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Re: To use wheel spacers or not, that is the question. [Re: Challenger 1] #881016
12/16/10 09:44 PM
12/16/10 09:44 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,257
gulfport, ms, west mi
rowin4 Offline
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rowin4  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,257
gulfport, ms, west mi
Quote:

Quote:

I did the same thing to get my car lower.I used the Mr.Gasket aluminum wheel spacers.They have 4 different thickness'.
They are inexpensive and do the job. No need for $40-50.00 spacers.




OK I'm not afraid to stir the pot!!

I think a race car thought out using wheel spacers is well, chessey.

Wheel spacers should avoided at all costs, especially cheap aluminum ones. They can crush, they will eventually and then you got loose lug nuts.

Just because a lot of guys use them don't make it safe or right.

A 1/8" should be the maximum thickness considered for wheel spacers.

It adds weight to a car also which is not what you want on a race car.





I agree spacers should be avoided when possible, but why would a 1/8" spacer be any different than a 1/4" or thicker? You would really have to put more torque on studs than they would hold to crush them, No , the only way to crush them would be with a press. Torque properly and you'll be OK.


it's ok to butt heads, just don't do it with a butthead
Re: To use wheel spacers or not, that is the question. [Re: rowin4] #881017
12/16/10 09:47 PM
12/16/10 09:47 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,085
Indiana
W5Duster436 Offline OP
master
W5Duster436  Offline OP
master

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,085
Indiana
I am only talking about 3/8 spacers here. I just ordered the rims so will be doing it. Unfortunately since you can't get these rims specially ordered and want to move your wheels this is the only way (without cutting the diff/axles). I'll definitely keep them monitored and torqued.


'70 Duster - SDSS 436 W5 4spd (Gone)
'71 Dodge D100
'70 Dodge W100
Re: To use wheel spacers or not, that is the question. [Re: rowin4] #881018
12/16/10 09:50 PM
12/16/10 09:50 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1 Offline
Too Many Posts
Challenger 1  Offline
Too Many Posts

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

I did the same thing to get my car lower.I used the Mr.Gasket aluminum wheel spacers.They have 4 different thickness'.
They are inexpensive and do the job. No need for $40-50.00 spacers.




OK I'm not afraid to stir the pot!!

I think a race car thought out using wheel spacers is well, chessey.

Wheel spacers should avoided at all costs, especially cheap aluminum ones. They can crush, they will eventually and then you got loose lug nuts.

Just because a lot of guys use them don't make it safe or right.

A 1/8" should be the maximum thickness considered for wheel spacers.

It adds weight to a car also which is not what you want on a race car.





I agree spacers should be avoided when possible, but why would a 1/8" spacer be any different than a 1/4" or thicker? You would really have to put more torque on studs than they would hold to crush them, No , the only way to crush them would be with a press. Torque properly and you'll be OK.




Because the thickest MW sells is 1/4"If they even sell em anymore. I just looked and these MW spacers are 1/4", sorry my bad. These were the thickest they would sell me years ago. I never used them.
Brett at MW is who educated me about wheel spacers, who did you learn from gregsdart?

Someday when you make enough HP and experience tire shake, that is what will cause wheel spacers to crush and long studs to stretch.


Last edited by Challenger 1; 12/16/10 11:23 PM.
Re: To use wheel spacers or not, that is the question. [Re: Challenger 1] #881019
12/16/10 09:53 PM
12/16/10 09:53 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,085
Indiana
W5Duster436 Offline OP
master
W5Duster436  Offline OP
master

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,085
Indiana
Quite a few spacers here? I guess those are for 11/16 studs though..


'70 Duster - SDSS 436 W5 4spd (Gone)
'71 Dodge D100
'70 Dodge W100
Re: To use wheel spacers or not, that is the question. [Re: W5Duster436] #881020
12/16/10 11:16 PM
12/16/10 11:16 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,146
Now - Port Orange,Fla. Former...
MIKES_DUSTER Offline
master
MIKES_DUSTER  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,146
Now - Port Orange,Fla. Former...
TORQUE'EM AND RUN'EM!!!!!!!

Re: To use wheel spacers or not, that is the question. [Re: gregsdart] #881021
12/16/10 11:24 PM
12/16/10 11:24 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,578
K
KOS Offline
pro stock
KOS  Offline
pro stock
K

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,578
Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

I did the same thing to get my car lower.I used the Mr.Gasket aluminum wheel spacers.They have 4 different thickness'.
They are inexpensive and do the job. No need for $40-50.00 spacers.




OK I'm not afraid to stir the pot!!

I think a race car thought out using wheel spacers is well, chessey.

Wheel spacers should avoided at all costs, especially cheap aluminum ones. They can crush, they will eventually and then you got loose lug nuts.

Just because a lot of guys use them don't make it safe or right.

A 1/8" should be the maximum thickness considered for wheel spacers.

It adds weight to a car also which is not what you want on a race car.



Gee, i guess Mark Williams is all wet then. He sells a lot of spacers, several widths. Guess I better reconsider twelve years worth of running them,,,,,,,,,,
WHEN PROPERLY USED, THEY ARE FINE! ON THE OTHER HAND, NO SET UP WILL LAST WITH IMPROPER TORQUE OR MAINTENANCE. I trust MWs reputation just a bit more than anybody posting on this thread! They have a tad more experience.




ive ran them for yrs and lots of other guys i know too(serious cars)never had or seen an incedent with them.

