Spacer help!

[20thAE_GTI]

Trying to put my wheels on right now with 10 mm spacer in the rear and I can't seem to get them to sit flush? Its on a 2004 R32 does anybody have any ideas other than I need to go bigger in the rear?

[Die Frau]

What do you mean they won't sit flush? The spacer does not seat all the way onto the hub? Or the rim does not seat all the way on the spacer?

Are the spacers hub-centric? Are you sure they are the correct bore?

It might be helpful if you use a wheel hanging tool, locally you can get one a SCI, but they are also sold through ECS tuning. It is a long bolt without a head that you use to line up other lug holes while you hang the wheel. Spacers can be a little tricky because you have to put the spacer on the hub and hold it into position while you try to muscle your 45lb wheel/tire and get everything to line up just perfect.

If the spacers and wheels are the correct bolt pattern and bore for the car, then something isn't sitting right. Loosen all the lugs and wiggle wheel to get it all situated right. Then be sure to tighten the bolts in an even, star pattern. If that still does not work, then there is something in between the pieces or some corrosion on the hub or wheel that is binding. Use a wire brush and go over these surfaces to knock off any scaling or small debris

Then while the wheel is still off the ground, but you have tightened the bolts - spin the wheel and look for a wobble.

I also recommend you use some sort of anti-sieze thread dope. Loctite makes some, it comes in a bottle and will be a metallic silver or copper color. This will keep corrosion from the winter AND the dissimilar metals from forming and make removal easier in the future.

[20thAE_GTI]

The spacers are the correct bore. They are ecs 10mm but on there website it says I need to remove the dust cover for proper fitment. I have tried all the steps above but when the wheel is in the air it wobbles. It's throwing me because it's just on the rears.

[Die Frau]

I presume this is the dust cover for the rear wheel bearing? Did you remove that?

If not, you just need to use a flat headed screwdriver and find the seem along the edge. Once you get the spacer on, you might even be able to push the dust cover onto the center bore of the spacer if you are really anal about it being on there.

[20thAE_GTI]

The dust cover has been removed.. I just called ecs and they saidni might need to move up to a bigger spacer... Does that sound right?

[Die Frau]

Also... are you using air tools to tighten the bolts? Are you going over them with a breaker bar/torque wrench after the fact? Sometimes 'weaker' air tools will act like a bolt is tight when it really needs a few more turns.

And - are you using the correct lugs? With 10mm spacers you will need longer lug bolts than stock. But if they are too long, they might bottom out (?) and you wheel will not be tight. Also there are conical and ball seats - do the seats match the wheels?

[20thAE_GTI]

I have 40mm lugs and I am using a break bar then a torque wrench

[Die Frau]

The dust cover has been removed.. I just called ecs and they saidni might need to move up to a bigger spacer... Does that sound right?

No. Not if the wheels fit without a spacer.

On the other hand, if you need the spacer to clear something in the wheel well or the caliper, then maybe.

*** Do not drive with the following advise, this is just for comparison sake***

You could add the spacer from the other side to see if it sits better with 10mm+10mm (20mm). Although you might not have a bolt long enough to check that.

The other thing you can do in a pinch is get some fender washers and place them between the rim and hub, but I would NEVER drive like that.

Also, Further Performance stocks A LOT of spacers and might be able to give you more local help/support.

[20thAE_GTI]

The wheels did not clear the brake in the front or the rear without spacers

[Die Frau]

Alright.... Well then you likely need a bigger spacer.

You could try using the original wheel with the spacer, just the be sure that that does sit flat... then you would know that the spacer is good, just not big enough. If that does not sit flat too - then there is an issue with the spacers.

But like I said, you could also try double stacking them on one side just to see if that fixes the issue.

[JTapper]

What about this...

Some aftermarket wheels have a beveled centerbore. They only go so deep, and hubs usually clear, but spacers do not always.

This seems implausible, since you said the fronts fit fine, but I'm just throwing it out there...

[bigR]

I have 15mm ecs spacers and longer bolts for sale if needed

[Nevr]

i had an issue one time where the center bore of the spacer was 1 or 2 mm too small for my hub. i had the spacer milled for 20 bucks.