Wheel Spacers?

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 9:03 pm

OK, the theory is that wheel spacers are bad for wheel bearings.

But is this justified? Has anyone actually had problems with spacers? Or does it just "seem" like a bad idea?

Here's my justification for spacers not being all bad.

Stock offset is 53mm on a WRX with a 16x6.5" rim. The Forester has a 16x 6.5" rim with a 48mm offset. Clearly, a 5mm spacer isn't going to kill the wheel bearings on a WRX, and as far as I can tell, the wheel bearings on my Forester are the same as the WRX.

So if a stock WRX can handle a 5mm spacer, then what can a Forester handle? What is the limit when it comes to offset? There area lots of guys running super low offsets on their Subaru's. I've seen people running 17x7's with 40mm offsets for tens of thousands of miles.

I'm probably going to run a 5mm spacer with extended wheel studs on my front wheels in order to clear my new brake calipers.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:35 am

I think it depends on whether they're on Mike's car or someone else's.

entirelyturbo · Post by **entirelyturbo** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 5:50 am

Hahahahaha Steve

I feel it's appropriate to add that I found that XT6 wheels, which is what I'm on right now, are +45 offset. I thought they were the same as the new-gen cars, but apparently not. And as we all know, since I bitch about it so much, I'm having issues again.

In all honesty though, I've seen more wheel bearing issues with SF Foresters like yours Phil than anything else. Even the mechanic says he does mostly SF Forester wheel bearings. So be careful.

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:23 am

I need to replace my wheel bearings anyways, 165k puts a hurtin on them.

I plan to run the spacers only until I can find a set of FXT wheels that I can get for dirt cheap. They clear the new 4-pots nicely.

555BCTurbo · Post by **555BCTurbo** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:28 am

Phil is modding teh Lezbox!!

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:51 am

Lezbox... with brakes that could halt the rotation of the earth!

I'm still on the fence. I'll probably do it, but I'm still "iffy" about it.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 6:34 pm

260+ on mine. Maybe you guys maintain you're cars too much and spoil them. I always found my Subarus never broke when I was broke either.

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Wheel Spacers?

Wheel Spacers?