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Why are wheel spacers so expensive?

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Old May 21, 2005 | 12:27 PM
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Why are wheel spacers so expensive?

Just wondering if anyone knows why wheel spacers are so costly. All they are is a machined piece of aluminum right? Is there any special balancing that is required? If all they are is machined aluminum, I was thinking of making some to sell. I have heard prices of $125 a set for 20mm offset, without the longer bolts? I could make them for much less than that. Do you guys think there is enough of a demand for them to invest the time and money to make some? i know you have to get longer wheel bolts, anyone know where to get those?

thanks,

dg
Old May 21, 2005 | 12:53 PM
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yeah i've no idea why they are so costly myself.

i'd buy a set if they were significantly cheaper.
Old May 21, 2005 | 12:58 PM
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yap i will buy set from you
Old May 21, 2005 | 01:04 PM
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If you can prove that you're using high quality aluminum stock, and precisley machining them, then you may be able to get some good sales.
Take a look at a set of H&R spacers sometime, and you'll see that it's not just some aluminum washer.
Old May 21, 2005 | 01:17 PM
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Originally Posted by $tillenmax2k
If you can prove that you're using high quality aluminum stock, and precisley machining them, then you may be able to get some good sales.
Take a look at a set of H&R spacers sometime, and you'll see that it's not just some aluminum washer.


Good analogy.
Old May 21, 2005 | 01:17 PM
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i thought you had to raise prices at least 300% of the original cost to make to make profit, but then agian i was never an economics/buisness major...
Old May 21, 2005 | 01:26 PM
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I just got my H&R 20mm spacers earlier this week. You can tell that they really are high quality, but I have to admit that the price is high...I got mine for $109 shipped at www.optionsautosalon.com
Old May 21, 2005 | 01:29 PM
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so it is just well finished piece of aluminum?
Old May 21, 2005 | 01:34 PM
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Originally Posted by resurrectedmax
so it is just well finished piece of aluminum?
High quality aluminum, exact dimensions, .032 surface finish, chamfered edges, and the stud hole, bore and hub diameters are exactly machined to fit specific vehicles.
Old May 21, 2005 | 02:05 PM
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id def buy them because the offsets on these stock rims are horrible, esp when your lowered, it makes it even worse. thats the first thing i noticed when i dropped my car, my wheels are way too tucked in. i would get one but theyre too expensive, so id rather save the money and get new rims. but if i can get it cheaper, then i would get it. i think that they dont really have to be high quality, as long as it fits, and its strong, i dont care what they look like on the outside.
Old May 21, 2005 | 09:10 PM
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I agree, that the H&R are high quality, Just by looking at their website you can tell from the pictures. With the right equipment, these could easily be reproduced. I will look into it and let you know whether I decide to get it done. The ones I would make would be CNC machined and would be a very close it, so I'm not too worried about not being able to produce a high quality part.

dg
Old Jun 6, 2005 | 08:33 PM
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Guys,

I picked up some 6061 aluminum stock (aircraft quality) over the weekend. I currently have the parts modeled in CAD, now I just need to know what would be a good size for the spacers. I like the look of the 20MM spacers in the back, so I'm going to make some of those, however do you guys think that there is a need for spacers in the front? If so what size?

I want to make the most popular sizes so that I'm not stuck with a bunch of spacers. What is a popular size for a 5th gen besides 20mm? Please see the below website for a few pics of the model I have created. I have the CNC program ready to go, I just have to get the sizes.

I'm going to put these up for sale in the 5th gen parts forum first. They will be cheaper than the H&R spacers.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/789349/5

I have about 17" of stock, so that should be enough for about 3 or 4 complete sets, (front and back)
Old Jun 6, 2005 | 08:40 PM
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Originally Posted by DGreggain
Guys,

I picked up some 6061 aluminum stock (aircraft quality) over the weekend. I currently have the parts modeled in CAD, now I just need to know what would be a good size for the spacers. I like the look of the 20MM spacers in the back, so I'm going to make some of those, however do you guys think that there is a need for spacers in the front? If so what size?

I want to make the most popular sizes so that I'm not stuck with a bunch of spacers. What is a popular size for a 5th gen besides 20mm? Please see the below website for a few pics of the model I have created. I have the CNC program ready to go, I just have to get the sizes.

I'm going to put these up for sale in the 5th gen parts forum first. They will be cheaper than the H&R spacers.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/789349/5

I have about 17" of stock, so that should be enough for about 3 or 4 complete sets, (front and back)
WOW that's looking great! how much are you lookin' to get for just the rears when completed? i'm in phoenix for the summer, so shipping wouldn't be a problem here

EDIT: where in phoenix are you? i'm in Mesa, but i travel up 17 toward lake pleasant a lot, cuz that's where my brother lives....let me know! i may be interested!
Old Jun 6, 2005 | 08:59 PM
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Get yourself a hella insurance policy if you're going to make these for sale to the public. Especially considering what they are for...
Old Jun 6, 2005 | 09:18 PM
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^^what he said. i started working in a maching shop so hopefully i will learn and know enough to make my own spacers by the end of the summer
Old Jun 6, 2005 | 10:07 PM
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Definitely interested for some 20mm in the rear and 10mm in the front.
Old Jun 6, 2005 | 10:19 PM
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For the right price, I want 15mm rears.
Old Jun 7, 2005 | 12:43 AM
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Originally Posted by $tillenmax2k
High quality aluminum, exact dimensions, .032 surface finish, chamfered edges, and the stud hole, bore and hub diameters are exactly machined to fit specific vehicles.
You make it sound like there's a team of Amish craftsmen knocking these things out...
Old Jun 7, 2005 | 09:55 AM
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i want a set of 20mm for the rear and 10mm in the front, shoot me a pm with a prive and i will pay ASAP...let me know!!
Old Jun 7, 2005 | 02:28 PM
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i'd like 10mm for the front.Just cant afford it right now
Old Jun 7, 2005 | 04:02 PM
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there was a recent post about the H&R spacers, the 20mm look perfect on the back, and 10mm should be nice up in the front. id get it if it were cheaper
Old Jun 7, 2005 | 04:18 PM
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I'd be interested in 20mm rear and 10mm front.

