Is this a bad idea?

Is this a bad idea?

Author
Discussion

ClassicChimaera

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

148 months

Saturday 14th January 2017
quotequote all
I've ordered some wheel spacers 5 mm thick.
Would it be a reasonable thing to drill my discs and tap a thread into the holes then using counter sink screws nip the spacers upto the discs. I don't fancy the spacers clanging about everytime I remove a wheel.

If these holes are spaced correctly they wouldn't effect balance,,, or would they?
Any thoughts appreciated smile

Discopotatoes

4,101 posts

220 months

Saturday 14th January 2017
quotequote all
How often do you plan on removing the wheels? Bit of overkill for a little clanking

ClassicChimaera

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

148 months

Saturday 14th January 2017
quotequote all
Discopotatoes said:
How often do you plan on removing the wheels? Bit of overkill for a little clanking
Yeah your right.
Wheels off,,, often as I need to clean my brakes and wishbones down hehe

ianwayne

6,244 posts

267 months

Saturday 14th January 2017
quotequote all
I've used spacers before and they will tend to 'stick' slightly to either the hub or the wheel on removal anyway. If they don't, 5mm spacers will only weigh a few oz (or 100g or so). Usually made of aluminium so won't clang about that much.

s p a c e m a n

10,752 posts

147 months

Saturday 14th January 2017
quotequote all
I don't know about clanging about, I normally have to give mine a couple of whacks with a hammer to loosen them if I want them off.

RobXjcoupe

3,151 posts

90 months

Saturday 14th January 2017
quotequote all
A touch of copper slip will stick them to the disc hub. They should also be a good fit on the hub centre so shouldn't clatter around wink

ClassicChimaera

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

148 months

Sunday 15th January 2017
quotequote all
RobXjcoupe said:
A touch of copper slip will stick them to the disc hub. They should also be a good fit on the hub centre so shouldn't clatter around wink
A good fit on the hub is my priority for balance smile

Got plenty of copper slip thumbup

ClassicChimaera

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

148 months

Sunday 15th January 2017
quotequote all
s p a c e m a n said:
I don't know about clanging about, I normally have to give mine a couple of whacks with a hammer to loosen them if I want them off.
yes

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Sunday 15th January 2017
quotequote all
ClassicChimaera said:
s p a c e m a n said:
I don't know about clanging about, I normally have to give mine a couple of whacks with a hammer to loosen them if I want them off.
yes
+1. Mine always stick to the hubs, and I agree, they are alooominum, so are very light.
My biggest problem has been to remember to remove them when switching to my SP12 wheels, which are correct Chimaera offsets so don't need them.
All my other wheels are Ford fit, so need the 5mm spacers to reduce the offset from ET38 to ET33.

Richard 858

1,882 posts

134 months

Sunday 15th January 2017
quotequote all
I agree with all of the above Alun, mine fit nice and snug over the hub centre. Make sure your spacers are specifically drilled for 4 X 108 PCD (if you're still on 4 stud hubs) and you should be ok, I'd strongly advise against using any "universal" or " multi-fit" spacers if you want to be completely secure.

phillpot

17,105 posts

182 months

Sunday 15th January 2017
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Should you however decide you would like a little screw or two to hold thing in place I don't think that small an amount of weight difference so close in to the wheel centre would have any noticeable effect on the balance.

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Sunday 15th January 2017
quotequote all
Not sure what you mean by secure Richard? I have always used multi-fit spacers, not noticed any problems. They are very light anyway, and seem balanced to me. What issues have you seen? Interested....

portzi

2,296 posts

174 months

Sunday 15th January 2017
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Hi Alun, have you a piccy of these spacers please. What is the surface area contact between the wheel and the hub?

ClassicChimaera

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

148 months

Sunday 15th January 2017
quotequote all
Thanks for the words guys.
They haven't arrived yet Mark.
They are the ones Qbee posted earlier.
I'm not keen on using them really. Car looks and feels great without them so I thought I'd try these extremely cheap ones first. If they do the job I'll then buy bespoke ones to fit our hubs.

I think I know where your going with this and I think I agree. I'd like as much meat on the spacers as possible.
I'm close to getting a nice set up now so if it effects that ill remove them.
The wheels and tyres have always looked a bit inboard to me but the more I'm looking at the car with these tyre's the better it's looking. I don't need these spacers, it's a vanity thing. yikes

The cheap ones are to assess the things. thumbup
Anyway any advice on these spacers is gladly received.
It's all just fun really and at a fiver a go for four I can't loose to assess the look!

Anthony are these spacers something you just looked up or do you have the same or similar. You've been using them on track and road,,,, how many years now?

When you look at most wheels there's not a lot of meat to them in the centre, they need as flat a surface as possible to sit against. A more solid spacer would be better but then starts to add weight.


QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Sunday 15th January 2017
quotequote all
I have been using them since I got my first set of Ford fit wheels.
They were road wheels, and I got them in about 2014 I think.
But I very soon bought another set and had track tyres on them, so I must have done at least 20-25000 miles with them.
I still have my SP12s, which are 25/33mm offset, and I cannot tell the difference or detect any issues.
I have just been and weighed one spacer - 108gm, ie 4 ounces. And shaped so that the balance is even.

portzi

2,296 posts

174 months

Sunday 15th January 2017
quotequote all
QBee said:
I have been using them since I got my first set of Ford fit wheels.
They were road wheels, and I got them in about 2014 I think.
But I very soon bought another set and had track tyres on them, so I must have done at least 20-25000 miles with them.
I still have my SP12s, which are 25/33mm offset, and I cannot tell the difference or detect any issues.
I have just been and weighed one spacer - 108gm, ie 4 ounces. And shaped so that the balance is even.
Proof is in the pudding. Looks like they should work a treat
beer

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Sunday 15th January 2017
quotequote all
If anyone out there is after inexpensive, pre-owned 17 inch wheels, googling "Ford fit 17 alloys" will bring you up loads of 4 x 108 wheels.
They will be 63.2mm centre bore or bigger (you can always use spigot rings, also available on Ebay for a few quid), generally 7J, and they usually come out as ET38 or ET40, so need 5mm spacers just to make the rears correct and bring the fronts out a bit.
Just check all those things (4 x 108, 63.2mm or bigger centre bore, ET 33 or bigger, 7J or bigger) to make sure you are buying something that will fit.
IIRC TVR used ET33 fronts on the last cars anyway, by using 16 inch Imolas all round. I think we can all guess why.
Truth is, they are fine and don't catch as long as you don't go stupidly wide or large on tyre sizes.

I have even committed the ultimate sin and used 17 inch wheels all round with 215/45 17 tyres all round, and on track as well. They were nice Team Dynamics Monza wheels that I got, almost brand new, off an Essex Focus owner, for £160. Mat Smith noticed and adjusted my rear ride height to compensate for the lack of rake.

My R1R/SP12 combo was also the same diameter front and rear (225/45 17 fronts and 225/40 18 rears). So the ride height adjustment worked for both sets. IMHO the rake suits the car, I find it handles better with the nose down. Why one inch should make such a difference I don't know.......but my Mrs says it does.whistle


ClassicChimaera

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

148 months

Sunday 15th January 2017
quotequote all
portzi said:
Proof is in the pudding. Looks like they should work a treat
beer
Be nice if they do.

I'm not expecting any issues other than road st hitting the outer wings? ,,,, I'm going off the idea smile

SeiW500

247 posts

167 months

Sunday 15th January 2017
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Only ever fit specific hubcentric spacers!!!!

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Sunday 15th January 2017
quotequote all
This surely only applies if your spacers are over about 12mm thick?