is a ring that bolts on over the hub no?

Do those washers come off or are they part of the wheel stud? I had to add spacers to front of my CMC when I switched from drum to disc brakes to prevent the caliper from scrapping the inside of the rim. NO way could I fit spacers on the rear though. You'd hate to loose the studs and go back to OEM style bolts - pain to hang heavy wheel in the rain.

Washers are part of the wheel studs.  When I bought the car it was totally stock from IM.  I have all prior servicerecords.  No history of changing wheels.  I think these were installed by IM.  Just wondering if there is any danger in running these spacers.  Tires are just inside of fenders.  They seem to fit perfectly.  Just wanted to know it this ia safe to run at high speeds.  Assuming it is if Henry installed from factory.

"Just wanted to know it this is safe to run at high speeds."

 

Absolutely not!

 

I don't care who you think installed those things, they're not safe from a pure mechanical engineering standpoint and if you don't install full ring spacers (look on Pelican Parts) you are taking a risk at any speed.

 

If Pelican's prices scare you, look at these:

 

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDe...Code=C13%2D16%2D9926

I would agree with Gordon on this.  A ring spacer would create an even, equal, and balanced mounting surface for the rim with which to interface. v important!

 

If I could avoid spacers at all I would generally.  Do you actually need them and how deep are they anyway?

Frank

You could always send the photo to Henry, and ask him about the spacers.

 

Seems strange they would be there from the shop.

I definitely see your point Gordon. Intuitively these look unstable. I like the thickness of the spacers. Wheels are perfectly placed. I will look for some ring spacers. Probably a stupid question. But if I go to ring spacers will I need to get lug bolts instead of lug nuts?

You can buy studs and keep the nuts too.  I'm sure CIP1 and others carry them - Just measure what the washer spacer are now.  $bolt aluminum ring spacer came 1/4, 3/8" (10mm), and 1/2" (even 1" too). Some screw in with Locktite and others are pressed in from back of disc.

If you need spacers these would be a better solution:

 

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDe...ductCode=C26-603-105

 

another source:

 

http://vwparts.aircooled.net/W...attern-p/16-9926.htm

 

and still another:

 

http://www.socalautoparts.com/...attern-4x130-p-16778

I'm running spacers on all four wheels, but mine also adapt from a 4X130mm bolt pattern to a 5X130mm so I can run Fuchs wheels from a 911.  They're about 1-1/4" thick and I've been running them for 6-7 years now with no issues.  Mine are from Pelican, were custom and pretty expensive, but they're very high quality.

 

I bought a 3-foot length of metric, threaded bar stock (the same as my lug bolts) from McMaster-Carr and cut mine to length, then screwed them into the hubs/drums with Locktite Red to hold them.   There are a bunch of places on the Web (Pelican again comes to mind) that sell different length and size studs that would work so you could continue to use lug nuts.  

 

You'll be much safer with ring spacers of the appropriate thickness than what's on there now.

Thanks everyone.  Have been working the 3 day holiday weekend so not much time to respond.  Going to go with the safest setup which is probably ring spacers and lug bolts.  Hopefully will have time to pull wheel and measure spacer thickness next weekend.

STUDS - what's available in 12mm? 

57mm x 12x1.5mm 
44mm x 12x1.5mm 
38mm x 12x1.5mm 

 

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/cla...detail.php?id=840421

 

Phil, make sure you get hub-centric spacers. Not all ring spacers are hub-centric. Very important in my opinion. These may not be cheapest but you get the idea:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/181348406684?lpid=82

 

OR.....

 

http://www.vividracing.com/catalog/-p-54596.html?utm_source=adwordsfroogle&utm_campaign=adwordsfroogle&utm_content=8147&ph=1&gclid=CKXxkdWHub8CFUYA7AodyB4Atg

Not expensive at $42.00/pair IMO.  I spent $200.00 for a set of 4 from, I think, H&R a few years back for a 944.  Hub centric is a very important point though.

Also makes mounting tires easier.

Thanks Danny.  Going to pull wheel this weekend and measure spacer thickness.  Will need to look for a hub centric spacer for 4 lug wheels.

Tough to find 4 lug hub centric spacers.  Anyone have a link?

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cg..._number=PEL-PP912309

 

Should be the same (4 X 130mm bolt circle) as a Porsche 914 

Gordon, those don't look to be hub centric.

I don't think they make hub centric 4 x 130 spacers. Can't find any.

Ron:  

 

You're right.  As I Read through the back pages, it looks like they cut-and-pasted the product description from another spacer (5-lug) behind a 4-lug spacer (the bastards!)

 

You might try phoning the folks at Pelican Parts.  They have someone who makes spacers for them to order and could certainly make a set up for you.

Upon a little further research, it depends on the year and the wheel. Certain 914 4-lug wheels(and all 4 X 130) were hub centric, some were not. So if Phil's wheels aren't hub centric, then he doesn't need to care. He can get the CB ring spacers and be done.

 

I lost the page where I found this, I fell asleep and the laptop shut down and didn't save my history, sorry!

What is the importance of hub centric vs. non hub centric spacers?  I have Fuchs 2.0  914 wheels on my CMC. Spacers on the front wheels, non hub centric, if from the pictures shown here are correct.

 

 

I've ran my track Miata with and without hub centric rings and didn't notice any difference in the ride/balance.

The only benefit I could see was hub centric rings made it easy to put my wheel back on.  This was important on my track Miata, because I was constantly switching wheels & tires.

 

Phil, why do you need spacers?

Don't know if I really need them other than widening the track just a bit. I'm going to pull a back wheel tomorrow. If I can get current spacers off I'll see if there is any interference with brakes etc.  There must be some logical reason why Henry thought they were needed. I do like the idea of widening the track as much as possible.

Are you sure it was Henry who put them on?

Finally has time to pull rear wheel today. 4 separate spacers. Spacers are all aluminum that screw on. They really look like custom spacers probably made at IM machine shop. I still don't like them. They are 1/2 inch. Good news is there are factory installed lug bolts. All I need to do is get some ring spacers and unscrew old spacers and slip on new ones. If I can't find 1/2 inch spacers I'll get the 3/8 inch ones. I think I could go without spacers but not sure I want to narrow track by an inch.

Phil- make up for the loss of rear track with slightly wider tires; that'll do a lot more for the handling than spacers...

Sage advice as always. Problem is the only reason this was noticed I was placing brand new wheels and tires.   My car is awesome but its only pushing 117 HP. Think I'm gunna stick with the 185/65/15s for now.  Wider rear rubber maybe next time.

you can get these exact  http://vwparts.aircooled.net/W...attern-p/16-9926.htmspacers on ebay for $20.

I am not totally thrilled with them.  They do not fit exactly even. IOW they move about 1/8 side to side.  WHen I mounted wheels I taped spacer to hub and then attached wheel.  The reason I did spacers is to fill the wide flares.  pic to follow.  Also installed adjustable spring plates.  I will post my experience in a separate post.  Getting the torsions off a car for the first time in 50 yrs is a trick i would like to share.