Autotechnica

Hey guys, got a set of 10mm hub centric H&R wheel spacers for the front and 5mm non hub centric for the back. All with proper H&R extended bolts. I'm getting slight vibration with the hub centric set and a lot more vibration with the non hub centric set. There is a lot of play with the non hub centric set which was expected as it won't center properly. I assume I have to fiddle around with it to get it to center dead on. The problem is, the holes for the bolts seem too big, so even torquing the bolts in proper criss cross pattern doesn't automatically center the spacer. It's off balance no matter what I do. Any suggestions? The hub centric spacer also seems to have very slight play. I can move it around about 1mm up and down. Doesn't seem right with a hub centric spacer. it should center 100%. I've had H&R spacers in the past mounted on other cars and I've never run into vibration issues. Pulling the spacers off, the vibration goes away, so it's definitely the spacers. I need the spacers for my H&R coilover install, otherwise I wouldn't bother with them. Is there a special trick to getting them to center? The hubcentric ring on the stock rotor hub in the rear is completely gone once the 5mm spacer is mounted. The wheel will literally sit flush on the hub with nothing to center the wheel, so it's very tricky.

Any advice would be appreciated.

thanks.

Bry

C32maximus

I had the same problem with my 5mm H&Rs. I had the spacers drilled and pinned to the wheel with machine screws. 5 in total. Have in done by a machine shop only. Vibration gone.

Autotechnica

awesome, I was thinking of doing the same thing. I might as well do it to the 10mm hub centric set I have as well. Are your 5mm's mounted to the front or rear? Thanks.

mikekuriger

be careful using spacers. lug bolts are not designed to hold up the weight of the car!

Autotechnica

From what I understand, hub rings are used as centering devices only, and not used as a means of addition support for the wheels. The bolts infact are what supports the wheels. This is only what I've read, so I can't confirm this. But it seems to make sense. On the front wheels, there is a pretty long centering ring. However, on the rear there is barely any centering ring at all. I don't see how that tiny lip in the rear could help in supporting the rim at all. It makes more sense to me that it's simply used to center the wheel on the hub. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

C32maximus

On the rear. I did the same on the front for my last set of wheels as well. The front hub on the C32 is slightly tapered so even a 5mm spacer will add to vibration.

joeguzman2001

You should not have any play with a proper fitting hub centric wheel spacers. I just added 10mm front hub centric spacers for my c230k and the wheel slide on nice and snug with zero play. It use to have generic spacers and got strong vibration at 60mph. The hubcentric spacers did the trick.

kerryjosber

good info ,I don't see how that tiny lip in the rear could help in supporting the rim at all. thank you

TruTaing

Someone correct me if Im wrong, but I am pretty certain the cars weight rests on the hub lip. The lug bolts (or studs/nuts in other applications) simply hold the wheel onto the wheel hubs (where the wheels rest on the hub lip). (Google shows: Many peoples have driven on their cars with missing bolts/nuts).

The rear hub lip is 8mm total. Placing a 5mm spacer on this will reduce the load bearing portion of our rear hubs down to 3mm on each side. Sounds sketchy to me :x

ghiaguy

I agree with this. I just changed out my rear brake pads and noticed how little the lip was when the wheels went back on... To be honest it seems even worse on my GFs MkV Jetta

turbo16lbs

I wish I knew this piece of information when I had my C32. The vibration was driving me insane, I had HRE's on my car but I needed a 5MM spacer because the H&R Coilovers wouldn't clear the front.