When the wheel offset is not ideal, installing wheel spacers will be a good solution. Replacing the wheels is one of the most common modifications that most enthusiasts make to their cars. However, no one is born a tire expert. Sometimes it is inevitable that you get some aftermarket wheels with the wrong offset. In this case, there is really no faster, more effective way to fix this issue than by adding wheel spacers.
Wheel spacers act as the extension of wheel hubs, actually, they decrease offset (the distance from the hub mounting surface of the wheel to the centerline of the wheel). Less offset means the wheels are pushed out away from the brake rotors. Whether you are upsizing to high-performance wheels for a “sporty” look and feel, or downsizing to smaller wheels for a set of snow tires, wheel spacers will eliminate the rubbing issues for safe driving.
When to Re-torque Wheel Spacers?
As a rule of thumb, it is a good idea to re-torque wheel spacers after the first 30 miles or 50 kilometers of driving. Over time, wheel bolts undergo the common stresses and forces of a car in daily use. These forces can sometimes cause the loosening of the bolts. If wheel bolts are too loose, there’s a risk that the wheel could come off while you’re driving. A good torque wrench is helpful and the torque specification is just the same.
Set the torque wrench to that value. Then simply turn the wrench handle until it reaches the torque mark. The most common sequence is to torque in a ‘star’ pattern on 5-lug wheel spacers. When the lug bolts are properly torqued, you will feel a click around the head of the wrench. After this process, lower the vehicle and drive for a short distance, the wheel spacers will be completely tightened.
When to Remove Wheel Spacers?
When upgrading to new performance brakes or wheel spacers of different sizes, it is required to remove the old spacers. Removing wheel spacers should not be hard, but a spacer can get stuck due to rust accumulation. This corrosive element acts like strong glue to stick them together. Anyways, the wrong operation will not help you disassemble stuck wheel spacers. What’s worse, you may even damage your vehicle hubs and wheels.
Considering this, BONOSS wheel spacers are designed with disassembly grooves. The disassembly grooves leave 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. In addition, these grooves also act as air collecting funnels, which is effectively increasing airflow, and enhancing the heat dissipation effect.
