Wheel spacers issues

[jliuod]

So originally I put in 20mm hub centric wheel spacers on all 4 corners. Then I decided to try 15mm for the front. Installed them like I have done many times over the years. Today, I decided to switch them back to 20mm. The wheels was stuck to the the spacers and would not come off. I tried to kick the sides of the tires trying to knock it off but they won't budge. Then I remembered when I installed the 15mm spacers I had to continue to torque the lug nuts more than I normally would before they reached the torque setting. Then I realized the 5mm difference in the two wheel spacers are the problem. Basically the wheel was not flush with the spacers, but rather contacting the stock studs. Since the wheels are aluminum I was pressing the wheels into the stock studs.

I had to raise the car and use a piece of 2x4 and a sledge hammer to hit the inside edge of the rim to knock the rims off. After the rims were off it was apparent why the wheels were stuck. Like I suspected the wheels showed areas where the stock studs compressed into the wheels. Not a big deal, but it could have been worse as it is possible the force could crack the wheels.

Anyone uses a 15mm wheel spacers without this issue?

 

[Who.Am.Eye.2716]

Saw someone had the same issue with the bolt on 15mm spacers. They saw a gap between the wheel hub and rotor hub. After that, everyone was saying the cavity of the '23+ wheels are not deep and requires slip on spacers for 15mm.

After reading the feedback. I went with extended studs for my 15mm and 12mm spacers. Stock lugnuts do not bottom out. But 10mm spacers will bottom out the stock lugnuts.

Swapping studs was easy. I can slip on 20mm if I wanted to.

 

[KSUCATZ]

Z1 advised for 20mm bolt-on, all around. I’m still waiting on shipment, second guessing. Wondering why OP chose to try 15mm - too much poke, or rubbing? My original gut was 20mm rear and 15mm front but was reluctant to change studs. I’m lowered slightly.

@Who.Am.Eye.2716 - do you have a link for the studs, (install tool?), and spacers you used? let’s see your results.

 

[jliuod]

I had the hub centric spacers. The stock studs that the hub centric spacers attached to are too long if you use 15mm spacers. The stock wheels will not sit flush on the spacers. When you tighten the lug nuts you will press the wheels into the stock studs in order to reach the proper toque spec. Then your wheel will be stuck like mine.

 

[kevinbonds]

I have 15mm front and 20mm rear with are perfect. I don't use bolt on spacers, I use the slip on style with extended studs. The 15mm in my opinion looks the best on the stock performance set up, but you need the proper studs and slip on style. I used the Eibachs, which come with high quality studs and the slip on spacers, they are like works of art.

 

[jliuod]

I agreed with you the 15mm looks best on the front. But with my hub centric spacers it just simply won’t work. I am too lazy to replace the stock studs with the longer ones.

 

[MrClean]

Definitely not the best idea to run spacers with stock lugs. Extended lugs are preferred when messing around with the wheel dynamics.
With that being said, will be curious to see your end result once everything gets sorted!

 

[jliuod]

I think we are talking about two different types of wheel spacers. The slip-in spaces which I agreed will need longer studs. I am referring to the hub centric wheel spacers. These are the ones that bolts on to the existing stock studs and the wheels bolt on to the studs that are in-cooperated into the spacers. Those are the ones I have.

 

[FSUZ33]

Two types of spacers: bolt-on and slip-on. Both types can be hubcentric or not (flat or have a protruding hubcentric ring).

For bolt-on spacers typically the OEM studs protrude through, unless the spacers are massive. This isn’t a problem if the pockets in the back of the wheel center (between the lug holes) are deep enough. Unfortunately on the Z, the pockets in the stock wheels are too shallow for 15mm spacers.

What has happened is you have smashed the crap out of the wheel center down onto/around the protruding OEM studs. To run 15mm bolt-ons with OEM wheels you’d need to grind off a few mm of the OEM studs to make clearance for the wheels. Or grind off some of the pocket, which is prob worse than grinding studs.

Check out the pockets on the back. I assume they’re torn up, especially if the wheel is stuck. Hopefully only the pockets are damaged and nothing’s been misshapen.

Here

 

[jliuod]

Two types of spacers: bolt-on and slip-on. Both types can be hubcentric or not (flat or have a protruding hubcentric ring).

For bolt-on spacers typically the OEM studs protrude through, unless the spacers are massive. This isn’t a problem if the pockets in the back of the wheel center (between the lug holes) are deep enough. Unfortunately on the Z, the pockets in the stock wheels are too shallow for 15mm spacers.

What has happened is you have smashed the crap out of the wheel center down onto/around the protruding OEM studs. To run 15mm bolt-ons with OEM wheels you’d need to grind off a few mm of the OEM studs to make clearance for the wheels. Or grind off some of the pocket, which is prob worse than grinding studs.

Check out the pockets on the back. I assume they’re torn up, especially if the wheel is stuck. Hopefully only the pockets are damaged and nothing’s been misshapen.

Here

You are 100% correct. The back of my wheels only suffered about 3/8” of compression from the studs. Not bad at all. Hopefully others will see this thread and won’t make the same mistakes as I did.

 

[KSUCATZ]

Mostly wondering if you felt 20mm stuck out too much. If going down to 15mm, I may have to commit to swapping out the studs. If so, would like to know which studs and spacers to purchase for use w/ OEM wheels.

 

[Who.Am.Eye.2716]

@Who.Am.Eye.2716 - do you have a link for the studs, (install tool?), and spacers you used? let’s see your results.

Mines a Sport. I did 15mm on the front and 12mm on the rears. Now I have 12mm all around. 15mm all around would look good, but Im looking to get wider tires soon

50mm studs
https://ebay.io/m/wA7sQS

Stud installer tool
https://ebay.io/m/rmGK6E

Slip on spacers
https://www.titanwheelaccessories.c...ltima-maxima-5x114-3-66-1-hubcentric-set-of-4

 

[jliuod]

Finally got a chance to snap some photos of the wheels with 20mm bolt on spacers on all 4 corners

 

[Who.Am.Eye.2716]

Finally got a chance to snap some photos of the wheels with 20mm bolt on spacers on all 4 corners

I can see the 15mm on the fronts flow better with the 20mm rears

 

[CPerdomo]

Anyone uses a 15mm wheel spacers without this issue?

I switched from 20 to 15mm front wheels for my 24 Performance. Same issues. So I asked the dealer to shorten the studs. Problem solved. The 20mm came out a little bit much and would splatter matter on to the side paint thus the reason I switched.