Wheel spacers are a kind of wheel accessories sandwiched between the vehicle hub and the wheel. It is designed to relocate the wheel outward from the wheel hub to solve the clearance problem of suspension components. They come in various thicknesses and dimensions, commonly used when the offset of the wheel is not ideal for your wheels. They are also a perfect solution for fixing bigger brake calipers clearance issues. By increasing the track, they provide more stability and better handling performance. Moreover, a better stance and a more visually aggressive look. A wheel spacers install is easy work that has a good effect on your driving experience. If you’re ready to install your wheel spacers, the instructions below will help you walk through each step.
Before Installing Wheel Spacers
First of all, make sure the wheel spacers you’ve chosen are the right pattern for your vehicle, including vehicle bolt pattern, wheel bolt pattern, thread size, spacer thickness, and center bore. There are usually two types of spacers: One type simply slides into the hub and come with their own lug studs and nuts, while the other type bolts to the vehicle hub with another set of extended wheel bolts. BONOSS BL Series Wheel Spacers are the second type mentioned above. Hub-centric wheel spacers are highly recommended. If your wheels are lug-centric, hub-centric spacers are available to transform them into hub-centric wheels.
Steps to Install Wheel Spacers
Park the car in a safe, well lit, level area, leave the wheels in contact with the ground. Wheel spacers installation is quite simple, almost can be done in an afternoon. You just need to prepare some hand tools and a way to lift your car.
Required Tools: Jack, Jack Stands, Lug Socket, Torque Wrench, Wheel Hanger (Optional), Impact Wrench (Optional), Degreaser (Optional), Emery Cloth (Optional), Towel (Optional)
Step 1: Loosen All the Stock Bolts
Loosen all the stock bolts that fasten the wheel to the hub in the sequence of a “Star” shape pattern but do not fully remove them. Step on the brake pedal to prevent any chance of the vehicle rolling. Besides, it’s recommended to use the resistance of the tire against the ground to get enough torque to turn the lugs. Otherwise, you may meet the problem that the wheel would just spin if you try to loosen the bolts when it’s lifted.
Step 2: Lift the Car
If you don’t have access to a car lift, a jack and a good set of jack stands will work just fine as well. Slide the jack under the vehicle to the appropriate lift point and raise the vehicle slowly to a height enough to lift a single wheel completely off the ground. Remember to place a jack stand under your vehicle, and adjust it until properly support the vehicle.
Step 3: Take the Wheel Off
Finish removing all the lug bolts on the raised wheel. Hold the wheels with your hands to prevent a sudden drop and slowly slide the wheel off the hub and set it to the side for now.
Step 4: Clean the Wheel Hub
Now, it is a good time to do some cleaning for your vehicle hub. Spray degreaser on the axle hub and the rotor hat and wipe them down with the emery cloth. If the hub is dirty, rusted, or pitted use the emery cloth to clean up the surface. Wipe down the entire hub surface by a towel, ensuring it is clean and smooth.
Step 5: Install the Wheel Spacer in Place
Slide the BONOSS BL Series Wheel Spacer on the axle hub and align the holes in the spacer to the thread holes, and ensure that the wheel spacer is firmly seated and flush against the hub.
Step 6: Install a Wheel Hanger
A wheel hanger is optional but we highly recommend it. Thread it in one of the holes and it makes the wheel alignment easier. If you meet problems that the hubs roll while threading the hanger, you can ask an assistant to press the brake pedal to prevent the hub from rolling.
Step 7: Remount the Wheel
Slide the wheel onto the axle hub as well as the wheel hanger that protrudes from the wheel spacer. Secure the wheel with extended wheel bolts by hand, but do not torque the extended bolts fully. Just put them in place and fasten them a bit. Repeat this step with the rest of the extended lug bolts.
BONOSS Forged Extended Wheel Bolts
Any time you run wheel spacers, extended wheel bolts are a must option for properly fastening the wheel to the vehicle hub. Extended wheel bolts (also called longer wheel bolts, extended lug bolts) are designed with longer thread lengths to allow full thread penetration with wheel spacers.
Step 8: Carefully Lower the Vehicle
Remove the jack stand, use the jack to lower the vehicle slowly until the wheel is in full contact with the ground, and then remove the jack.
Step 9: Torque the Extended Wheel Bolts to Spec
Use a torque wrench with the manufacturer-recommended torque specification to snug up the lug bolts in a star pattern to ensure that the load is applied evenly. But do not overtighten the bolts.
Step 10: Repeat Steps 1-8 for the Remaining Wheels
Now, you’ve completed the installation for one wheel! Repeat the same process for the rest of the wheel and then it’s recommended to take a test ride to do a quick check for vibration or wobbling. Also, experience a new handling performance.
Follow-up Safety Information
- Wheel spacers are a safe mod for your vehicle as long as you use high-quality spacers and install them properly.
- This instruction is provided as a general guideline only and may not be specific to your vehicle. Please always follow the vehicle manufacturer’s installation instructions.
- DO NOT ATTEMPT to install, service, or replace your wheels, tires, or wheel spacers unless you are a professional or under the guidance of a Qualified Mechanic.
- NEVER operate on or under a vehicle that is raised only by a jack, as it has chances to fall or tip, leading to serious injury.
- Double-check that all lug nuts are tightened to the manufacturer’s specification with a properly calibrated torque wrench in a crisscross, star pattern.
- CHECK and CONFIRM the proper alignment and function of your wheels and tires before driving.
- EXAMINE the performance of your wheels, tires, and wheel spacers in a controllable environment before driving.
- NEVER operate the vehicle if wheels, tires, or wheel spacers are damaged or worn.
- It is always a great idea to regularly inspect the tightness of the lug nuts, especially soon after installation. Give the spacers another check after 100 miles of driving to make sure they’re still in place well and the lug nuts are tight.
