Adapters/Spacers

[JR_Charger]

Just posting some good info for those who need to know -

 

[Kern Dog]

I have not seen any spacer that had a raised hub ring like those did.
Have you ever noticed how road racers are often thinner than drag racers? I've seen numerous straight line guys well over 300 lbs but the guys that turn the wheel are always in better shape.
I read once where a road course guy said Low ETs require a fast car while low lap times require a fast driver. I'm paraphrasing but it made sense to me.

 

[JR_Charger]

I have not seen any spacer that had a raised hub ring like those did.

I've seen them on sale at a couple sites, but it seems most are the ultra-cheapies made of poor quality metal, and not hub centric. Scary to think what is out there on the road. I'm trying to do it right, but just when I think i've got the gist of it I come across a video like the one I posted and I think - "If I missed that, what else am I missing?" Cost of failure is high.

 

[JR_Charger]

Here's the specs I've come up with for my application -

Bolt pattern - 5 X 4.5 114.3mm

stud - 1/2-20 inches

Dr. Diff wheel hub size - 68.68 mm

XXR 555 center bore opening - 73.1 mm

So let's see if I can find a quality spacer like that. I think I can get close. I may need one of those little plastic adapter rings for the rim center bore hole.

 

[Kern Dog]

OR buy the right wheels.

 

[68-500]

Ive not been a fan of wheel spacers or adapters period. Just do it right. My son runs spacers on his dually so he can be cool and run 35’s. He has had 2 failures and won’t change his mind. The first set that was on the pickup when he purchased it didn’t even reach the outside rim. It was riding on the end of the studs.

 

[33 IMP]

Ive not been a fan of wheel spacers or adapters period. Just do it right. My son runs spacers on his dually so he can be cool and run 35’s. He has had 2 failures and won’t change his mind. The first set that was on the pickup when he purchased it didn’t even reach the outside rim. It was riding on the end of the studs.

Sounds like an engineering failure.
I've got spacers on three of my cars. All billet or steel, all made by me. Never any kind of problem. One set on an 11 second car, one on a nine second car, one on an ex 8 second car, that now runs very low tens)
All of them have top quality 3" or longer studs, with open end lugs.
The cast spacers with open areas and multiple bolt pattern are GARBAGE, don't use them!

 

[33 IMP]

I have not seen any spacer that had a raised hub ring like those did.
Have you ever noticed how road racers are often thinner than drag racers? I've seen numerous straight line guys well over 300 lbs but the guys that turn the wheel are always in better shape.
I read once where a road course guy said Low ETs require a fast car while low lap times require a fast driver. I'm paraphrasing but it made sense to me.

At a race at pomona many years ago, a friend of mine pointed to a mid 60s El Camino, and said "that thing is 4400 lbs with driver" I call him a liar. Then the driver got out..... and the left side of the car went up a couple inches. 600 lbs, at least. His calf was bigger than my waist.

 

[JR_Charger]

OR buy the right wheels.

You mean 15" Rallye wheels? Or 14" steelies with a hubcap?

 

[Kern Dog]

I may not have the best track record.
With Jigsaw, I considered swapping in a wider axle to be able to use a set of wheels that I have here.

Lookie what $5000 buys you....

Start at post #1380.
I have a set of 16" wheels that were modified for another car that was tubbed. I have been trying to find a practical way of using them but it feels like a dead end.

 

[JR_Charger]

Spacers are an added risk which I'd rather not have, on the other hand, people race with these things. I bet that Bimmer driver doesn't hold back when he's on the track. I guess the truck guys offroad with them too. It seems like they should be fine so long as they are high quality, hub centric, and pass the paper test when installed.

I may not need spacers in front at all, not sure yet. The thing about using them in back is that I don't want to throw more money or time into the pre-97 8 1/4, and if I take the axles out to put longer studs in, I'll definitely put a limited slip in there while I'm at it. Then I won't want to upgrade to a stronger rear end because I just threw money into this rear end. So I'll use spacers and at least be able to move the car around. I don't have a running engine yet, so the car won't be hitting the road with spacers any time soon.

 

[JR_Charger]

Another thought, my rear discs take up almost the full width of the wheel register. Even without spacers, I'd think everyone with rear discs is riding lug centric. Not sure if drums are thin enough to be much better.

 

[RemCharger]

Being hub centric isn't a make or break. Probably 90 % of the people up here drive on winter tires and cheap steelies with universal( big bore) register holes. It's the clamping force of proper nuts, torqued proper that centers and holds the rim from moving.
And race cars.

 

[JR_Charger]

I've never been hub centric with my Charger. It came with slotted mags on a spacer that tied into the lugs and did not itself rest on the wheel register. Never had a problem with it.