How to choose the best wheel spacers for Porsche 911
The Benefits of Using Wheel Spacers on Porsche 911 Wheel spacers used to be of low quality and would often crack if tightened too much. Luckily today Porsche make the … Read more
Car Life
Porsche is a German car manufacturer based in Stuttgart. It’s a member of the Volkswagen Group that specializes in high-performance sedans, SUVs and sports cars. Its lineup currently includes the Panamera, Cayenne, 911, Macan and the 718 Boxster/Cayman.
In 2011, a study carried out in Canada showed that up to 97.4% of vehicles built by Porsche in the last 25 years were still on the road. In 2014, Consumer Reports listed the Boxster and Cayman as the most reliable cars. The 911 was also recognized as Germany’s most dependable car by the Technical Inspection Association (Technischer Überwachungsverein).
Wheel spacers allow your wheels to sit more flush with the fender by moving them further outwards. This results in the perfect stance. Top-of-the-line sports cars are known to make use of every millimeter of fender space to deliver the best performance.
Hub-centric wheel spacers act as an addition to the axle hub. This allows them to deliver a wheel fitment that’s accurate and precise.
MODEL | YEAR | O.E. WHEEL SIZE | BOLT PATTERN | STUD SIZE | HUB/CENTER BORE | OFFSET |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
924 | 77-86 | 14×6/15×7 | 4X108 | 12×1.5b | H | |
BOXSTER | 02-UP | 17×8 | 5X108 | 12×1.5b | H | |
CAYENNE | 04-UP | 19×8 | 5X130 | 14×1.5b | 71.5 | H |
ALL OTHER MODELS | ALL | 5×130 | 12×1.5b | H |
The most important factors to consider when determining wheel dimensions are the wheel lug or bolt pattern and the hub center bore.
The wheel lug or bolt pattern is also called the bolt circle or lug circle. It’s a measure of the diameter of the bolt holes or center of the wheel lug. Bolt patterns range between 3 to 10 lug holes. A 5 by 4.5 bolt pattern means that there are 5 lug bolts each with a circle diameter of 4.5 inches.
The hub center bore represents the center hole found on the wheel which centers the wheel on the hub. Most vehicles have a large centre bore to allow wheels of different sizes to fit. A hub ring is used to make the necessary adjustments. It’s a metal or hard plastic ring that sits between the vehicle and the wheel. This ensures that the wheel sits perfectly without any vibrations during movement.
All fastener threads should be cleaned off of any grit, oil, corrosion or dirt and dried. When tightening the lug hardware by hand, it should flow smoothly and without binding. Seats and threads should not be lubricated. Such hardware forms the foundation of torque measurements. Lubricants alter the friction produced at the seat which results in improper torque measurements. This then leads to over-torquing.
Start by installing the hardware by hand and snug it manually. Use a click-type torque wrench or beam to tighten it to the correct torque. Use the patterns recommended by your manufacturer as you check for the correct torque value.
It’s not advisable to use torque sticks or impact guns when installing your wheels. These could easily ruin your wheel finish and hardware. Porsches normally require owners to use a special socket to tighten the hardware. This protects the anodized coating. Using a torque gun can lead to extremely high or low torqueing.
Other factors that affect torque delivery include:
• Applied angle of use
• Grip strength of the operator
• Use of additional adapters
• Impacts per second
• Impact type (air, cordless, electric)
• Weight of the impact
• Socket weight, size, length
• Internal hammer sizes
• Power (battery power and age, hose length, air pressure or volume, fitting sizes).
The Benefits of Using Wheel Spacers on Porsche 911 Wheel spacers used to be of low quality and would often crack if tightened too much. Luckily today Porsche make the … Read more