Are wheel spacers dangerous to race?

Discussion in 'The Bench' started by Gold GS, Feb 7, 2020.

  1. Gold GS

    Gold GS Well-Known Member

    Hello Everyone, I have 4 wheel disc brakes on my 72 GS 350. I tried to place a set of 15x7 Buick Rallye Wheels on the car and the calipers were rubbing on the inside of the wheel. I used 3/8" spacers to correct the problem. No more rubbing! My question is will the car be safe in the quarter mile? I believe it will only run low 13s to high 12's after the engine is built.
     
  2. HotRodRivi

    HotRodRivi Tomahawks sighted overseas

    They will work fine in a straight line until they fall off.
     
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  3. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    I would at minimum run longer and thicker wheel studs if that is possible.
     
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  4. HotRodRivi

    HotRodRivi Tomahawks sighted overseas

    I left that on tbe bone for you Larry.The longer stud thing
     
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  5. 1969RIVI

    1969RIVI Well-Known Member

    Get bigger rims, problem solved :p:rolleyes:
     
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  6. Andrew Sury

    Andrew Sury Well-Known Member

    I wouldn't. I am the guy that fixes the carnage when you do.
     
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  7. Gold GS

    Gold GS Well-Known Member

    Will it be safe for regular driving?
     
  8. Andrew Sury

    Andrew Sury Well-Known Member

    Yes, just re-torque often.
     
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  9. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    Use the correct bolt circle billet not cast,. hub centric if possible,..longer studs and I wouldn't worry one bit
     
  10. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    Wheel spacer are permitted by NHRA rules. Now there is good ones and cheap ones.......but with the correct studs and nut I dont see an issue with minimum depth needed to clear a slight brake clearance issue.
     
  11. 436'd Skylark

    436'd Skylark Sweet Fancy Moses!!!!!

    I run a 1/4" spacer with my 9". No issues whatsoever. Never have to retorque them. These are for my street tires.
     
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  12. B-rock

    B-rock Well-Known Member

    There are wheel spacers that are machined perfectly to your hub and specific wheel. I forget the name of the company but those are the ONLY spacers I would trust. Of course you need to provide them all the info of your setup. I believe a google search would show it. I want to say it was something something pacific??
     
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  13. 436'd Skylark

    436'd Skylark Sweet Fancy Moses!!!!!

    With my 9" the center hub is too large for the stock rally rims to fit. Rather than invest in another set of rims i bought the spacers. They are 1/4" and are not hub centric. Despite all the rumors and old wives tales I've had no issues. I drive the hell out of it and beat it half to death.. i switch to the slicks for the track. No loose lugs ever.
     
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  14. BBBPat

    BBBPat Well-Known Member

    Uhhhh, how much are they rubbing by? Have you thought about shaving the calipers, or doing any offset mods on the mounts?

    z10.jpg
     
  15. Gold GS

    Gold GS Well-Known Member

    I have been thinking about shaving the calipers. I was hoping the spacers would work, but it's scaring the hell out of me. I wanted to get some input from the members on this forum before making my decision. The calipers were barely touching the wheels. Shaving might be the way to go.
     
  16. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    There's no reason to be concerned,..if you only need 1/8in they make those as well,..we ground the calipers on the 98/02 F bodies all the time as well
     
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  17. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member


    X2 . Calipers dont really cooling fine do they......lol
     
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  18. HotRodRivi

    HotRodRivi Tomahawks sighted overseas

    If its barly rubbing then they will self adjust eventually. ( not recomended )
     
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  19. BQUICK

    BQUICK Gold Level Contributor

    I ran wheel adapters on my Riv GS so I could run 26x9 slicks on my A-body 15x7s....probably illegal but I'm alive.....14.30s that day.....
     
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  20. DEADMANSCURVE

    DEADMANSCURVE my first word : truck

    You should try and keep the base of lug nut as close as possible to the hub flange surface = less chance of flex , more strength .
    Some of the new mag wheels have a thick flange machined for shank style lug nuts and cut part way to use a regular short 60 degree lug nut , handy sure , also not ideal .
    Think of it like stacking up a few washers under the head of a rod bolt or main cap bolt .
    2 cents .
     
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2020
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