hi. my name is shannon and im kind of new to the forum, but heres my question: i recenty had an incident with some black ice and bent a rim...which led to my purchase of 4 cragar ss wheels (150 dollars and they are MINT) anyways, the front wheel rub the brake calipers, so when they are on, its like hitting the brake. my only option is to get spacers to move the wheel off the brake and longer studs. after carefully measuring how far the wheel will need to come, i determined it will have to be 1" at least. is a one inch thick iron spacer safe with longer studs? i need the honest truth here! and also, if not, if anyone wants to buy the wheel in MINT condition with NEW tires i will let them all go for 700. retail on wheel w/o tires is 200 apiece. (spent 400 for tires)

 

I would not do it. Without looking at the outset, etc., I don't know if you could get away with it, but as a rule I don't trust spacers.

the cragers rub because they are not made for your particular model. I suggest you sell them and get some wheels designed for you car.

 

Well, the spacers would be special ordered from a local machine shop and they would be 1 peice with 5 holes for studs to go through, solid iron. does that make a difference?

 

No. You can (or at least used to be able to) buy spacers for most GM cars up to an inch or so wide, and this was a poular (and dumb) modification back when cars had narrower tracks than now. I knew several people years ago who really screwed up wheel bearings, suspension, and other parts, etc., and one that I saw, where a wheel come off and wrecked the car: the spacers increase the sheer force (sideways pressure trying to slice the bolt in half) on the wheel bolts and in that case (and others I've heard of) the bolts break and that's that).

There are a few cases where spacers are permissable: Porsche sells spacers in small incremental widths for the Boxster and 911 Carrera to allow an owner/racer to fine-tune handling, but not too wide, and they are engineering from the factory and come with special wheel studs you have to use and they fit only with the stock factory or approved racing wheels.

 

I had a very bad experience with spacers, and I really don't recommend them. I had the wheel studs shear off, and the right front wheel come off on the LI Expressway at 70 MPH. Luckly no one got hurt, but the front corner of the car was a mess.

 

I think one inch is pushing it, i personaly would not go that far.

 

1/2" MAX,I WOULDN'T GO ANYMORE THAN THAT.THE BRAKING FORCE WILL SHEAR THE BOLTS OVER TIME.