Fitting spacers - car newbie...

[Jimbo Mahoney]

Hi guys,

 

I've done some reading around and want to check I'm correct in my thinking and what I need to do to fit spacers (I'm a microscope engineer by trade, so pretty good with my hands, but have never worked on cars before):

 

1) I have a standard 2004 350Z with standard 18" wheels.

 

2) I've ordered a pair of 30mm spacers for the rear and 20mm for the front. They're the hubcentric ones from Clark Motorsport / Superforma. I understand these will be fine without lowering the car. If I do end up lowering the car, it won't be by much (15mm?).

 

3) I plan to fit them myself by jacking up the car using the jack in the boot.

 

4) Torque to 115nm.

 

5) Tell insurance company.

 

6) No need for wheel alignment - it was done recently and spacers shouldn't affect it.

 

Anything wrong here?

 

Thanks!

[Ricey]

Nope. I'll answer the inevitable question though.......the little bolt can be removed as it's only there to stop you accidentally fitting front to rear and vice versa......if you haven't spotted the bolt already you will when you come to do the job!

 

Sent from my HTC One mini using Tapatalk

 

 

[ioneabee]

^^ http://www.350z-uk.com/topic/75841-fitting-25mm-spacers-idiots-guide/

[Jimbo Mahoney]

Thanks both!

 

ioneabee - how do I add my location to the map in your sig?

[Spatt]

What did your insurance guys say? Im with Admiral and will need to call them when i fit mine.. Not looking forward to it

[ioneabee]

Thanks both!

 

ioneabee - how do I add my location to the map in your sig?

pm me your approximate location and I add it for you

[Jimbo Mahoney]

What did your insurance guys say? Im with Admiral and will need to call them when i fit mine.. Not looking forward to it

 

Well, stage one has been attempted (I'm with Elephant currently - sister to Admiral I believe):

 

Called and got quickly through to someone in India.

They transferred me to someone in the UK.

They then transferred me back to someone in India, who was extremely helpful but had never heard of spacers. She eventually (through multiple rounds of holding / speak-to-manager) found that they are a classified as a suspension modification.

Sadly, she couldn't give me a quote and will have to call me back in the next 24 - 48 hours...

 

[Spatt]

Lol. Love it! Let me know the damge if thats alright. .. id like to compare.

 

I fitted better breaks to my pug and they charged me more... silly world

[GMballistic]

Fyi ~ I'd make sure you clean the brake disc face/back of your alloys properly before fitting the spacers (wire brush or medium grade sand paper will do it) and also put some copper grease on all the faces. Just a little though otherwise it will go everywhere when you start driving.

 

This will stop them welding themselves together from corrosion.

[Spatt]

I dont understand. .. is it because I mentioned brakes..(they where fitted to another car)

 

So with the spacers. .. I intended to paint copper grease everywhere including the threads.... I guess this will get thrown out over the wheels and everywhere else including the brakes?

[Jimbo Mahoney]

Fyi ~ I'd make sure you clean the brake disc face/back of your alloys properly before fitting the spacers (wire brush or medium grade sand paper will do it) and also put some copper grease on all the faces. Just a little though otherwise it will go everywhere when you start driving.

 

This will stop them welding themselves together from corrosion.

 

Thanks. I did a lot of research on this topic (it seems it's quite divisive!) and came to the same conclusion - wire brush on hubs / alloys plus copper grease but NOT on the nuts / bolts.

[Jimbo Mahoney]

I dont understand. .. is it because I mentioned brakes..(they where fitted to another car)

 

So with the spacers. .. I intended to paint copper grease everywhere including the threads.... I guess this will get thrown out over the wheels and everywhere else including the brakes?

 

Nope - only on the faces of the hub / spacer / alloy wheels to prevent corrosion / wheels sticking to the hubs.

 

Don't use it on the bolts / nuts because you may over-tighten them (from what I've read).

[GMballistic]

Fyi ~ I'd make sure you clean the brake disc face/back of your alloys properly before fitting the spacers (wire brush or medium grade sand paper will do it) and also put some copper grease on all the faces. Just a little though otherwise it will go everywhere when you start driving.

 

This will stop them welding themselves together from corrosion.

 

Thanks. I did a lot of research on this topic (it seems it's quite divisive!) and came to the same conclusion - wire brush on hubs / alloys plus copper grease but NOT on the nuts / bolts.

Spot on.

[Netnomad]

If you use spacers do you need longer stud bolts?

[Jimbo Mahoney]

If you use spacers do you need longer stud bolts?

 

Not if they come with them. The cheap ones I saw in the likes of Halfords may require them, but the decent ones I'm getting don't.

 

I don't think the term "hubcentric" necessarily means this, but this type seem to come with bolts - they effectively duplicate your existing wheel hub, but extend it. Cheap spacers simply do just that - add space between the hub and wheel.

 

Compare these:

 

http://www.elise-shop.com/20mm-wheel-spacers-elise-s2-all-models-p-321.html

 

with these:

 

http://www.rogueengineering.com/rogue/W-SPACER/WSPACER.html

 

Hope that makes sense?

[GMballistic]

If you use spacers do you need longer stud bolts?

Nope because they fix to your original studs and then have their own studs for your wheels to attach to.

Like below;

 

 

Edit: as Jimbo said. The good ones do anyway.

Edited April 30, 2014 by GMballistic

[Mikeyazure]

haha just came across the little bolt on the fronts today confession! rang ewan but just read this thread... tomorrow morning on they go!

[Mikeyazure]

as my engineer colleagues keep saying RTFM.....

[Netnomad]

Ah right got it, thanks for the replies...So where is the best place to buy these and price?

[MITZ@CougarStore]

Ah right got it, thanks for the replies...So where is the best place to buy these and price?

 

Which wheels do you have fitted, for the standard and Rays we opt for the 20/25mm combo - http://cougarstore.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=30

[GMballistic]

Ah right got it, thanks for the replies...So where is the best place to buy these and price?

Lot's of the traders on here do them. Cougar Store, Tarmac Sportz etc.Check out the Trader section for the best deals.

 

Here's a link to Cougar Stores site just for example; http://cougarstore.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_18&zenid=bcaa60565806895c2c0f2d2ff1b32aee

[Netnomad]

Thanks I will need to save some money

[GMballistic]

Thanks I will need to save some money

You might need to save more than you think,

 

...I started looking at spacers and ended up getting new alloys from Mitz at the Cougar Store instead. Best decision I made.

[Jimbo Mahoney]

Mine are on the way from Clark Motorsport:

 

http://www.350z-uk.c...spacers__st__20

 

but forgot to check the forum first...(i.e. I paid full website price!).

 

Lesson learned!

Edited May 1, 2014 by Jimbo Mahoney

[Jimbo Mahoney]

Lol. Love it! Let me know the damge if thats alright. .. id like to compare.

 

I fitted better breaks to my pug and they charged me more... silly world

 

Finally heard back from Elephant today and it's good news.

 

I currently pay £475 fully comp. They want an additional £36 if I fit 30 mm rear / 20 mm front spacers, which I'm happy with.

 

In fairness, despite being passed back and forth initially and having a lot of to and fro with a girl in India, the service was excellent and she was extremely helpful.

 

Pics when the spacers are fitted!