Spacers for a car: an original gift for your beloved husband

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When you want to please your husband with not only a pleasant, but also a useful gift, you can pay attention to such a thing as car spacers. This part in the form of small disks is used to increase the vehicle's ground clearance. After all, every car enthusiast dreams of his car looking impressive on the roads.

What are spacers used for?

Spacers, despite their modest dimensions, can fulfill several roles at once. First of all, they allow you to increase the so-called ground clearance. This term refers to the distance from the bottom of the car to the ground. The shorter this distance, the harder it is for the car to move over uneven roads and poor quality roads. It will move more accurately, but this will significantly affect the condition of the bottom of the four-wheeled favorite.

• Those car enthusiasts who are tired of looking at the torment of their car resort to methods of increasing ground clearance. But if a complete re-equipment of the chassis requires significant investment, then the use of spacers performs the same function for much less money. The increased ground clearance will protect the underbody of the car from damage.
• The second advantage of spacers is the fact that cars with a higher ground clearance ensure driving safety, because the risk of catching a bump or pothole on the road is significantly reduced. Thus, driving a car with spacers installed brings much fewer unpleasant surprises.
• And finally, these small parts are used by car owners to tune their cars. Changing the ground clearance gives the vehicle a non-standard and original look. This method allows you to add individuality to the appearance of the car.

Depending on the installation location, spacers are divided into two types:

• Front. They are a bracket with mounting holes. As a rule, they have the form of a box;
• Rear. These are small rings with three holes.

The choice of one type or another depends on the make and configuration of the car. Front spacers are installed between the spring and the vehicle body. Rear spacers are installed between the spring and the body mounting cup.

Advantages and disadvantages of spacers

The modification of spacers depends on the make of the car and where it is intended to be installed - on the front or rear shock absorbers. Spacers for front struts are available in steel and aluminum. They look like a bracket. The rear ones can be rubber or plastic; they are made in the form of rings.

The price level is influenced by the material and manufacturer. At service stations, spacers are usually installed quickly.

Despite the fact that spacers increase the vehicle's maneuverability by increasing ground clearance, they have a number of disadvantages.

For example, when increasing the ground clearance on a domestic “nine” or a “Zhiguli”, the practical disadvantages of the operation are immediately visible:

• The wear of the rubber elements of shock absorbers increases.
• The rear skid increases, the center of gravity is shifted.
• Reduced driving comfort.
• The camber/toe changes.
• Lack of rod stroke, as the height of the spacer is added.

A valid reason why it is really worth installing spacers is a decrease in the initial clearance due to wear of the springs. This is important when frequently traveling in off-road areas. Spacers made of polyurethane have a distinctive feature: the body is polyurethane and the bushing is steel. Polyurethane has a higher wear rate, so the bushing may damage the body. Aluminum spacers are more reliable during operation, but they are susceptible to corrosion. Plastic performed well.

How to choose spacers and what material is preferable

The question of which spacers to choose is complicated by the fact that in stores you can find a wide selection of these parts of various shapes and sizes. In addition, the material used may also vary.

Car spacers for front wheels

Depending on the material, spacers are divided into the following types:

• Polyurethane. They enjoy noticeable popularity. Due to their light properties, they absorb vibrations at a sufficient level, but wear out quite quickly. They also have the property of shrinking, due to which the car can be damaged when hitting a bump;
• Aluminum or steel. Known for their high strength. Another advantage is that this type does not deform the body and does not interfere with ride comfort. But it is worth considering that any metal is susceptible to corrosion;
• Plastic. The material from which the spacers are made is high quality and has sufficient strength. Like aluminum parts, this type does not damage the car body. At the same time, it is not susceptible to corrosion and other environmental influences. It is quite difficult to name significant disadvantages;
• Rubber. Similar to polyurethane spacers. They dampen vibrations well, do not affect the comfort of movement, and at the same time, unlike the first type, they have higher strength and stability.

