Safe Spacers
 

OK, i am going to put some fd wheels on my fc after i complete my 5lug conversion. I know i need 1 inch spacers in the front so they will not rub (learned from someone elses experience). Can someone recommend me some quality spacers. i have heard stories of cheaply made spacers having the bolts snap out of the aluminum theyre cast in. The seemingly safest system i have found is the eibach system 6 foudn on this page..http://eibach.com/cgi-bin/htmlos.exe...06115900019903
...but I am not sure I want all the trouble of removing and replacing my bolts. If anyoen can help em make a safe and easy decision I would really appreciate it. Also woudl it be a good idea to get the same or slightly smaller spacers for the back? I just dont want my frotn wheels sticking out and lookign unbalanced. I also thing it woudl feel funny to drive with the front wider than the back. Thansk in advance,

You would need to space the same amount at each end.

Expect to pay around $100 for a set a spacers that will work.

Most racing bodies do not consider any spacer safe.

^^THANKS^^
I dont mind spending the $100 but what company and/or design is safest. These will be used mainly for street driving between 25-80 mph on a constant basis and maybe some weekly parking lot drifting. No auto-x or extreme circumstances. Also does the fc and fd share a bolt pattern with any other mazda or other make vehicle. I ask because eibach does not have spacers specifically for the fc/fd and also because i would like to have some steelies around so i dont fuck up my new tires playing in the parking lot. Thanks

The 5x4.5 bolt pattern is a very common pattern, found on many Toyota/Lexus, Ford, and Nissan products as well as a couple of Honda and Volvo products.

I would look for the spacers for Mustangs. They are designed for high torque applications with a crappy unforgiving suspensions.

or maybe just look for mustang wheels. i don't know the years off hand, but i believe certain ones (i have the design in my head) fit about perfectly. isn't it the 5 spokes with the center cap that fit real well? i wouldn't mind gettin some of those (or similar; cheap) and replacing my 15" conv't wheels (91 coupe).

Thanks alot, ill check for the mustang one with eibach. you have also sparked my curiousity as to compatable rims. I have a '73 mustang and some friends with s2000, nsx, and integra type r (real) all 5 lug. im gonna check the patterns and see if i caa get me some spares. or even some s2000 rims. I might even put soem fd's on my fathers stang. I feel so eeeviiiiiil


(sorry for the psychotic rant)

Problem with Mustang wheels is they are dead heavy. Even the stockers are 25+ lbs each with some nearing almost 30lbs.

No pre- 92-93 mustang wheel wheels/spacers will not work. Different bolt pattern (I don't remember which year was the cut off, I am not a Ford guy).

And the offset of the S2000 wheels is way off and would again require spacers.

Just thoughts cause the s200 and the type r are the only 5 lugs i know of. I never saw the mach 1's bolts cause the wheels on there have center caps. I was just throwing ideas around but thansk for the correction anyway.

Honda often uses 50mm offsets... although the bolt pattern will match up (as you asked for bolt pattern) the offsets will be the problem.

And there are some Hondas with 5x100 patterns as well, so don't think just because it is 5 lug that it will match up.

Some of the newer Mustang GT 17x8's are between 17(supposedly) and 20 pounds. Mine are about 20lbs each, which isn't that bad when you consider the size and price.

This is the one I'm referring to:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...942474520&rd=1

Some of the others are about 20-25 lbs. I found it hard to get any real info on weights for the stock wheels.

thats the one i was referring to. did you weigh a wheel by any chance?

so, casio, wanna give me your vert wheels when u get those stang wheels? =)

100$ for a set of spacers? even if it was 100/4 = 25$ a spacer, that's still a lot. my new wheels were +38 but i wanted them a little farther away from the suspension (piece of mind, nothing really technical or life threatening). I bought my spacers from summitracing for 11$ for a pair.

Well it's 11$ for a pair for the 5mm spacers. Obviously the bigger the spacer, the more metal, the more metal, the more the product will cost. I think they sell 5, 8 and something in the double digits.

I forgot what the product codes are but ted has them on his site.

I dont know, from what I have read about spacers, at high speeds they seem to have problems with coming apart. :/

One of my friends who owns a muscle car shop said he has seen problems with them and wouldnt reccomend them.

I do not run spacers because I have not changed out my lug bolts yet. I plan on getting longer ones installed when the weather is better. I had spacers on but I took them off because I was not happy with the how much tread was left to secure the lug nut to.

Man, us MD guys are up way too early! :-p


It is smart to get the longer lugs, if you do go with the spacers :)

yeah mustage or jeep wheel spacers work great i bought 1 and 1/4 inch spacers for my rear for a jeap wrangler since they are desiged to take abuse

If you need anything over a 3/4 of an inch, I wouldn't go with a spacer but rather an adapter. Adapters bolt to your hub and then you bolt your wheel to the adapter. Maker sure you get the adapters to be hubcentric, costs a little more but a must for our cars since they are not lugcentric. I have very wide adapters that cost almost as much as rims but you can find them cheaper at wheeladapters.com.

As long as your not going to the track you should be just fine with adapters, H&R makes TUV rated adapters, which suggests that they can be used safely.

5mm is really the absolute maximum that you can space on the stock lugs (and some consider that too much).

You should be able to get at least 6-7 turns on a lug nut. If you can not you need longer lug studs and it is not safe to use the spacer without longer lugs.

http://www.eibach.com.au/img126.gif

you can try eibach pro spacers. they have them for mustangs, i wonder if the center bore will fit our cars on those.

well just to confirm guys i realized my spacer are mustang and not jeep myu buddy with a mustang got jeep ones. but my spacers hold up to my 7000rpm launch and 2.1 or better 60fts which i know isn't as much as some of you turbo guys but its still substanial. also the rear tracks much better now

16x8 > 17x8.

FD wheels are lightweight and look fucking pimp. i get so many comments on my car because of the wheels. at the local 240/RX7/Miata/drifters meets, i'm know as "the kid with the FD wheels".

:D

and for the record, the width you need for spacers all depends on how wide of a front tire you will use.

Ok from what ive seen the safest set would be the #6 eibach sells. since it actually replaced your studs with longer ones, there for there really isnt anything to come apart at high speeds. Does anyone know how to change fc lug bolts? One person told me they have to be heated and removed and the new ones put on with a special press. Another guy told me they can come out with an impact wrench and be screwed back just the same. if this is true ill just get the eibachs that come with longer bolts. Seems like the safest, most secure way. I would appreciate any info or writeups on changing the studs. i searched but found none