Advice needed.....Metal to use for Wheel spacers.... Behind car brake discs

[demented]

Which Metal can I use for wheel spacers?

My car has upgraded front brakes and calipers.

And to centralise the brake discs in the calipers the previous owner has fitted steel washers, approx 3/4mm thick, fitted behind the brake discs, in between the hub and the disc.

The washers are inserted over each wheel stud prior to fitting the brake discs.

Although, the washers are not causing any problems, I would much prefer custom made spacers fitted, of the required thickness and ideally of same diameter of the hub and the internal dimensions of the discs.

My first thought was to use 3/4mm thick mild steel cut to shape with holes drill to thread over wheel studs.

However, I've been wondering whether I could use a metal alloy product, as such items are readily available for purchase, with holes for studs per drilled.

These alloy wheels spacers, which are machined to shape and not cast, are specifically designed to be used between the car wheel and hub and not in between the brake discs and hub.

So, would an alloy wheel spacer be suitable, thinking of heat generated during braking ?

Any ideas ?

 

[scott0031]

Ally will be fine, go right ahead and do the job. Heat wont be a problem, there is a clue in the fact off the shelf spacers are made and used in ally.

I have made several of these for various cars with that exact mod.


Kind regards,


Scott

 

[Davek0974]

Is that three quarters of a mm thick or 3 - 4 mm thick?

If its three quarters of a mm I would not use ally, it could spread under the strain of the bolts and could loosen the hub when it does, not worth the risk IMHO.

 

[demented]

Thanks for prompt replies,

Yes, my mistake, I meant 3 or 4 mm thick.

As for the alloy wheel spacers, my concerns is regarding the heat generated when braking and because such spacers are design to fit in between the wheel and the disc, to prevent the wheel rubbing on the calipers.

Where as I plan to have the alloy spacers machined slightly to actually fit inside the discs and when fitted, the alloy spacers will be sandwich between the hub and disc.

So, just to clarify, such a fitment would definitely be ok ?

 

[rocketron]

ally is ok. loads of race cars use ally. only for very thin, say 6mm have I seen steel. MSA do not allow more than 1in/25mm max thickness and only in one piece! Would suggest a there's a good reason for this limit????

 

[PhillipM]

Hell, many cars use ally to mount the outer race of the discs, it'll be fine.

 

[hotrodder]

The current washer situation sounds like a proper scary bodge. Hubs have a centre register to locate the disc mounting bell concentrically. Same deal with wheels* hence 'hubcentric' spacers. The studs/wheel bolts are for clamping the assembly together only. The whole thing acts (or is supposed to!) in much the same way as a clutch i.e. driving/braking forces are transferred via the 'friction' between the mounting faces

As said some (typically 'kin large) discs are two piece with an ally mounting bell. An ally spacer inside an iron disc isn't quite as good with regards to heat transfer/soak but i doubt you could generate enough heat for it to be an issue even with 'race' only pads let alone with pad compounds that'll work from cold




*there's a few exceptions with wheels but we're talking about old stuff and steel wheels which are much thinner material wise i.e. short bolts/studs with very little 'exposed' to bending loads.

 

[demented]

Thanks again for the informative and concise replies.

Although the washers fitted behind the discs sounds like a scary bodge, it's not as bad as it sounds. I've used the car for quite some time, with some heavy braking before I even knew the washers were fitted.

I must admit, it's not how I would of upgraded the brakes and calipers but since I've become aware of it, it does seems to be standard practice within the modding fraternity.

If not for using my car, for some time before I realised the washers were I used, I wouldn't even be considering spacers, but as the car has driven and performed well with the washers fitted, I believed using a modified alloy or a custom made steel spacers can only be an improvement.

 

[nodeward]

surely it would be better to space the calipers centrally, do the no calipers have brackets to allow them to fit or do they use the origional mounting on the hub?

 

[demented]

The calipers fit onto the original hub carriers and there's no room for additional brackets and not possible to move the calipers in or out to centralise the discs.

At present, with washers fitted, there is approx 4mm between the discs and the calipers mounting carriers.

Washers or spacers fitted in between the disc and hub seems the best solution.

I've been driving the car for some time unaware the washers were even fitted and no issues have occurred.

I would prefer custom made spacers, as a more professional upgrade until I replace the discs and calipers with a conversion that doesn't need spacers or washers.