Help with spacers anyone?

Mr nanotech · Postby **Mr nanotech** » Wed May 12, 2010 11:45 pm

Looking to put some bolt on spacers and wondering if anybody can hook me up with a decent manufacturer and somewhere to buy. I don't want to skimp out and find myself popping wheel nuts and all sorts of things happening due to shoddy production quality.
So far I've been looking toward ebay at the 20mm Ichiba V2 spacers. Though I'm not sure if they are reputable or typical e-store crap. The other thing I'm uncertain about is what I should be paying.

So yeah, if anyone has any ideas of price, manufacturer, where to buy or even if anyone has second hand etc.
These are to push my weak +30 offset Watanabes out closer to the guards. I would buy wider wheels or something with a more aggressive negative offset, but I'm still in love with my watanabe's and hate to see them go just so I can get that extra few mm's.

Oh and for the record, I'm looking at bolt on spacers NOT the slip on washer kind.

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Wed May 12, 2010 11:57 pm

You know they're illegal right?

Mr nanotech · Postby **Mr nanotech** » Thu May 13, 2010 1:13 am

Jeo wrote:You know they're illegal right?

I'm still unsure at the moment, I'm paranoid about voiding my insurance. But I think my window tint is going to do that already. I'm booked to get a 15% (or 20%, I can't remember which one it was now) blacked out tint next week.
So I'm just weighing up whether it's worth it or not. Mainly because some old man pulled out of an RSL without giving way and straight into the front of my car a while back. Tried to blame it on me and rang his insurance company straight away, saying I was driving in the bike lane while he was giving way or something stupid. Only reason I didn't get the blame was because someone happened to be on their lunch break from a near by place and saw the accident and was able to report it to the police to back me up.

Anyway, long story short... Not sure if voiding insurance is a bright idea haha. That said, I don't want to have to buy new wheels to achieve the offset I want!! Hence tossing up spacers.
Although I there is a lot of conjecture I hear about them, I heard from some that only the washer ones are illegal and some shops sell 'legit' approved bolt on spacers that conform to statewide road safety regulations. I went into VicRoads to ask and they had no idea what I was talking about. All I got were some documents regarding the width of wheel and track not exceeding certain measurements etc... So this seems like a grey area. Some say this and other say that.

Steve - Toyo Tyres · Postby **Steve - Toyo Tyres** » Thu May 13, 2010 8:52 am

No conjecture. Wheel spacers or "adaptors" are illegal in all states unless fitted as original equipment. All state regulations mention this. This includes "wheel adapators" that include wheel studs.

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Thu May 13, 2010 9:45 am

It seems like one of things you'd probably never get caught for by a roadside pullover, but something that could come out in a crash and void your insurance.

Mr nanotech · Postby **Mr nanotech** » Thu May 13, 2010 1:40 pm

Jeo wrote:It seems like one of things you'd probably never get caught for by a roadside pullover, but something that could come out in a crash and void your insurance.

Yeah I agree, I can't see them ever picking them out unless they know the car and wheels. But the insurance side of it concerns me.. could always switch insurance company and say I don't know anything about cars and I bought it like this

rascal · Postby **rascal** » Thu May 13, 2010 2:29 pm

nanotech wrote:
Jeo wrote:It seems like one of things you'd probably never get caught for by a roadside pullover, but something that could come out in a crash and void your insurance.

Yeah I agree, I can't see them ever picking them out unless they know the car and wheels. But the insurance side of it concerns me.. could always switch insurance company and say I don't know anything about cars and I bought it like this

Unfortunately ignorance of the law (pretend or real) isnt a legal defence. If you run them your car is illegal and insurance may be voided.. If you have an accident and take out a $200K Mercedes then the few hundred dollars it costs to get the proper rims will seem really cheap.

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Thu May 13, 2010 8:50 pm

Leaving aside all the legal opinion, MX5 Mania sell quality ones for a start. Check their racing gear section. Be aware that if you go below 25mm there may be parts of the old studs or their lugs protuding above the face of the spacer and you'll need cut-outs in the mounting face of the wheel to accommodate them.