As a rule, metal parts are installed in the front part of the car, and plastic, rubber and polyurethane types are suitable for the rear shock absorbers.

It is worth making a choice of one type or another based on the brand, configuration of the car and the conditions of its further operation. If your husband has a Mazda car, then choose Mazda spacers accordingly. When purchasing, you should also pay attention to whether the kit is equipped with the necessary fasteners.

Which spacers are better for increasing ground clearance: aluminum or polyurethane?

Off-road conditions are quite common in the Russian Federation. It is not surprising that the demand for suspension spacers is 60%-80% higher than in other countries. The use of the modification is relevant when springs sag and ground clearance decreases. I will tell you in more detail about the classification and features of spacers for ground clearance below.

1) How to choose spacers for ground clearance?

Changing the clearance falls into the category of car tuning, but in fact for many it is simply an opportunity to extend the life of old springs. When choosing spacers, the motorist pays attention to safety, efficiency and durability.

There are 3 criteria for selecting spacers for ground clearance:

• Form. It all depends on the vehicle model. Before purchasing, be sure to consult with the seller;
• Climb. An excessive increase in ground clearance has a negative effect on wheel alignment. The maximum permissible value for the front does not exceed 2 centimeters, and for the rear - 3 cm;
• Material. The main parameter for developing operational qualities.

When purchasing, you should indicate not only the factory characteristics of the car itself, but also changes in the chassis, if any were previously made by the owner. Other spacer parameters do not even indirectly affect the efficiency of the part, and therefore in other aspects the driver can focus solely on his own preferences.

Important: using spacers for the front wheels changes the stiffness of the suspension, shifts the center of gravity and leads to increased wear of the steering mechanism.

Regarding the rear suspension, the negative impact of spacers to increase ground clearance is almost zero. Negative effects on the front can be compensated by installing 2 parts on both sides of the spring. In addition, when using aluminum elements, an important indicator of durability will be the presence of an anti-corrosion coating.

2) Which spacers are better: aluminum or polyurethane?

In addition to shape and lift, when choosing spacers, you should consider the material from which they are made. The most popular variations of the part are versions in aluminum and polyurethane. Next, I will dwell on each of the specified types of spacers in more detail.

A) Disassembly of aluminum spacers for ground clearance

Aluminum itself as a material has low mass, but high strength and density. Thanks to its physical and chemical properties, spacers are able to simultaneously combine in their design both lightness and a high margin of safety of the product.

Reasons to choose aluminum spacers:

• metal density;
• corrosion protection;
• minimizing deformations on the side of the vehicle body;
• the space between the support and the stand is not deformed.

Aluminum alloy has an operating temperature range from -40 to +450 degrees Celsius. The only factor that can be perceived as a disadvantage is the high cost, but here everyone looks at their own wallet.

Spacers for changing disc offset

Another spacer configuration is a part designed to change the offset of a disc. They are used in cases where the wheels you like do not fit the configuration of your existing car. The reason may be that the disk offset does not correspond to the standard value.

Spacers for the car to change the disc offset

Disk overhang refers to the distance from the mating plane of the disk to its central axis. This indicator is measured in millimeters and can be of three types:

• Null. The central axis and the mating plane coincide;
• Negative. The mating plane protrudes beyond the central axis;
• Positive. The mating plane is buried outside the central axis.

The use of spacers allows you to change the disc offset parameter without damaging the suspension and wheel arches. This significantly changes the appearance of the car and makes it possible to install sports suspensions.

WHAT ARE WHEEL SPACERS NEEDED FOR?

Special disc spacers can be placed between the wheel hub and the brake disc. These are round, flat metal pieces that can smooth out the line of the suspension and install it between the wheel hub and the brake rotor. This solution is very reasonable, but only so that the wheel offset can be accurately reduced to a standard size (no less, no more), which can ensure safe driving, since it can reduce the load on the suspension According to the design parameters. In addition, the gaskets are very active when tuning the car, but we will talk about the suitability of this application later.

