making spacers for wheels
 

So Im getting some custom spacers made up for me, and I had some questions regarding the tolerances I should use.

I am making spacers that will fit and align the cars hub with the wheels hub bore, making everything hubcentric even though it is spaced out.

Now the question is, what tolernaces should I account for with the hubs and the lugs? On one hand I would like to keep everything as tight as possible so that nothing falls out of alignement, and balance, but on the other hand Im afraid that as the wheels, hubs, lugs, brakes all heat up that if I make tolerances too tight the wheels/studs/hubs will all seize together. I would like to keep the hubcentricity as tight as possible but how tight can I go without getting into trouble due to the heat of things? Keep in mind that I have two tolerances to work with; the diameter from the hub to the spacer, and that of the spacer to the wheel.

by the way, Im currentlly designing everything with a .1mm fit from one part to the other

+.004/-.000 on the rear counter bore hub mate and +.000/-.004 on the wheel centric protrusion sounds good.

-billy

Are you making one-offs, or do you plan to sell them? There's a company on eBay that I was planning to contact about some custom hubcentric spacers in 5mm and 10mm. They claim to do custom work and have 1"+ custom spacers/adapters for ~$65, so I figured that much thinner spacers (that don't require lugs) should be a good bit cheaper. I was hoping to get aluminum hubcentric spacers for around $25/pair.

-chris

You need to remember that the hubs you are mating to have production tolerances too. You must measure all of the hubs, and make sure that your design will fit the biggest one. I have designed several spacers for me 1st gen many years ago.

well I'm a product designer, and one of my customers who produces one off aeronautics pieces has been letting me use his shop, so I made up a 3d model and had the spacers cut on his CNC mill, and CNC lathe. They came out perfect, and I even got them anodized. Ill post pics once I get them back from the anodizer.

The most complicated part was to program them in the mill, so if anyone wants some let me know, and Ill see if he would be up to making a couple of pairs to sell. I have them in 9mm and 14mm.

anodized......Color or hard?

Did you account for the bores getting smaller and the protrusions getting larger from the anodize?

Just messing with you :) Def post some pics when you get them back.

-billy

I'd be interested in a pair of each size if the price was reasonable. I wouldn't need them anodized...plain aluminum is fine for me. PM me with details.

-chris

cool, Ill talk to the guy, and see if he's interested in making a few extra sets..keep you guys posted.

I PM'ed you.

~Mike

This guy has been making them for years and at a reasonable price.
http://www.wheeladapter.com/contact_us.asp

just finally got my spacers back, and I wanted to let everyone know that unfortunatelly my guy, isnt really interested in making any pairs to sell..He made mine as a favor, but said that he wouldnt be able to charge anything reasonable for the amount of time he spent on them, and that it would take away from his primary business. Sorry, but I gave it a shot!

I would like to see how he fabbed them up if you would not mind posting pictures.

no prob..Ill get you pics tonight. He did them straight from my design files to my spec. The main reason that I wanted to get them custom made was so that I could make my rims hubcentric, and keep everything nice and tight with the hubs, so I specked out some sleeves that stick out into the rim with the spacer.

arent large spacers illegal in some racing sanctions?

here are a couple of pics for ya...

http://www.cadwaves.com/spacer.jpg

http://www.cadwaves.com/spacer2.jpg