n00b spacer question regarding the center hub ring.

[rice h8r]

I just realized with some spacers, you can't get the wheel centered on the center hub bore ring/lip, so wouldn't that put a lot of stress on the studs themselves?

Is this the reason why people don't like spacers? Also how are there many people running them and not snapping studs?

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[subaru3169]

there are such things as hub rings

[Garage Spec]

if your wheel is properly balance most wheels are stud centric.
i've never run hub centric ring and never had any problems of wheel vibrating.

[steve]

Originally Posted by rice h8r

Is this the reason why people don't like spacers? Also how are there many people running them and not snapping studs?

That's why I won't go over 3-4mm without a hub centric spacer.
I don't know what the guy above me is talking about. Every one of the 10 or so sets of wheels I've rolled on my subies have been HUB centric. Is there such thing as stud centric?

Personally, I wouldn't touch a 10mm spacer running only on the lugs. With companies like H&R making really nice hub centric spacers, I wouldn't chance running one of these half assed units.

[rice h8r]

^ Yea I'm with hypa on this.

Garage Spec, could you explain what exactl you're talking about.

[leecea]

Also, check number of turns of thread engagement, if you still have stock studs.

Tirerack recommends a number of turns that you must be able to make on your lug nut. Don't remember what it is for our size studs.

However, when I was looking at adding a 5mm spacer it would have been marginal at best without extended studs. No way a 10mm spacer and stock studs are going to give you a safe setup, IMO.

[Kenji815]

I been running 15 / 30mm spacer for a while.
My other friend has been running 25mm spacer on widebody GC.
I've always had my wheel mounted at balance at reputable shop and never had to use hub centric rings.

I've on my 4th set of wheels including buddy club wheel, advan, blitz, work wheel and never had to use hub centric ring to insure the wheel is centered.

Hub centric ring is use to keep the wheel centered and reduce vibration.
It has nothing to do with pressure on the studs.

[steve]

Originally Posted by Kenji815

Hub centric ring is use to keep the wheel centered and reduce vibration.
It has nothing to do with pressure on the studs.

Incorrect.
The hub is there to hold the weight of the wheel, so the studs don't have the bear the brunt of the force. The studs are merely to hold the wheel to the hub.

Once again, just because you've done something and it's worked, doesn't mean it SHOULD be done, or will work for others.

[Kenji815]

so you're telling me a plastic hub centric ring can withstand the weight of the car and the force that's being put on to the wheel hub, plastic rings and wheel?

[Daishi00]

Originally Posted by hypa

Incorrect.
The hub is there to hold the weight of the wheel, so the studs don't have the bear the brunt of the force. The studs are merely to hold the wheel to the hub.

Once again, just because you've done something and it's worked, doesn't mean it SHOULD be done, or will work for others.

No it's not. If the hub was actually taking the load of the wheel then the wheel would be EXTREMELY tight being put on. I have two sets of hubcentric wheels and both sets will move slightly when being tightened down as the lugs center themselves.

They're held in position via the studs and lugs via the friction.

[steve]

The honus is on you gentlemen to educate yourselves on the subject.

HUB CENTRIC - Definition: A wheel that is centered or located on the hub by a machined center hole-as opposed to "lug centered" wheels that are located by the position of the lug nuts alone.

http://autorepair.about.com/library/.../bldef-308.htm

http://www.miata.net/garage/hubcentric.html

http://www.bernardembden.com/xjs/hubcentric/index.htm

[dalesalignment&brake]

Hypa is correct.

[Daishi00]

We understand what hub centric means, we are disagreeing with his incorrect assessment that the HUB RING is supporting the wheel. It is not. It is simply a convenience issue. The only way the hub is supporting the wheel is if there is a tight fit...I have never seen a wheel that fits that snugly. Watch when you tighten down a hub centric wheel...once you get the lug nuts a bit tight the wheel will shift slightly.


Also once you tighten the lugs down to spec the clamping force is what is holding the wheel in place not the hub which is my original point.

Final point. If the hub ring actually bore weight then explain how a little plastic ring is going to support upwards of 800 lbs of weight? Explain how when a plastic ring melts due to temperature the wheel doesn't start vibrating like mad and throw off balance? Answer, the the clamping force is what is holding the wheel in place.

[Daishi00]

Now, if Hypa is going on a round about way of saying that the wheel is supported at the bearing and therefore the hub that I will agree with, but the physical external portion of the hub is not supporting the wheel at all when it's attached to the hub.