Wheel Spacers for Testarossa

Redhead Seeker · 06-09-2009, 12:19 PM

Greetings; I have a 1991 Testarossa that has the 18 TR rims, and am running spacers (They came with the car). Just had the car aligned at Roger Kraus Tires, Inc. in Castro Valley.Ca. (Great People to do business with), I was told by the one of the owners (Brandan Kraus) that since the spacer has no protruding "hub" that the lugs nuts carry all the weight. My questions are "1" Do I need to have the spacer with the 18inch TR rims?, Are there clearance problems if I don't?, Question "2"..If I do need to have the spacers, Does an Aftermarket company make spacers with a protruding hub for the wheel to center itself and rest upon?....Thanks in advance for your responses and replies.....Mark.

Gcalo · 06-09-2009, 08:54 PM

What he meant was a) that the spacer are not concentric which means there is no ridge for the wheel to be centered, or b) that the wheel bolts are not going through the spacers into the hub which you apparently have. So the load is taken up only by the lug bolts into the spacers. Not a good situation.

I would look at Hill's site, because he makes very good quality spacers but make sure the spacers are for lug nuts to go all the way through. Hill does state the differences.

Spacers are generally referred to as Type 1 or Type 2. I can't remember which is which but you obviously have the type where the spacer is bolted to the hub and the lug nuts then bolt to the spacer. These are`dangerous, and Kraus' advice was very good.

You will need longer wheel bolts (measured by the thickness of the spacers) for them to go through the spcaer to connect with the hub.

Redhead Seeker · 06-09-2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gcalo

What he meant was a) that the spacer are not concentric which means there is no ridge for the wheel to be centered, or b) that the wheel bolts are not going through the spacers into the hub which you apparently have. So the load is taken up only by the lug bolts into the spacers. Not a good situation.

I would look at Hill's site, because he makes very good quality spacers but make sure the spacers are for lug nuts to go all the way through. Hill does state the differences.

Spacers are generally referred to as Type 1 or Type 2. I can't remember which is which but you obviously have the type where the spacer is bolted to the hub and the lug nuts then bolt to the spacer. These are`dangerous, and Kraus' advice was very good.

You will need longer wheel bolts (measured by the thickness of the spacers) for them to go through the spcaer to connect with the hub.

Thanks Greg for the reply, You are exactly correct in the term "concentric", As that is the term that was used by Brandan (Shop co-owner), since I do not believe I am the only Teastarossa owner having the 18inch TR rims, what have other owners used to solve this "common" problem? If I take the spacers off, can I just bolt up the 18inch TR rim directly to the hub, Will I encounter clearance problems?.....Mark.

Gcalo · 06-10-2009, 06:40 AM

I can't answer that one for sure.

You can try yourself.

Jack the car, remove wheel and spacer, and re-apply the wheel with a few bolts.

Turn it slowly to see if any rubbing, etc.

06-09-2009, 12:19 PM	#1
Redhead Seeker Owner Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: I live currently in millbrae calif Ferrari Life Posts: 157	Wheel Spacers for Testarossa Greetings; I have a 1991 Testarossa that has the 18 TR rims, and am running spacers (They came with the car). Just had the car aligned at Roger Kraus Tires, Inc. in Castro Valley.Ca. (Great People to do business with), I was told by the one of the owners (Brandan Kraus) that since the spacer has no protruding "hub" that the lugs nuts carry all the weight. My questions are "1" Do I need to have the spacer with the 18inch TR rims?, Are there clearance problems if I don't?, Question "2"..If I do need to have the spacers, Does an Aftermarket company make spacers with a protruding hub for the wheel to center itself and rest upon?....Thanks in advance for your responses and replies.....Mark.

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06-09-2009, 08:54 PM	#2
Gcalo Owner Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Ramon, Calif Ferrari Life Posts: 3,613	What he meant was a) that the spacer are not concentric which means there is no ridge for the wheel to be centered, or b) that the wheel bolts are not going through the spacers into the hub which you apparently have. So the load is taken up only by the lug bolts into the spacers. Not a good situation. I would look at Hill's site, because he makes very good quality spacers but make sure the spacers are for lug nuts to go all the way through. Hill does state the differences. Spacers are generally referred to as Type 1 or Type 2. I can't remember which is which but you obviously have the type where the spacer is bolted to the hub and the lug nuts then bolt to the spacer. These are`dangerous, and Kraus' advice was very good. You will need longer wheel bolts (measured by the thickness of the spacers) for them to go through the spcaer to connect with the hub.

06-10-2009, 06:40 AM	#4
Gcalo Owner Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Ramon, Calif Ferrari Life Posts: 3,613	I can't answer that one for sure. You can try yourself. Jack the car, remove wheel and spacer, and re-apply the wheel with a few bolts. Turn it slowly to see if any rubbing, etc.