WHEEL SPACERS

[ECS Tuning]

Originally Posted by TurnAround

Waiting for somebody to make longer black bolts so I can do the fronts too!

I have up to 50mm wheel bolts in black available . Those are what you would need for 20mm spacers. HERE is a link to our selection of wheel bolts (scroll down for the black wheel bolts).




ECS Tuning

[MANGO]

ECS,

I ordered a pair of H&R spacers for my 2006 BMW X5 4.8IS and the box I received shows the item number as 60757252 and it matches what's on my order history on your website.

Here's my problem at the moment:

The enclosed instructions on box (blue paper) has line item #3 stating:

"Fasten the TRAK+WHeel Spacer to the hub USING the supplied DRA-bolts"

The DRA bolts are obviously the silver ones that came with the spacers. Looking at the spacer, these bolts obviously go into the countersunk holes with no threads on them correct?

The problem with this is that the DRA bolts (silver) are smaller and will not bite into the thread holes on the factory hub. I tried and they slide in and out without bite.

It looks like the ones that will go on the countersunk holes on the spacers ARE the factory black wheel bolts.

Here's another problem:

Instruction line item #4:

"Install the wheel by centering it on the spacer and mount it with the original bolts"

In following this instruction, the black factory bolts will not thread onto the shiny threaded holes on the spacer because these holes are smaller and look like they're made for the DRA bolts instead.

So it seems like #3 & #4 on the instruction sheet is reversed in terms of what bolt to use where.

But my biggest concern is if it is the DRA bolts that do thread onto the shiny threaded holes on the spacer instead of the countersunk ones, they look to be too short and too small to hold the wheel!

ECS,
Did I receive the correct spacers & bolts for my application????!

1Tymz,
How did you do your install and is the parts kit different from how I'm describing what I got?



MANGO

[MANGO]

I'm trying to upload pics but an error seems to keep popping up!

[MANGO]

See post #25

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...cers-x5-3.html

[1tymz]

Hey Mango,
I had my friend mount the spacers on for me. I watched him and he said started to put the original black lugs to mount the spacers on. I told him that those were to be mounted on the rim and not the spacer. He laughed as he already tried and the only way they fit is using the original black lug nuts to mount the spacer, then the supplied grey ones to mount the rim to the spacer. It was a perfect fit. Only problem, was that the lugs showing were no longer black. It was not a big deal to me. Im very happy with the new look. I have no complaints.

[ECS Tuning]

MANGO - Per H&R those are the correct spaces for your X. Try what 1tymz did, I've had a few sets of H&R spacers come in with what I'll refer to as "backwards" instructions. Most of the time with the large DRA H&R spacers you'll use your stock lugs to mount the spacer to the X5, then use the supplied lugs to mount the Wheel to the spacer.

Keep me in the loop.

James with ECS

[MANGO]

Thanks 1tymz!
That's what I figured! Thanks for clarifying that. At least that tells me I'm not slowly losing my mind.

James,
Thanks for double checking.


What's making me have second thoughts about installing the spacers is the eventual use of the DRA bolts to now hold the wheel to the hub.

1. The DRA silver bolts are smaller, shorter, and have a much smaller countersunk
head compared to the factory black bolts. Given the weight of the wheel + tire
and the truck itself, I'm afraid one if not two or so of the DRA bolts will unseat or
worse, shear off. There's just not enough thread there it looks like since they're
so short.

2. Afterall, according to the instructions, H&R expects you to use your factory black
bolts to still hold the wheel to the spacer/hub and not the adapted reverse install

3. The DRA bolts are so short with such a smaller head that I can't even hand tighten
them in the wheel bolt holes without losing my finger grip on them. Once they're
fully threaded in, they're so short and so far in, visually the wheel looks like it's not
even held on by bolts at all. Looking at the spacer with the threaded cavity where these bolts go into, it looks like there's more room for a longer bolt.

So I guess my questions are:

1. Is H&R aware of the typo on their instructions sheet?
2. If so, do they actually endorse using the smaller DRA bolts that came with their
spacers to mount the wheel to the resulting spacer/hub?
3. Or do the original instructions stand and are the factory black bolts really meant to
hold the wheel to the spacer afterall? Which means the install will not work.


Time to give H&R R and D a call.......


MANGO

[ECS Tuning]

MANGO - I just blasted off an email to our contact to see what they say.

[MANGO]

AWESOME JAMES!!!

Thank you very much! I'm sure we're all learning about this as we go.


MANGO

[TriX5]

X5 wheel bolts are 14mm. Sounds like you have a set for an application with 12mm wheel boolts.