Weld spacer to a rim - Solved.

[Ben Wilson]

Shows the difference in Japanese engineering, I used to go through a set of fronts every six months when I was running 7" rims on my old Escort..

[Gibbon]

Bolt the spacers too the wheels, then your done. It is legal and you will pass....
PHOBIA has 20mm spaces bolted to the wheels, and I’ve never had a drama with legality issues.

Interesting - while talking to the engineer - he mentioned there is a easy solution if I wanted to go out by 20mm - but just doing 5mm was harder.

[Ben Wilson]

20mm allows you to go to a bolt on spacer - Spacer bolts to hub, wheel bolts to spacer, everyone is happy.

[takai]

20mm allows you to go to a bolt on spacer - Spacer bolts to hub, wheel bolts to spacer, everyone is happy.

Except your wheel bearings and scrub radius...

[Ben Wilson]

That really depends on the wheel offset doesn't it?

[takai]

True, although 20mm is a whole whack of clearance. I guess im used to people using spacers for the fully hektic flared guard look.

[WDE_BDY]

Yep, there is a massive difference between using a spacer to correct wheel offset or using a spacer to CREATE wheel offset. One car I own had 40mm bolt on spacers when I bought it, however they were to fit P40 offset wheels to a car designed for 0 offset. So effectively its running as the factory intended.

Callum

[Gibbon]

Quick question.

I've decided to just replace the rims - the engineer wants the wheel studs replaced with longer ones as well as bolting on a spacer. That's getting more expensive than just a replacement set of cheapo rims.

I currently have 17x8 with 35mm offset. If I'm running a 5mm spacer - should I be looking for a rim that has 40mm offset? - that should move it out from the strut 5mm, yes?

["Z" UTE]

Quick question.

I've decided to just replace the rims - the engineer wants the wheel studs replaced with longer ones as well as bolting on a spacer. That's getting more expensive than just a replacement set of cheapo rims.

I currently have 17x8 with 35mm offset. If I'm running a 5mm spacer - should I be looking for a rim that has 40mm offset? - that should move it out from the strut 5mm, yes?

You actually need a 30mm positive offset rim, to get rid of the 5mm spacer.

cheers Chuck.

[o_man_ra23]

Put on flares and go 0 offset

I am in agreeance that getting the correct wheels in the first place is the best route, and spacers are out and out FTMFL... even bolted ones are one more place the tyre shop can root your car. Looks like you are going the correct route Gibbon, and it should also make your car insurable (spacers void your insurance policy in the event of an at fault incident, as do any un-engineered and un-approved(by the insurance broker) modifications)

[CrUZida]

Talk to your engineer about track width.

Legally (in all states) you cannot decrease the track at all, and you cannot increase the track by more than 25mm.

So if you are running stock brakes on the rear, you'll require offsets of +8 to -4 (assuming Aus MA61)
With AU brakes on the front you'll require +16 to +4 (assuming disc is 8mm thick at hub)
If you have MS65 hubs, add 2mm from that front offset.

If you have custom hubs, you'll have to find out how they compare to factory ones.


You may be able to get the engineer to approve a wider track than factory, but this was flat out refused by the WA trans dept when I queried it a few weeks back.




Also, FWIW, currently ANY form of spacer (between the hub and hub mounting face on the rim) is illegal in all states (unless factory fitment).
This is both bolt on and slip on.
Any spacers that are engineered were done when it was legal, or at least wasn't illegal.
A spacer between the disc and the hub is perfectly legal.


That all said, a lot of things get overlooked when you go over the pits, and there is a high chance spacers will not be seen, especially if they are similar size and colour to the rim centre.

But then again, if you are going to the 'extreme' of getting the car engineered for 99% of your mods, you may as well get everything engineered, thus making the whole car legal.

[CrUZida]

(spacers void your insurance policy in the event of an at fault incident, as do any un-engineered and un-approved(by the insurance broker) modifications)

Just like to clarify this, an unapproved mod only voids your insurance if its proven to have played a part in causing the accident.
My engineer spends a lot of his time inspecting smashed cars to see if the mods the owner has performed contributed to the accident.
No contribution means insurance is not void.

[o_man_ra23]

NCOP states that spacers are not allowed, as Cruzida has stated. Read NCOP section LS thoroughly before talking to your engineer, so he doesnt hit you with it.

[o_man_ra23]

Oh, and when the engineer pulls the car apart and includes in the report that you had spacers, but they didnt contribute... the cops will still give you an $80 fee for a non-conformity.

[Gibbon]

Oh, and when the engineer pulls the car apart and includes in the report that you had spacers, but they didnt contribute... the cops will still give you an $80 fee for a non-conformity.

True - but they are legal if they have been engineered. It's the engineers suggestion to use spacers. It doesn't 'feel' right to me, which is why I'd rather get replacement rims.