Sometimes it is inevitable that you need to remove the entire wheels and wheel spacers to replace the brake system. Or you get the wheel spacers replaced. Whatever the reason, it seems that you have to remove the wheel spacers completely. Considering this, BONOSS wheel spacers are designed with disassembly grooves. The disassembly grooves mean the small notches which are distributed on the corner of wheel spacers. The notch leaves a limited clearance between the brake rotor and spacer. When removing the spacer, place a screwdriver into the notch and you can simply apply force at an angle to separate the spacer from the brake rotor. These notches make the whole removing process much easier and lighten the weight, to some extent. Without such grooves, the spacer may stuck in the place, by forces effect, it can be difficult to dismount. Even worse, you may destroy the spacers or axle hub.
What If the Wheel Spacers Stuck?
If the wheel spacers are snug badly, moderate application of heat may work. When heated, aluminum spacers will expand at a different rate than will the rotor. You can take a heat gun around the spacer for a few minutes and hit it once with a rubber mallet. If it works, the spacer will pop off and fall to the floor. If you don’t have a heat gun, spray degreaser rust remover on the edge of the spacer and let it soak for a while. Then get a flat-head screwdriver and place it on the disassembly grooves. Pound a hammer to the screwdriver at a 45-degree angle, be gentle, but convincing, until it loosens. It should come off pretty easily. After taking it off, use a brush to clean as much as the rust of the spacer, hub assembly, and the wheel.
Precautions That Make Wheel Spacers Easy to Remove
There are several precautions that help you easily remove the wheel spacers:
- When reinstalling the wheel spacers, remember to put anti-seize on both surfaces of the spacers and the inner bore of the wheel. Also, apply anti-seize on the wheel bolts.
- Do some cleaning for your vehicle hub. Spray degreaser on the lug studs and the brake rotor 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, ensuring it is clean and smooth.
- Use forged aluminum wheel spacers. Due to the properties of aluminum alloys, aluminum wheel spacers are protected by their own naturally occurring oxide film, which brings them incredibly resistant to corrosion. Besides, the forging process eliminates the porosity, ensuring structural integrity. This make them not easy to break.
