Warning - 10mm hubcentric spacers

[Phil K]

Ever wondered why it's hard to find 10mm hub centric spacers?

Maybe it's because this happens to them...




So my problems started a month or so back when I had to put on a new pair of front tyres. Terrible wheel wobble and we subsequent revisits to get them re-balanced. Finally today I decided enough was enough and had a closer look... so that's the problem. The extended lip used to center the wheel on the spacer has sheared off! On both sides!!!!

Spacers removed, back on its wheels and we're shake free... just not looking quite so pretty with the front wheels tucked in more

And now I'm back in the market for spacers lol... the wife says there pointless and why bother wasting the money but she's female, clueless about cars, female and a woman haha

think I'll be writing to FK now...

[zollaf]

not good, but just makes more sense of the old saying ' deviate from standard at your peril'. there simply isn't enough meat on the ring part of that spacer to make it strong enough to support the weight of the car. not the manufacturers fault really, just pure science. what you need is to machine out the centre bore on your wheels so the spigot on the spacers can be bigger and problem solved.

[Phil K]

That's pretty much what I was thinking mate... there isn't enough meat in the center because the spacer is too thin. Even just a couple more mm would give it more strength in the shim.

I know 15mm is ok as we have them on the rear and they're still nice and strong.

Moving on I see two possible options. Either a) drop down to a 5mm (non-hubcentric) and compromise or b) go up to a 12 or 15 spacer and get the hubs machined down to suit.

Option a is the simplest solution but the wheels will remain tucked in the arch which is what I was trying to lose...

[zollaf]

yep, tricky one. do you know someone with a lathe ? i would get new ones made but machine out the bore in the wheels so you can have a bigger spigot on the spacers. only needs a couple of mill taking out and problem solved. i know i said you can't blame the makers, but you can for making them in the first place. worst case scenario is you hit pothole and your wheel shears off. i would be getting a full refund.

[113brucey]

looks like who ever fitted the tyres never took care when refitting the wheels back on ??? no probs with old tyres just when new tyres fitted ??

[zollaf]

even if a gorilla fitted the wheels, whilst high on a cocktail of illegal drugs, the spacers still shouldn't break like that. the lip is ally and about 2mm thick, the average person could break that with their teeth.

[Phil K]

I watched the wheels being refitted and I know care was taken as these guys have got to know me quite well given the number of times I go in with both cars. I think zollaf has hit the nail on the head. The spacers just aren't strong enough to be hubcentric at only 10mm thick.

FK sell them where many don't (most competitors don't offer hubcentric until 12 or 15mm) and they come with TUV approval - or at least that's what they claim on the box.

I will contact FK in the next day or two to see if they'll provide a solution or refund. I'm sure it will get resolved - I'm just happy we didn't lose a wheel at speed etc etc

[ScottyUK]

I thought the ring was only to locate them centrally. I wouldn't expect any force on them as the bolts would be holding it all together as one solid unit. Surely that could only happen if the wheels weren't on tight enough....or became looser with heat etc?

p.s. The wife's right - they don't do anything .... well apart from screw up the ESP as the points of rotation have changed a little

[Phil K]

I completely agree that the centres aren't load bearing but they are there to assist with alignment when fitting the wheel. I know from experience the importance of this as it is near impossible to put the wheel on perfectly center without them.

So the problem I have with the broken ones is that it's now not possible to put the wheel on correctly, hence the vibration at speed.

I can also see how spacers could upset the ESP if my aftermarket wheels were the same offset as an OEM set... if the car was regularly used at speed or on a track I would give this more consideration

[zollaf]

the spigots are load bearing. the wheel bolts hold the rim onto the hub and the spigot keeps it dead centre. the wheel bolts do help to keep it central but alone are not enough, thats why you need a spigot ring that is the correct fit for the hub and wheel.