Are all wheel spacers bad news?

[mondospyder]

Hi,
I've been looking for quite a while for a new set of shoes for my baby, a 1995 VR4 Spyder.
My problem is none of the wheels I want apparently will fit on a Big-Brake AWD VR4 without using wheel spacers. I've heard a couple of people including a salesman at Buy Wheels Today.com that spacers are a definite no, no.Other people have mentioned hubcentric spacers that take care of clearing the big brake calipers without putting too much stress on the rest of the axle. Can anyone tell me if they've used spacers, and how well they worked?

Mondospyder

[HugeJay]

well..my experiance with spacers are only limited to my 87 300zx, from what I learned make sure you only get hubcentric spacers, I tried the regular spacers that just shim the wheel out a touch and it caused balancing issues. I got 1 inch spacers on my Z and they work great. Dont need them on my stealth since I have a NA.

[BA TURBO]

I got mine from wheelspacers.com, speak with Fred, very knowledgeable and a great help. I gave him my specs, he made exactly what I needed and shipped them the next day.
I have them on a 93 TT Stealth and have had zero issues.

Bob

[VR3.9]

Definetly hubcentric also anything more than I believe 5mm requires longer stud bolts. I'm using 5mm hubcentric without any issues.

[Monster Stealth]

What wheels have you been looking at? There are a quite a few options you have.

[Paradigm]

no problems with my TT and its spacers. i too have aftermarket wheels that i put on during the winter. worked fine up to 110 on non z rated tires.

[Polygon]

If it's just a street car then I wouldn't go over 5mm. If you're racing I wouldn't use them at all.

[1bad3grs]

my rule of thumb for spacers is to avoid any style spacer that requires longer studs, and they must be hubcentric.

i use 5mm or less washer style spacers or bolt on adaptor style (20mm+) on oem studs..

[mondospyder]

Wow. Thanks so much you guys! i've been wondering about this issue for 6 months. I'm not racing and not ready to do any major performance mods for quite a while, so I don't think a tuner look is right for the convertable. At first I wanted Advan Model 5s but they don't make them anymore. Next I saw a few sharp 3S cars with Moda R6s but again, none to be had. I've decided on a simple, clean silver 5-spoke like the Moda is the look. OZ Vela-discontinued. OZ Hydra--won't fit.MOMO WR--won't fit. Momo Strike Silver-won't fit Liquid Metal Static--won't fit. The wheel I was going to go with if spacers were out is the Enkie RPO3. It's the only simple 5-spoke heel that's supposed to fit, but I REALLY like the momo Strike.
Thanks again,
mondospyder

[mikes2nd]

Originally Posted by Polygon

If it's just a street car then I wouldn't go over 5mm. If you're racing I wouldn't use them at all.

Plenty of people race with spacers... you think they are all getting wider axles?

There are good spacers out there and DAMN big ones... just have to get a real spacer, hubcentric etc...

If you do go 10-15 or so and need longer studs, get the ARP ones. They make a set for the Subaru STI that fit our cars...

H&R makes huge spacers. 25mm+

when you go big you actually use another set of lug studs in the adapter...