I've searched all over the forum... I'm just trying to figure out if I need a wheel bolt kit for a 5mm spacer? It seems some people don't use them, and some people say it's necessary... I'm just trying to solve a rubbing issue with my new tires. One side in the rear rubs on the struts over bumps, and if I have a heavyish load in the back.

 

Seriously, nobody here knows? Someone has to have 5mm spacers with oem bolts.

 

ive run 3mm and currently running 5mm spacers with oem bolts.
i keep them torqued at 86lbs and check it every couple of weeks JIC.
i autox and they have never worked their way off.

does this mean it's ok to do it? i dont know.
does it mean that it's dangerous? i dont think so. i check my lugs pretty often.

 

you want 1.5x the bolt diameter to engage threads. So for a 12mm bolt, you want 18mm to engage threads, for the 14mm bolts, you'd want 21mm I don't know if 5mm will take you out of that range or not.

Matt

 

That helps, thanks. Are you referring to the oem wheel lugs? I'll measure them tonight and see.

 

12mm for the R50, 52 and 53, and 14mm for the R56, R55 and I'm not sure if the change happened across the board or not, or the date that the change was cut in.

Matt

 

I'm not sure exactly how I'm going to figure out how much bolt is engaging the threads... would I just stick the bolt through the wheel and measure how much is left on the other side, and then add 5 to see if I'm in the safe zone?

 

The change was across the board in mid-July of 2006, so even the R50/52/53 models could have the new 14 mm bolts. But for the OP's 2002, the bolts are definitely the 12 mm ones.

 

That would work, since the backside of the wheel mates up with the surface of the hub. See how much of the bolt protrudes through the wheel, subtract 5 mm, and then see if that still leaves you with 18 mm of thread to engage the hub once the spacer's installed.

 

Err subtract, not add. Right. :p

 

I was at a tuning session once where one of the car owners had aftermarket wheels with thin (don't remember thickness) spacers and the combo of the two left about 2 turns of the lugs holding the wheels on. Not safe at all.

Anyway, this is one place where you want good thread engagement.

Matt

 

Yeah no kidding, I'm going to think it through before I do it.

 

If you really want to do it properly, buy a set of studs from TSW--you'll have lots of threads, wheels will be easier to put on and take off, and you'll be cool!
er, I mean safe...

 

I would(and do) use studs like DrPhil suggested, but if you don't want to go that route...you can get longer lug bolts from Turner...

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html...mw-wheel-bolts

...you have to figure that the stock lug bolt is that length to be safe with the factory wheels without additional spacers. This is one area where you do not want to be messing around...buy studs or longer lug bolts and be safe.

 

I've been running 5mm spacers with factory bolts for 70k. I drive like a bat outa hell all the time and none of my wheels have fallen off.

 

The backside of the wheel actually mates up to the rotor. The threads don't start until you get to the hub. So subtract the thickness of the rotor face as well.

 

Ah - good point, thanks.

 

I needed to run some long Tuner Lugs, so I ordered them from here since they had different sizes available..

Click Here

 

You have 70k already on that '07?? Wow.

 

OK so another dumb question... I found a local parts store that has some spacers, 4 bolt 1/4" in thickness which is 6mm and change. My dumb question is, (assuming my bolts fit) how do these fit on the hub, if they're not hubcentric?

 

the spacers will sit flush to the lug surface leaving the hub exposed for the wheel to rest on. i cant remember the exact dimension of the hub itself but IIRC it's 8mm. so with a 6mm you're leaving yourself with 2mm for the wheel to center on the hub.

you might be better off looking into custom spacers that make up for the hubcentric lip:

http://www.skulte.com/product_info.p...products_id/57

 

You would want to find out what the center bore diameter of the spacers are, I know that the R53 is 56.1 so you would want them to be that size, if not you will want to get hub rings that would have a outer diameter that matches the diameter of the spacers and an inner diameter that matches the size of your hub, that way they sit snug on the hub.

Here are my custom spacers and a diagram of with measurements..

 

If i had the money, I'd be buying some made for the mini anyway with proper centerbores. But I don't, which is why I'm asking about the universal ones. Is there any harm to using ones that do not have the proper center bore? Once they get bolted in with the wheel, they'll be centered anyway, right?

 

You will have to line them up as best you can, the hub rings sit on the lip that is built into the spacers so that the wheel sits correctly on them, before I got the hub rings and simply lined them up by eye, under acceleration I was able to feel that they were not lined up properly.

If your spacers are thin and the wheels have the same center bore as the hub, the spacers I guess could float since the hub is supporting the wheel.

 

Is it even possible to use universal spacers if you don't have a stud conversion? I have to see for myself, I'm having a hard time visualizing it. I've had my wheels off of my car plenty of times to know what it looks like, but I suppose I won't see until I do it. Just wanted to know if there were any glaring, dangerous things I needed to look out for.

Sucks because I have a friend who has a metal lathe... he could totally build me some spacers, if he didn't live so far away.