Wheel Spacers/Painted Calipers...Rolled into one Post *DUW*

BlackVert said:
what ... no close up pics with the painted calipers and the wheels on?

come on man, you are losing it

what are you thinking?

:rolleyes: :lol:

i just painted mine red last month, but i really slopped it on because i figure i'll be replacing the pads before long anyway

about the rotors:

http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=610591

i like them, and they make a cool sound when i tap the brakes

They look awesome for that price.. DId everything stay stock on your calipers, and were you able to keep the Ebrake? Any better braking?

Thanks
RC
 
94GTLaserRC said:
They look awesome for that price.. DId everything stay stock on your calipers, and were you able to keep the Ebrake? Any better braking?

Thanks
RC
everything else is stock and i use my e-brake all the time. i don't do alot of road racing type driving, so i don't really stress out the brakes too much, but they are fine. and they make a really cool sound when i hit the brakes.
 
BlackVert said:
everything else is stock and i use my e-brake all the time. i don't do alot of road racing type driving, so i don't really stress out the brakes too much, but they are fine. and they make a really cool sound when i hit the brakes.
What kind of sound can brakes possibly make that are "cool"?
RC
 
94GTLaserRC said:
What kind of sound can brakes possibly make that are "cool"?
RC
it is a sort of a whirring sound that comes from the holes as they whiz past the brake pads. it took a while to realize that was what it was, but now that i know what it is, i think it is cool ...
 
I think the key with spacers is you get what you pay for. I bought 1.25" spacers and then realized my car already had them installed. So I have an extra set it anyone is interested. But anyway, the key is hubcentric. You want not just a universal spacer, but one that is made for your car. They are safe if installed properly, id be more afraid of snapping a c clip or axle before hurting one of my billit spacers.
 
84convertablegt said:
......, id be more afraid of snapping a c clip or axle before hurting one of my billit spacers.

I dont thing "hurting" a spacer is the concern...I think it's one coming off.. With that said, If they are Hub-centric, made specifically to fit our car, and are Billet 6061, they should be ok.. If they are cheap metal, it may compress after driving, resulting in loose lugs and possibly coming off. I already drove the car once for about 15 miles and took the wheels off to re tq them. They were still in place... Gotta do it one more time just to be sure.

RC
 
your wheel can come off just as easy as a spacer. if you are really worried you can put a touch of locktite on the lugs that hold on the spacers, for a little extra piece of mind. but just like we've all heard before. you get what you pay for, just like 94GTL... said billet 6061, hubcentric, etc. = SAFE
 
84convertablegt said:
your wheel can come off just as easy as a spacer. if you are really worried you can put a touch of locktite on the lugs that hold on the spacers, for a little extra piece of mind. but just like we've all heard before. you get what you pay for, just like 94GTL... said billet 6061, hubcentric, etc. = SAFE


1. The wheels "could" come off as easy, except that a cheap spacer will compress, causing the lug nuts to loosen...a wheel wont.

2. I would NOT use loctite.. In fact, I used antiseize around the lugs at the base...just a dab. I will let you all know the next time I go to torque the nuts down if they moved at all!

Thanks
RC
 
Heres some good reading, notice the part about loctite. From the spidertrax wheel spacer website.
"Spacer Myths Dispelled:
Many people have reservations about using wheel spacers. Many of the objections center around a few points: A) they aren't safe because they limit thread engagement of the lug bolts B) more force is exerted on wheel bearings and hubs from a longer leverage arm C) for almost the same price you can get a new set of steel wheels.

These are valid points but they are somewhat misleading providing you use quality wheel spacers such as the Spidertrax versions. These spacers come with extra lug nuts and bolt first to your existing hub the way your wheel does. The new wheel lug bolts that are pre-pressed by Spidertrax then have plenty of thread length to safely engage the lug nuts holding the wheel onto the spacer. As an added safety feature, Spidertrax supplies Loctite for with the spacers.

The spacers exert no more added force on the wheel bearings and hub assembly than an aftermarket wheel with less back spacing. Adding to this is the fact I have not heard of anyone blowing out a hub due to less back spacing. Naturally, too much of anything is not good but the 1.25" spacing of these spacers shouldn't cause problems.

Finally, the price issue is debatable. Yes, you can get cheap steel wheels for about the same price as the spacers but you give up a few things. The steel wheels are heavier than the light weight and expensive stock Jeep alloys. Plus, most steelies (as they're called) are not hub-centric wheels. These spacers are a hub centric design, the only spacers on the market that I know of that are.

Hub-Centric Design:
One of the biggest deciding factors in favor of the Spidertrax spacers was the hub-centric design. I hadn't seen any other spacers on the market with this feature. By utilizing the hub-centric design, these spacers are made to "perfectly" match and fit your stock OEM wheel, which are also a hub-centric design. You'll notice in the pictures a raised lip or ridge, and on the outer face and a groved race on the inner face. This is the good bit. In a hub-centric design these ridges and groves carry the weight of the vehicle far more effectively than the lugs. Thus, the only job the lugs have to do is keep the wheel tight to the hub/spacer face instead of trying to do double duty by also resisting the shear forces. It's a much safer and stronger design, one reason most auto manufacturers have gone with this method. It's also a more expensive design and a reason you only find this feature in expensive aftermarket wheels (not cheap steelies). Another reason to hang on to your OEM wheels."
 
not trying to be a ass but the wheel spacers make it look like a dump truck in the back, the way the wheels stick out, makes me think of someone that bought the wrong size rim! id say about have the size of those spacers would be perfect!
 
95conv5.0 said:
not trying to be a ass but the wheel spacers make it look like a dump truck in the back, the way the wheels stick out, makes me think of someone that bought the wrong size rim! id say about have the size of those spacers would be perfect!
Everyone's entitled to their opinion. I guess you must be a fairly young guy. Old guys like me and others about 35 and up, remember the wide-back Old-time muscle cars, and that's what we like about them.

RC