Why Choose 15mm Wheel Spacers 5x114.3 - Improve Fitment and Stance

Why Choose 15mm Wheel Spacers 5x114.3 - Improve Fitment and Stance
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Why Use 15mm Wheel Spacers?

Wheel spacers are a popular modification for cars and trucks to change the stance and wheel fitment. 15mm wheel spacers are a common size choice to push the wheels outward from the hub for a more aggressive fitment without being too extreme.

There are a few key benefits to running 15mm spacers on 5x114.3 bolt pattern wheels:

  • Pushes wheels outward 15mm for added clearance and more concave fitment
  • Maintains proper suspension geometry and steering compared to oversized spacers
  • Adds track width for improved handling and cornering
  • Allows fitting larger wheels that would normally rub suspension or bodywork
  • Levels stance front-to-rear in cases of factory stagger
  • Spacers are hub-centric for proper wheel alignment

15mm strikes a nice balance between running a spacer for fitment improvements while not being so large as to introduce handling, rubbing, or interference issues.

Choosing Quality 5x114.3 Spacers

Not all wheel spacers are created equal. When shopping for 15mm 5x114.3 spacers, you’ll want high-quality units precision CNC machined from aircraft grade 6061 billet aluminum.

Key features to look for include:

  • 6000 series aluminum construction - strong and lightweight
  • CNC machined for tight tolerances
  • Proper hub-centric design to center wheels
  • Grade 8 or 10.9 fasteners for proper clamping force
  • Anodized coating for durability and corrosion resistance
  • Load testing and safety certification for quality assurance

Reputable spacer brands will provide detailed specification sheets listing quality materials, manufacturing methods, testing procedures, and safety ratings.

You get what you pay for with spacers. A quality set will perform safely for years while cheap spacers can fail unexpectedly.

Beware Lower Price Knockoffs

Searching online you may find super cheap wheel spacers, but they likely cut corners on materials and manufacturing quality. Thin, soft metals and imprecise manufacturing can lead to spacer failure down the road.

Warning signs include:

  • No brand name or specs listed
  • Too cheap to be quality materials and construction
  • Generic black anodizing with no specs or testing data
  • Ships directly from China

Invest in a quality known brand made properly to avoid problems. It’s the only thing keeping your expensive custom wheels safely centered on the hubs.

Installing 15mm 5x114.3 Spacers

Putting 15mm spacers on 5x114.3 wheels is very straight forward. It's always best to use a vehicle lift for easier access all around each wheel, but spacers can be installed using floor jacks and jack stands as well.

Wheel Removal

First, remove the wheels from the vehicle using the factory lug wrench or impact gun. Refer to your vehicle owner's manual for proper jacking points and procedures. With the wheels removed, double check for any corrosion or damage on the wheel hubs or mounting surface before continuing.

Spacer Installation

Take note which side of the spacer faces the wheel and which faces the hub. Improperly installed spacers are dangerous. Mount the spacer on the wheel hub flush with the flange surface. The center spigot goes through the center wheel pilot hole as well.

Use the provided extended wheel studs or bolts and hand tighten all of them a few turns. With all fasteners started evenly, torque them to the wheel or spacer manufacturer's specs in a star pattern.

Wheel Mounting

With the spacers securely installed on the hubs, you can remount the wheels. The spacer mounting flange surface now serves as the wheel mounting surface, pushing everything outward 15mm. Take care to properly center the wheel and not damage the threads installing them.

Using the spacer's studs/bolts, apply even pressure across the wheel and torque fasteners to spec in a star pattern as you would normally mount the wheels. Double check all hardware after a test drive. Your widened stance is complete!

Maintaining Your Spacers

Quality aluminum spacers will hold up for years, but be sure to keep an eye on hardware and check torque specs often. Failing fasteners can lead to a wheel coming loose at speed.

Periodically cleaning the spacers and wheels allows inspecting hardware. Check for any unusual wear or damage over time. 1500 miles is a good interval forchecking torque on newly installed spacers.

Avoid using lubricants or anti-seize compounds on wheel spacer mounting hardware, as this can lead to overtightening or improper torque values. Follow your spacer manufacturer's care instructions.

With periodic inspection and cleaning, quality 15mm 5x114.3 wheel spacers will provide excellent service life improving the stance and fitment of your wheels.

FAQs

Will 15mm spacers void my car's warranty?

Installing aftermarket wheel spacers does not automatically void your factory warranty, despite some misconceptions. As long as the spacers are high quality and installed properly without causing damage, a warranty claim denial would be difficult to justify. However, any subsequent damage found to be caused by improper spacer fit or use may not be covered.

Can I stack multiple sets of spacers for an ultra-wide stance?

It's never advisable to use more than one spacer per wheel, even if trying to achieve an extreme stance. The additional leverage can overstress components leading to handling issues or failures. For wider track width, opt for one appropriately sized spacer up to 25-30mm for most vehicles.

Do I need extended lug studs with spacers?

If your spacers are 25mm or less, stock lug studs are often long enough depending on wheels offset and hub design. Over 25-30mm of spacer width will require longer replacement studs specific to your vehicle's stud size. Extended lug nuts rarely solve clearance issues on their own.

How often should I retorque wheel spacer hardware?

Recheck torque specs on newly installed wheel spacers after the first 15-60 miles to ensure proper values are reached after initial seating. Thereafter, confirm torque every 1,500 miles as part of routine wheel/tire inspections and rotation service.

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