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Need help with Spacers on a 2017 GT

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Old Apr 3, 2025 | 11:18 AM
  #1  
cbrown119's Avatar
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Unhappy Need help with Spacers on a 2017 GT

Hello,
I'm not really sure about this subject and would appreciate any advice and/or help that you have to offer.

I purchased my Mustang almost two years ago. It had spacers installed. Every time I swap out summer/winter tires (2x/year), the person questions the safety of the spacer with the summer tires. The wheels are stock and from what I understand, the back of the wheels (where it meets the hub) is flush. But there are holes "drilled" into the wheels where the wheel stud "fits into"? I'm going off my memory and should have taken a photo of this....So, from what I understand, the wheel stud must be protruding from the spacer (I'm guessing). That is probably why the holes were "drilled" in the bolt pattern. This "safety" concern is only on the summer (stock) wheels. With the winter rims that I purchased, there is room for the wheel bolts to fit with the spacer installed.

I've only owned this car for two years. The spacers were installed along with the stock rims. So, there must have been a problem when the spacers were originally installed. Spacers are an Aftermarket item, correct? The car didn't come from Ford like this, right?

So, excuse my ignorance in this matter and please correct me or give some advice. The purpose of having a spacer is to widen the stance and appearance and I'm assuming improve handling and stability. Was it the wrong size spacer installed originally by a previous owner? Is that why the wheel bolt is sticking out too far? So, they drilled into the rim to make room???? Since they "drilled" into the rim, is that why the technician has a safety concern?

Is drilling the wheel bolt pattern into the rim a common work around with Mustangs? I hate to say drilling, but there was some modification done in the bolt pattern. The backside of stock rims are flush (I think) and do not have the same relief surface like my after market rims. So I assume that there is more room for the bolts to fit..

Is there a way to correct this so I can use the spacers? I measured the spacer depth, it is 20 mm. Is that the correct size for a Mustang? Do I really need spacers in the first place? I hate taking equipment off and do notice the tires fit inside the fender well. I probably wouldn't have noticed if I didn't know, but the splash guards are more effective! . And one last question....Is it pointless to have the spacers installed on winter-studded tires? Could it help?

I attached some photos of the spacers along with the tire in the fender well picture....

I really appreciate any advice that you might have on this.

Thank you.






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Old Apr 3, 2025 | 11:59 AM
  #2  
05stangkc's Avatar
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Sounds Like Maybe Longer Studs Were Installed. Pictures of The Backside of Both Sets of Wheels Would be Helpful as Would Pics of Studs. I Could Conjecture Scenarios But Would Be Just Guessing For Sure. The Wheels Should Have Back Spacing Info Etc. Spacers Are a Weak Link For Sure But If Your are Just Driving Normally it Should Not Pose a Big Safety Concern.

A Competent Tire Shop With The Car in Front of Their Face & Both Sets of Wheels Should Be Able To Determine if Either Set Had a Fit Issue Less Spacer But it Seems You Were Not Able To Get Any Good Feedback, Just They Don't Like Spacers. Pics of All Things Involved Including Lug Nuts Really Would Be Great!

{Spacers} Personally I Would Call The Type With Studs {Adapters} Which Are Used For Appearance, Clearance or Different Bolt Pattern Wheels. I Don't Suppose You Could Find Original Owner & Question?


Here Are What The Factory Front Hub & a Bare Wheel Stud Should Look Like as Far as Appearance & Length. I Count About 24 Threads on Stud. So If Your Studs Have More Than That Say 30 Then You Would Know Those Were Changed.

If You Determine You Can Run Both Sets Without Spacers Except The Studs are Too Long They Can Be Changed Back or Cut Shorter. You Would Need To Duplicate Factory Length. Also Some Racing Lug Nuts Are Open So Studs Can Pass Through!

It is Possible They Were Using Pass Through Spacers Before The Bolt on Style. They Just Sandwich Between Hub & Wheel & Usually Require Longer Studs. So If Your Try & Put Wheel On Without Sandwich it Would Make The Lug Nuts Top Out & Not Be Able To Tighten. Anyhoo That is Just One Scenario.

That's My Take So Far Anybody With Some Real World Knowledge on The S-550 Wheels Feel Free To Chime In!

KC





EXAMPLE OF SANDWICH SPACERS
EXAMPLE OF SANDWICH SPACERS

Example Of Open Ended Lug Nut
Example Of Open Ended Lug Nut
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Old Apr 3, 2025 | 01:06 PM
  #3  
05stangkc's Avatar
Administrator clevparts@aol.com
 
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From: Visalia Ca.
Here is a Thread Where We Talked About S-550 Wheels on a S197 and Some Basic Wheel Info & Lug Nut Fit Were Discussed. Some Info Can Be Gleaned Here For Basic Wheel Questions!

https://themustangsource.com/forums/...estion-550755/

KC
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Old Apr 3, 2025 | 01:48 PM
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cbrown119's Avatar
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Hmmm.
Thank you for your replies!
Just thinking of what has been said...Maybe I can take the car to another place f or a second opinion on these spacers...

