Wheel spacers adapters have always been a topic of conversation in car modification. Whether you want to give your car a unique stance, improve the handling experience while driving, or for any other reason, you want to install spacers on your car. This article is one you don't want to miss. In 4 steps, we will show you how to choose the best and correct wheel spacers for your car.
Those who are new to wheel spacers may ask: How to measure for wheel spacers? What are the best wheel spacers? I have already talked about what wheel spacers are, what wheel spacers pros and cons, and whether wheel spacers are safe in another article, so I won't go over them here.
1. Determine your wheel, tire, ride height first
Don't buy the spacers recommended by people on car forums, because they may not be suitable for you.
The same wheel spacer will have different effects when it meets different tires. For example, if you replace a 235 wide tire with a 245 wide tire, the tire will be closer to the edge of the wheel well and will be able to have a wider stance visually.
Every car is designed differently, such as camber. If the camber is negative, The more negative camber your car has, the more the top of the wheels will stick into the fender wells. Positive camber is the opposite.
The difference in ride height will also have a different effect. If you lower the body, the negative camber increases as you lower the car and the wheels will appear more concave.
2. How to measure for wheel spacers
Depending on the vehicle, the upper limit of wheel spacer thickness will vary. So how thick do you need wheel spacers? The most convenient and easiest way is to measure the wheel clearance. Wheel clearance is the distance between the inner lip of the fender and the outer edge of the tire. Have your friend sit in your car before you start measuring, because the suspension of an empty car is not at its maximum compression point. Now, using a straightedge or any tool that can measure length, place the ruler on the inside lip of the fender and measure the distance from the edge of the tire to the inside of the fender. This distance is the maximum thickness of wheel spacers that can be installed on your car. (Of course, this value is not exact, so choose a wheel spacer with a thickness smaller than this number when picking one)
Another way to measure the needed wheel spacers is to use washers. If you have studs, you simply install the washers on the studs and then reinstall the wheel to verify clearance to the suspension. The spacer size you need will be equal to the thickness of the washers used.
3. Choose the right wheel spacers style
Non hub centric or hub centric wheel spacer?
Hub centric wheel spacers: Use the axle hub to center and support the wheel. Use the lug studs as compressive force to keep the wheel tight to the wheel hub.
Lug-centric wheel spacers: Use the lug studs to support the wheel. Then uses tapered holes and nuts to align/center the wheel so that the spacers can keep it compresses to the hub.
Hub centric wheel spacers match the locating ring on the hub, ensuring that the weight of the car is carried by the hub and not by the studs or bolts, thus reducing the stress on the bolts or studs. Lug centric wheel spacers use lug studs to support the wheel, then tapered holes and nuts to position the wheel and keep it compressed against the hub. Non hub centric wheel spacers may cause vibration while driving. So using the hub centric wheel spacers will be a better option.
Orion Motor Tech hub centric wheel spacers feature.
- High quality aircraft grade aluminum and bolts
- Increased driving stability without vibration
- Installation is as easy as changing a tire, no special tools required
- Cheap price and reassuring quality
4. How to install the wheel spacers
Bolt-On Hub Centric Wheel Spacers
1.Park your car on a level surface and apply the emergency brake.
2.Loosen the wheel bolts.
3.Jack up one corner of the car and remove the wheel.
4.Clean the surface of the wheel hub with tools such as fine sandpaper so that the wheel spacer will sit flat on the hub.
5.Place the wheel spacer on the hub.
6.Secure the wheel spacer with the nut provided and tighten the nut to the factory lug nut torque specification.
7.Reinstall the wheel using new wheel bolts and torque to specification.
Slip-On Wheel Spacers with Longer Wheel Bolts
Installing the wheel spacers is slightly different, but still very easy to do.
1.Park your car on a level surface and apply the emergency brake.
2.Loosen the wheel bolts.
3.Jack up each corner of the car and remove the wheels.
4.Clean the surface of the wheel hub with a tool such as fine sandpaper so that the wheel spacer will sit flat on the hub.
5.Place the wheel spacer on the hub.
6.Reinstall the wheel with new wheel bolts and torque to specifications.
As you can see, it’s easy to add wheel spacers to enhance your car’s looks and handling. With the correct measurements for your car, you can get the correct wheel spacers the first time.