Wheel spacers
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,423
Likes: 43
From: Daytona Beach/ Atlanta---- Good Ol' Florida Boy/ Georgia
Wheel spacers
Is it safe to run wheels spacers on the track? I can't seem to find many options in a 18x11 offset +68 for my fronts and don't see a point to spending $1500 for some fronts.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9,429
Likes: 44
From: Macon, GA
I use 1/8" spacers on the front of my C5 with stock studs. So far I haven't had any issues. There are conflicting opinions about the spacers effect on the hub-centric mounting of the wheel, but I read some technical data somewhere that the wheel is almost 100% fully supported by the lug nuts and not the hub. Also, wheel spacers put more load on the hub bearings which probably affect their life span.
Now with all that said, I just swapped over to longer ARP wheel studs.
Now with all that said, I just swapped over to longer ARP wheel studs.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,423
Likes: 43
From: Daytona Beach/ Atlanta---- Good Ol' Florida Boy/ Georgia
I use 1/8" spacers on the front of my C5 with stock studs. So far I haven't had any issues. There are conflicting opinions about the spacers effect on the hub-centric mounting of the wheel, but I read some technical data somewhere that the wheel is almost 100% fully supported by the lug nuts and not the hub. Also, wheel spacers put more load on the hub bearings which probably affect their life span.
Now with all that said, I just swapped over to longer ARP wheel studs.
Now with all that said, I just swapped over to longer ARP wheel studs.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,430
Likes: 914
From: CONCORD NC
I personally would not want to run over about 1/2" spacers, just better to buy proper wheels. I also run 1/8" spacers with no problems, it still engages almost all of the OEM thread and still catches the hubcentric ring.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 71,447
Likes: 6
From: Miami bound
CI 4-5-6-7 Veteran
I think mine on front are at least 1/4", more likely 3/16". I've ran them since my autox days when I was fighting tire rub and have just left them in place ever since. I don't replace hubs any more frequently than anyone else, and probably less often than Varkwso.
Edit: FWIW, when you are shopping for spacers, "S-10 spacers" are a lot cheaper than "Corvette spacers" if you know what I mean.
Edit: FWIW, when you are shopping for spacers, "S-10 spacers" are a lot cheaper than "Corvette spacers" if you know what I mean.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,423
Likes: 43
From: Daytona Beach/ Atlanta---- Good Ol' Florida Boy/ Georgia
I think mine on front are at least 1/4", more likely 3/16". I've ran them since my autox days when I was fighting tire rub and have just left them in place ever since. I don't replace hubs any more frequently than anyone else, and probably less often than Varkwso.
Edit: FWIW, when you are shopping for spacers, "S-10 spacers" are a lot cheaper than "Corvette spacers" if you know what I mean.
Edit: FWIW, when you are shopping for spacers, "S-10 spacers" are a lot cheaper than "Corvette spacers" if you know what I mean.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
I run 3/8" spacers on my fronts with C5 Z06 Rear wheels & ARP studs with no issues. This is to clear bigger brakes on the front. I purchased the spacers from Randy at DRM and they are really nice machined billet pieces. Here's a link: http://dougrippie.com/?p=408
There is just enough hub engagement to help center the wheel, but the studs/lug nuts support the wheel, not the hub center. DRM also makes a larger spacer with a built in hub to center the wheels if you need more space. DRM has been making these spacers for some time with no issues according to Randy. Give him a call, he'll fix you up.
There is just enough hub engagement to help center the wheel, but the studs/lug nuts support the wheel, not the hub center. DRM also makes a larger spacer with a built in hub to center the wheels if you need more space. DRM has been making these spacers for some time with no issues according to Randy. Give him a call, he'll fix you up.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 10,864
Likes: 196
From: Southern CA
I have run 3/8 for a while no issues. I am needing to try a much bigger spacer so we'll see how that goes.
With 3/8 the rim does not even touch the hub lip, so if anyone tell's you that a Vette rim/bearing is hub centric, ignore them, they don't know what they are talking about.
They are lug centric.
With 3/8 the rim does not even touch the hub lip, so if anyone tell's you that a Vette rim/bearing is hub centric, ignore them, they don't know what they are talking about.
They are lug centric.
