After a 300 mile run on Saturday in the Z, I was a couple of miles from home when i realised the car didnt feel right so stopped, this is what I found

 

 

4 of the studs had sheared, anyone else had this happen with spacers fitted?.

I would say they look cast

 

It's unlikely. Most, if not all spacers will be made of machined billet. They would have cracked around the stud holes before those studs would have sheered if they'd been cast.

No, not the X axis! Can't say I've ever come across cast spacers before. :confused:

And why not the x axis, if your wheel hits something then you put force along the x axis !

And why not the x axis, if your wheel hits something then you put force along the x axis !

 

Most recurring impact forces on that part of the car's components, will be in the Y axis. Only impact forces in X would generally be when you strike a curb or have a crash.

Edited June 23, 201411 yr by Funkysi

No, not the X axis! Can't say I've ever come across cast spacers before. :confused:

 

yes you can get cast I had a set

yes you can get cast I had a set

 

Cast hubcentric spacers?? Where did you get those from?? :confused:

MOST recurring impact forces on that part of the car's components, will be in the Y axis. Only impact forces in X would generally be when you strike a curb or have a crash.

Highlighted because x axis impacts CAN happen and dismissing it because the y axis stress is more common is a bit daft

Highlighted because x axis impacts CAN happen and dismissing it because the y axis stress is more common is a bit daft

 

No dismissing it is not daft IN THIS case. :)

why, we don't know the events leading up to the breakage.

he could have a large kerb he bumps up everyday for all we know, without knowing the entire facts blatantly stating that one is right is being imperceptive of the whole.

I think the OP would have told us had he damaged his wheels or hit a curb. ;) If he simply driven down rough roads all day long that would mostly cause stresses in the Y axis. :)

What ever the cause it's arbitrary now, if you want to use some more get some branded ones with the correct spigot rings torqued to spec and it will be fine :)

Theres no wheel damage, but, I DO have a bit if a track to drive up to the house, and I use the car quite a bit, 7000miles this year so far

MWTech on 350z owners makes good quality hubcentric spacers at a competitive price. As you'd expect, they're made from billet with high tensile nuts and studs.

driftworks ones are bloody good quality

Thanks Si, I will give them a try

Cast hubcentric spacers?? Where did you get those from?? :confused:

 

no wasn't hubcentric

 

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Thanks Si, I will give them a try

 

h and r are very good

no wasn't hubcentric

 

 

That will be why then!

 

Agreed, H&R and Eibach are high quality. Both made in the same factory actually.

it was years ago now remember smashing it up with a hammer into bits

I've yet to put my 25mm hubcentrics on the front. Will be very sure to check for any sign of cracking etc on the studs..

I've yet to put my 25mm hubcentrics on the front. Will be very sure to check for any sign of cracking etc on the studs..

 

If they're hubcentrics, then they'll be billet. You'll be fine. :)

If they're hubcentrics, then they'll be billet. You'll be fine. :)

 

oh, yes they are billet. will still check the studs for piece of mind though. My dad was an aircraft fitter so knows a lot about metal fatigue. Not saying the bolts will be suffering from it but worth a look with some engineers blue..:)

I studied engineering at college and did elements of it in my degree. Mainly steel (mild) torsion and loading. It's really interesting actually.

I've never been a fan of spacers, one of the reasons why I hunted for a set of wheels with an off the shelf offset that I was happy with.

That said, I don't think this is an everyday occurrence, I think there are many people using spacers for years without issue.

I studied engineering at college and did elements of it in my degree. Mainly steel (mild) torsion and loading. It's really interesting actually.

 

And very complex too. I won't be x-raying the bolts. Not that paranoid..lol

I've never been a fan of spacers, one of the reasons why I hunted for a set of wheels with an off the shelf offset that I was happy with.

That said, I don't think this is an everyday occurrence, I think there are many people using spacers for years without issue.

 

This was one reason I asked the question, and general consensus appears there is/was a problem elsewhere, which caused it to fail, rather than the spacer fail on its own.

This was one reason I asked the question, and general consensus appears there is/was a problem elsewhere, which caused it to fail, rather than the spacer fail on its own.

 

Absolutely, new wheels would be a rather overkill remedy I think (unless you're hankering for a set then it's a good time to make the Mrs think they're "necessary"!)

The best fix would be a set of hubcentric spacers from a known good supplier/manufacturer. As mentioned earlier, it's important to ensure that the bore sizes/dimensions, both internal and external of the spacer, all marry up nicely including a correct size spigot ring. Then with the nuts at the correct torque, you're reducing the possibility of failure down to a metallurgic failure out of your control or an 'incorrect' impact!

Oh and use a small amount of thread lock on the nuts that hold the spacer on if you're using bolt on jobbies.