I also just watched a CJ Pony parts video about spacers:
The OEM rims look like similar to mine. Which is good. They were installing 25mm spacers on their video. Mine are 20mm, which would expose more of the wheel bolt, right? Maybe that is what the issue is...the bolt is too extends too far past the spacer.
......I really need to take my rims off and look myself.

Thanks again!
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Old Apr 3, 2025 | 02:38 PM
  #5  
05stangkc's Avatar
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From: Visalia Ca.
Yep, Now You Have an Idea what you Are Looking For. And Be advised Front & Rear May Have Different Clearance Dimensions. Studs Need To Come Out Other Side of Lug Nut {open Lugs} and Not Be Recessed But Not Stick Out & Touch Back of Wheel if That is an Issue. Also Studs Can Not Be So Long as To Top Out on Closed End Lugs.

KC
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Old Apr 3, 2025 | 03:34 PM
  #6  
Bert's Avatar
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the first basic question is: WHY are you using spacers?

The OEM wheels should fit fine without spacers. Can you confirm they are the original wheels that came with the car? If you look at the back of the wheels, you should be able to find he markings with the wheel width and offset; and someone here can check to confirm if that is the correct offset for the car. I wonder if they are not the original wheels.

People use spacers to push the wheels out, like you said. But with OEM wheels they should not be needed; the OEM wheels are designed to sit just inside the fenders, right where they should be. I guess they might be inset a little on your car. Some people ike the "poke" look (when the tires stick out a little) but I do not. Your tires don't appear to be "poking" so I'm not sure what's up with that.

Personally I would avoid the spacers if possible. But again you need to figure out why they are there.
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Old Apr 4, 2025 | 08:16 AM
  #7  
cbrown119's Avatar
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Originally Posted by Bert
the first basic question is: WHY are you using spacers?

The OEM wheels should fit fine without spacers. Can you confirm they are the original wheels that came with the car? If you look at the back of the wheels, you should be able to find he markings with the wheel width and offset; and someone here can check to confirm if that is the correct offset for the car. I wonder if they are not the original wheels.

People use spacers to push the wheels out, like you said. But with OEM wheels they should not be needed; the OEM wheels are designed to sit just inside the fenders, right where they should be. I guess they might be inset a little on your car. Some people ike the "poke" look (when the tires stick out a little) but I do not. Your tires don't appear to be "poking" so I'm not sure what's up with that.

Personally I would avoid the spacers if possible. But again you need to figure out why they are there.
Yes, exactly.
I don't know why spacers were added. If the mechanic hadn't said to remove them, I probably would not have noticed. I don't beat on the car, I drive normal.
I'm am 95% sure that these are OEM wheels. Looking at how the tires fit inside the fenders look fine (for now) and, again, I probably wouldn't notice the difference of less than an inch. Better coverage for the splash guards...
But during winter driving - would the spacers help the handling of the car by having a wider footprint on the road?
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Old Apr 4, 2025 | 08:52 AM
  #8  
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Does Wider Wheel Track Actually Help With Handling?

Some high-performance cars are equipped with a wider body with wider tyres and sometimes wider wheel track. But, does this actually help? Especially the third point which you can do easily by using a wheel spacer.

It turns out to be a yes. A wider wheel track can have some benefits for handling, but it depends on the specific circumstances and design of the vehicle.

Generally, a wider wheel track can provide more stability to a vehicle, especially during high-speed turns. This is because the wider stance of the wheels increases the vehicle's lateral stability and reduces the likelihood of tipping over. A wider track can also reduce body roll and improve cornering grip by providing more tyre contact patches.

Ultimately, whether a wider wheel track is beneficial for handling depends on the specific characteristics of the vehicle and the driving conditions. Factors such as the vehicle's weight distribution, suspension design, and tyre size can all play a role in determining the optimal wheel track width for a given vehicle.

Seems To Be The General Answer From a Web Search.

Now The Downside is More Debris Can Be Transmitted To The Sides of The Car was My Thought!

KC
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Old Apr 4, 2025 | 09:21 AM
  #9  
Bert's Avatar
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Originally Posted by cbrown119
But during winter driving - would the spacers help the handling of the car by having a wider footprint on the road?
theoretically yes maybe a little but probably not noticeable in the real world ..... but I'd be more concerned about throwing salt and slush all over the side of the car; and if you will be driving in any kind of snow you really want narrower snow tires
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Old Apr 5, 2025 | 10:49 AM
  #10  
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I have used bolt on spacers over the years. If your car is a PP! (wheels look like it) then the perfect size to fit the car with factory camber is 23mm in the rear and 25mm in the front. Min. is 20mm. With 20mm you MUST check to see if the OEM studs are making contact with the wheel (the deep pockets in the back of the wheel). You can do this by putting a small amount of paint on the end of the lugs and install your whee, and torque to 150 lbs. Then remove the wheels. If you see any paint transfer move to a 23 mm spacer. I personally like the look of the wheels being flush with the fender. Also don't go with 25 mm on the rear. The rear wheel will rub. Attached are a few photos of my car back in 2018 with 23mm on the rear and 25mm up front with a 1" drop up front and 5/8" drop on the rear. no rub. I had this set up til I started tracking the car. Track and bolt on spacers don't mix. So for those people that are going to the track you MUST use only slip on spacers. Hope this helped.


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