The reason for their use may be due to the following reasons:

• It is necessary to increase the track (for technical reasons or change the wheel offset when adjusting the car);
• Change the mounting pattern of the drive to the hub (spacer sleeve or adapter).
• Before purchasing pads, you need to weigh the pros and cons of using pads and decide how many pads you need.
• Changing wheel offset. Many people sometimes like the visual change in wheel offset. Also, if you bought a disc and it hits the caliper or other suspension components, increasing the distance with spacers by 3-5-10mm may solve the problem.
• To change the bolt style, use a different drill installation CD.
• Extend the wheelbase. This is very common in setups as the wider the wheelbase the better the handling.

If we look at this problem from a mechanical point of view, the only conclusion indicates that the use of wheel chocks is only permitted when the deviation exceeds the standard deviation. In this case, the width of the part itself (in millimeters) must exactly correspond to the difference between the actual overhang and the required overhang. Also understand that build quality is a key aspect when selecting a disc seal. If the alloy of the parts is not uniform, or if there is an error (or even a small one) in the position of the bolt hole, a wheel failure will likely occur, which will actually damage the car's suspension as soon as possible. Under extreme conditions, these unexplained critical loads can even cause immediate suspension damage and subsequent damage. All of the above should be a warning to every driver not to buy problematic handicrafts or buy goods from unknown manufacturers.

Types of wheel spacers

There are several types of spacers that differ in appearance, thickness and fastening.

Car spacers for rear wheels

DR system

The thickness of such spacers can vary from three to six millimeters if they are made without a hub, and from twelve to twenty-five millimeters if there is a hub. The part is installed between the hub and the wheel rim using extended bolts.

DRM system

The thickness of the part exceeds twenty millimeters. The design of this type of spacers involves the presence of pressed-in wheel studs. This determines the nature of its installation on the car: initially the part is installed on the standard studs of the car, and only after that the disc is attached to the spacer.

DRA system

Parts of this type have a thickness of twenty-five millimeters or more. Installation is done by bolting the spacer to the hub. After this, the disk is connected to the spacer using standard bolts.

Adapters

This model is characterized by a thickness of over twenty millimeters, and serves as an adapter for switching from a four-bolt type to a five-bolt type. The part is installed using special bolts and nuts.

Types of spacers

The details considered vary. This is due to what purpose the driver is pursuing when mounting them on the hub. There are two main types of wheel spacers:

1. With through holes for studs. When using these parts, the hub bolts must be replaced with longer ones.
2. With holes for mounting the disc and for the hub bolts. In this case, the part is independently mounted on the hub, after which you can install the disk by screwing it directly to the spacer.

Note that the second option can also be used to change the inter-bolt distance, the diameter of the holes and their number. Also, such parts are usually produced with a convexity, which is intended for centering the wheel, which requires special attention when purchasing, since it is necessary to take into account the size of the centering hole of the disk.

In addition, spacers are:

• Thin - thickness from 3 to 10 millimeters.
• Medium - thickness 12–20 millimeters.
• Thick - thickness 20–30 millimeters.
• Extra thick - thickness 3-4 centimeters.

Each of these types is used for mounting wheels with a negative offset indicator, and allows you to adjust the parameters to those recommended by the car manufacturer. In addition, the last two options are used for mounted tuning of wheel arches (thick models for regular cars, and extra thick ones for crossovers and SUVs).

Spacer manufacturers

Despite the apparent simplicity of spacer design, production quality can vary significantly. Today there is a wide variety of manufacturers of these parts on the market. The most famous of them are:

• American H&R TRAK+;
• German Schiessler;
• German Hofmann;
• Italian BIMECC;
• Russian PROMA and others.

Manufactured spacers differ in the quality of the material used. The product must have a strong and uniform structure. Fastening elements should also not raise doubts about their quality. When choosing spacers, you can safely pay attention to the listed manufacturers, whose product has long proven itself positively on the market.