GUSTAVI

I want to put a kit of wheel spacers in my sl 63, anybody have a wheell spacer in your cars, what you think

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144891085307?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=63P_uegJTjC&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=SV37qU04TD y&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Sungkyo

I have not but also considering them. Please let us know if you install them and a before and after pic with offsets would be greatly appreciated if you proceed.

Thanks

Wolfman

Strongly recommend not getting Ebay junk for a nice car like this. Buy HR or similar instead. Much better and cheaper too.
What HR recommends:
http://www.hrsprings.com/application/search/results/25/2562/2022/

Spacers requirements need to be measured on the car; see how aggressive you like to go.
Here is a guide. https://trakplus.com/measure

Your need to order bolts separately but places like tirerack can help you with this.

Sungkyo

Thanks for the links! I'll order this week and eventually do a before after pics for the group.

BLAM

Trust me, make sure you use the same wheel bolts design if you are going with the OEM wheels or else the bolts will loosen and the wheels fly off. These are not your off the shelf bolts.

Wolfman

Important to be sure. It's best that the vendor (like Tirerack, etc.) supplies the bolts as well. The HR link I provided has the bolt info listed (click the reference 3 link) and it shows the shape and calculation. To be sure, I usually take off one bolt from a wheel (no need to raise the car for that) and measure the thread length. The new length is simply the stock length plus the spacer width. Bolts usually come in 5mm increments, so the bolt for the 15mm and 13mm spacer will be the same. The bolt should be a ball shape (unless AMG did something new for the SL). However The bolts will have the standard head, not the MB star shape.

BLAM

No, not a regular ball. Must take one off and check. The bolt can be a little longer because it goes straight through.

BLAM

Not like any amg bolts in the past that I have experienced. The are like the bolts on the 911.

Wolfman

Interesting and good to know.
Wonder if they are like the ones on our GLE. Still a ball design, but a two piece one, again with the star shape head. Like these? Shorter of course as the wheels have a high offset...

alexasa

iTrader: (1)

Are they like this (from my w206)



I had a hell of a time finding LONGER versions with this same design. I never did but confirmed with a friend in the wheel industry and said an all thread bolt is fine as long as torqued to spec.

Wolfman

That's a standard old-school MB ball bolt. Shorter on the thread, but that's all I can see.

BLAM

Similar that it has a swivel washer and the head is hex. The swivel washer is the key. Just take one of and look for yourself.

BLAM

Here you go, this is it.

BLAM

The washer is free spinning. Be warn: better check the bolts tightnesses frequently if you are using any traditional bolts. Trust me, this will save your life and vehicle.

Wolfman

Are you speaking from experience?

While there are benefits for a floating collar, people can still use the traditional bolt when using spacers (in case they can’t find the same design bolt, floating vs. fixed). The fit and function is the same.

Proper torquing on the wheels is important though. I find that dealers are quite lazy and found loose bolts after service

BLAM

Yes

amgeater2

Ok so I have 5+ years of experience on the wheel industry and spacers are spacers (T6 aluminium) rest is just name branding, please make sure they are 5x112 with the hub size of 66.56., with regards to the lug bolts if you are keeping your stocks they need to extend to the measurement of the spacer you are adding and please make sure they are BALL seat and not Cone seat M14x1.5 ..

Wolfman

Given your stated experience I don't understand how you can say this. Maybe the material is fine but hub lip length can vary by brand so the point by when they become hub-centric differs. When our W213 E63s came out, the rears had a longer lips so the hub centric spacers didn't work. Supreme fabricated the only ones for the car, at least for a while. Same for our BMW M8 which couldn't take a 10mm spacer which was perfect for MB. Required a 5mm spacer or an 11mm hub-centric one...

amgeater2

Ok so let me explain, any thing below 10MM on lug bolts set up its not going to be ideal for the car and it will need to be custom.. funny you mention both cars as my business partner had the E63s and he drop the car and slap spacers without any issues as you stated above, with regards to the M8 why will you need a 5mm spacer ? and how you ended up with an 11mm ? I had that car before my new SL63 and it takes 15mm in the front & 12mm in the rears and it was amazing !!

Wolfman

Hmm. Not sure where that's coming from. There is no problem using a plain 5mm spacer (for those using preferring a more subtle stance). Depending on the length of the hub lip of course. Hub-centric is needed only for spacer widths close to and beyond that lip length. And you choosing the 15mm/12mm is based solely on the experience of others that have done this before you. I used 18mm instead; best choice for the fronts. Most of that was working with Ben from RG Sport. I think Vic or Ehloo was the first one. I was the one of the first coupes and picked an 11mm instead of 12mm. Also the first one or 2nd? to drop the M8 coupe with adjustable springs, long before KW had a product. Same for the E63s. Vic was the first to use spacers with 15mm/12mm from Supreme Power. Nobody had spacers for the car due to the longer hub lip on the rear.

Later on all this is off the shelf stuff...

amgeater2

Ok brother you know best... Since you are a Moderator can you please create a SL63 -55 section in the AMG section thks !

Wolfman

For the moment no new sections until the forum redesign…

Sungkyo

Hard to tell the diff in pics but fill out the wheel wells nicely. You could get more aggressive but happy with the result.

California John

That race car behind reminds me of the car I used to race in SCCA. Of course the photo is fuzzy and not complete at all but I used to race in S2000. With all the open wheel guys....Formula Mazdas, Atlantics, Formula Fords, etc.

Sungkyo

SCCA is great! I currently run in NASA and compete in most of the Midwest events. The only tracks I have been to out your way is Laguna and Spring Mountain which are fun! I'm starting to wind it down a little bit, its so much preparation, consumable's and 7 to 8 weekends away from home a year.