Re: To use wheel spacers or not, that is the question. [Re: W5Duster436] #881022
12/16/10 11:30 PM
12/16/10 11:30 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,016
Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
gregsdart Offline
I Live Here
gregsdart  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,016
Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
Mark Williams lists spacers in 1 inch, 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch. I just got off their web page. Search spacers.
As far as who I learned from, personal experience putting one heck of a lot of torque through them for as I said, over twelve years. I run a torqueflite. The starting line hit is brutal to say the least.
If they were not safe to use, MW wouldn't list them. Don't know who you talked to, but he obviously doesn't agree with the head of the company.
One last thought. Ever wonder why a dual disc clutch has about twice the holding power of a single? Same principle. You just need to be sure the pressure is there to provide the proper friction. With that being said, spacers will provide even more stength if used properly. Improper torque on the studs will allow slippage and the leverage on the studs is higher than with no spacers. So like i said earlier, use them properly, or not at all.


8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky
Re: To use wheel spacers or not, that is the question. [Re: KOS] #881023
12/16/10 11:59 PM
12/16/10 11:59 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,177
ill
D
dennismopar73 Offline
top fuel
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top fuel
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Posts: 2,177
ill
every company sells something that they probably shouldnt be but sell it non the less, ie compression fitting for brake line comes to mind real quick,
and mark williams does have alot of experience
with rears than most
like i said in previous post do what others say .
there are just some thing that i wont do, so doesnt matter
but this board is full of really good info

Re: To use wheel spacers or not, that is the question. [Re: dennismopar73] #881024
12/17/10 12:15 AM
12/17/10 12:15 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 9,366
Lehigh Acres, Florida
rickstershemi Offline
master
rickstershemi  Offline
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Posts: 9,366
Lehigh Acres, Florida
Cracks me up with most of the responses to this thread....sometimes you need to make slight adjustments and like anything else they should be part of your routine maintenance program to insure your safety

Rickster

Re: To use wheel spacers or not, that is the question. [Re: Challenger 1] #881025
12/17/10 12:50 AM
12/17/10 12:50 AM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 11,685
W. Kentucky
justinp61 Offline
I Live Here
justinp61  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 11,685
W. Kentucky
Quote:



I think a race car thought out using wheel spacers is well, chessey.

It adds weight to a car also which is not what you want on a race car.




It's not a race car, a pair of 3/8" spacers may add 1 1/2#, total

Re: To use wheel spacers or not, that is the question. [Re: W5Duster436] #881026
12/17/10 05:07 PM
12/17/10 05:07 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 529
Rowlett, TX
7
74DusterP457 Offline
mopar addict
74DusterP457  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 529
Rowlett, TX
Spacers are fine. Just don't use the cast aluminum junk. They will break.
I had a very nasty surprise when I was going through my normal pre-race check out, which included checking the lugs on my wheels. I found one wheel was loose. I jacked the car up and pulled the wheel and the cast aluminum "Cal-Custom" type spacer (from the previous owner)fell off in pieces.

To fix the problem for good, I designed my own spacers using AutoCAD, then bought a piece of 6061-T6 plate (.375 thick) and had them cut with a water jet by a local shop using my AutoCAD file.

The next thing I did was drill and tap the center of the wheel in 4 places so I could bolt the spacer inside the wheel using allen screws with counter-sunk heads so the spacer would sit flat against the drum with no bolt heads sticking out.

This solved any alignment problems with wheel studs or the extended nuts I used.

This approach made the center of the wheel effectively 3/8" thicker, which can't hurt.

Paul

Re: To use wheel spacers or not, that is the question. [Re: 74DusterP457] #881027
12/17/10 10:34 PM
12/17/10 10:34 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 13,202
aZLiViN
J
J_BODY Offline
I Live Here
J_BODY  Offline
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 13,202
aZLiViN
Spacer user here too.

Re: To use wheel spacers or not, that is the question. [Re: J_BODY] #881028
12/17/10 11:57 PM
12/17/10 11:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,695
nc
E
emarine01 Offline
master
emarine01  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2007
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nc
I see 3000 hp mud rails use spacers with paddle tires all the time & we run them on some tire combos, every thing has to be machine fit with proper studs and nuts, I don't think I would use the cheep generic type,

Re: To use wheel spacers or not, that is the question. [Re: justinp61] #881029
12/18/10 12:17 AM
12/18/10 12:17 AM
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,343
SE PA.
Q
QuickBpBp Offline
master
QuickBpBp  Offline
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Q

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Posts: 6,343
SE PA.
Quote:

Quote:



I think a race car thought out using wheel spacers is well, chessey.

It adds weight to a car also which is not what you want on a race car.




It's not a race car, a pair of 3/8" spacers may add 1 1/2#, total





With all that extra weight you will need to find more power for that pound and 1/2 at the rear...
I have a 4,000lb street car that I used spacers in for years...Raced alot and NEVER had a problem. My car 60ft'd 1.52-3 on 10inch tires and had plenty of street miles too...

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