Cheers

AA
Old Jun 7, 2005 | 09:03 PM
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Thanks guys,

I think for the first sets I'm going to go with the 10mm in the front and the 20mm in the back. I currently have a piece of stock that is 17" long. I should be able to get 3 maybe 4 complete car sets out of it. I may be buying another chunk of material if it is still available on Saturday

If I get it I'll do some 15 mm sets.

thanks,

dg
Old Jun 7, 2005 | 09:34 PM
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Hey Dg, any idea of price?`
Old Jun 7, 2005 | 09:38 PM
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Not yet, I'm going to be able to do them for cheaper than the H&R, but I have to figure out machine time before i go quoting a price, I should have that info in a couple of days, I just finished up the models and sent them to the shop for quote.

it will be a good discount, not just $10 off or something like that, but I don't want to quote something and then have to retract it.
Old Jun 8, 2005 | 05:18 AM
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For the smaller spaces like 10 or 15mm, you can go to "rent and roll" and get them pretty cheap (I think they quoted me at $40 for the 15mm) since they have so much in stock. The bigger spacers with bolts and all probably you get what you pay for however and I would want something nice personally
Old Jun 8, 2005 | 05:34 AM
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I got a set of 3/4" spacers for $21.95 and they seem fine, I thought it felt a little different around turns but then again it might be in my head. I got them at A&A Auto parts, the name brand is Mr. G Gasket Co.
Old Jun 8, 2005 | 06:23 AM
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I'm down for some 20mm spacers.
Old Jun 8, 2005 | 12:38 PM
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Not to be negative about Dean's efforts, but I thought the H&R price always included the longer stud bolts (for big sizes). And I thought they were hard to source except for H&R, NISMO, and Nissan OEM. Isn't that part of why the H&R's are so much $$ ?
Old Jun 8, 2005 | 07:54 PM
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i'll get some 20mm for the rear, i heard that matches up with the front wheels very well, so wouldn't 10mm in the front throw that off? or will it look better?
Old Jun 8, 2005 | 08:09 PM
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Originally Posted by BEJAY1
Not to be negative about Dean's efforts, but I thought the H&R price always included the longer stud bolts (for big sizes). And I thought they were hard to source except for H&R, NISMO, and Nissan OEM. Isn't that part of why the H&R's are so much $$ ?
Good point, I have taken a quick look for some extended studs but have not found any, I would think they would be out there, but maybe they are not, I'll have to do some more research. If anyone knows a place to get them, let me know.

thanks,

dg
Old Jun 8, 2005 | 08:13 PM
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Originally Posted by OOmaxSE
i'll get some 20mm for the rear, i heard that matches up with the front wheels very well, so wouldn't 10mm in the front throw that off? or will it look better?
how about buy the 20mm's then look if it matches up then decide if u need the 10mm.
Old Jun 8, 2005 | 09:25 PM
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Originally Posted by DGreggain
Good point, I have taken a quick look for some extended studs but have not found any, I would think they would be out there, but maybe they are not, I'll have to do some more research. If anyone knows a place to get them, let me know.

thanks,

dg
unless i am wrong, why couldn't NAPA or Autozone have some extended bolts, in the same dimensions?? i had a bolt shear off on me for some reason when i took off one of my wheels, and i just went to NAPA to get a new one.
Old Jun 8, 2005 | 09:44 PM
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Originally Posted by DGreggain
Good point, I have taken a quick look for some extended studs but have not found any, I would think they would be out there, but maybe they are not, I'll have to do some more research. If anyone knows a place to get them, let me know.

thanks,

dg
NISMO sells 2 sizes of extended wheel studs. Long, and super long. I would only consider the NISMO and H&R studs as far as quality and safety are concerned.
Old Jun 8, 2005 | 10:36 PM
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Originally Posted by $tillenmax2k
NISMO sells 2 sizes of extended wheel studs. Long, and super long. I would only consider the NISMO and H&R studs as far as quality and safety are concerned.
The actual sizes are 50mm and 60mm
Old Jun 9, 2005 | 09:28 PM
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If you seriously get this made, I will definately buy it.
Old Jun 9, 2005 | 10:16 PM
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/signed

If I go through with buying this 5th gen, the first thing i would do is a drop(keeping the stock wheels)... i would definately be interested at the right price
Old Jun 9, 2005 | 10:47 PM
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heres a good write up, by some guy named dave. some pics for the spacers, i think this is rear only.
http://home.insightbb.com/~davidwhon...cer/spacer.htm
Old Jun 10, 2005 | 07:29 AM
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I'm looking for a stud supplier, I won't be able to sell the 20mm ones without some way of getting studs, The Nismo ones are $60, they do have them though, No auto parts stores around here (Phoenix) have them, I'm checking bolt manufacturers now. Let me know if anyone knows of someplace.

Thanks,

dg
Old Jun 10, 2005 | 07:38 AM
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U have any pics ready? and what color they coming in?



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