Wheel spacer vibration frustration (Macht Schnell content)

tom @ eas wrote

It's possible vibration was present that was exaggerated when spacers were installed. Check the front wheels to make sure they are balanced.

If these are aftermarket wheels, some brands require use of centering rings. If present, make sure they slide properly on the spacer hub.

No they're just stock zcp wheels. I'll bring the car to re-balance the wheels to see if it helps... If it doesn't, I'll probably either just give up on using spacers or try to live with the vibration... I don't think the chance that I got a "bad set of spacers" are high?

byroncheung wrote

No they're just stock zcp wheels. I'll bring the car to re-balance the wheels to see if it helps... If it doesn't, I'll probably either just give up on using spacers or try to live with the vibration... I don't think the chance that I got a "bad set of spacers" are high?

I was having the same issues as you with the vibrations going 70+mph. Just got new GTS wheels put on and balanced. Vibrations are not noticeable anymore. Could recommend tightening the bolts in star pattern while the wheel is lifted from the ground.

byroncheung wrote

No they're just stock zcp wheels. I'll bring the car to re-balance the wheels to see if it helps... If it doesn't, I'll probably either just give up on using spacers or try to live with the vibration... I don't think the chance that I got a "bad set of spacers" are high?

Highly unlikely it's a spacer issue, as any imbalance issues would be noticed on the lathe during machining and rejected during manufacturing. Try verifying the wheel balancing.

tmak90 wrote

I was having the same issues as you with the vibrations going 70+mph. Just got new GTS zcp wheels put on and balanced. Vibrations are not noticeable anymore. Could recommend tightening the bolts in star pattern while the wheel is lifted from the ground.

yep i was tightening in star pattern very carefully already. will report back after balancing the wheels...

Subscribing to this thread.

Ever since I've gotten the car (3rd owner), I've always had vibrations above 60mph. The day I tried to install wheel locks, I noticed the bolt was not long enough and realized the previous owner(s) had installed MS 10mm spacers in the rear and TMS 12.5mm spacers in the front. E92 ZCP wheels.

Question - does the 10mm spacer rule also apply to the rear wheels?

Based on byroncheung outcome, I may just get rid of spacers completely or swap them out for another brand.

ppatel14 wrote

Subscribing to this thread.

Ever since I've gotten the car (3rd owner), I've always had vibrations above 60mph. The day I tried to install wheel locks, I noticed the bolt was not long enough and realized the previous owner(s) had installed MS 10mm spacers in the rear and TMS 12.5mm spacers in the front. E92 ZCP wheels.

Question - does the 10mm spacer rule also apply to the rear wheels?

Based on byroncheung outcome, I may just get rid of spacers completely or swap them out for another brand.

Spacers amplify issues with the rest of the front end. It's entirely possible your issue is with wheel balance. I had issues with vibrations and it was all cause it wasn't mounted properly. It balanced fine but roadforce showed 45-60lbs. Another shop had to remount the tire properly and roadforce it to show under 18lbs.

tom @ eas wrote

If wheels are good on the balancer, that's good enough. Eliminates ofe of the variables.

Check both rotor hub surface and wheel hub surfaces to be clean and free of any rust/debris. Then torque in a star pattern to 88ft-lbs.

I took both front wheels off. Cleaned the surfaces a little bit, not much honestly. Threw the spacers back on, and torqued to 88ft lbs. (i'm on studs btw).

The vibration was annoying the shit out of me and I would tell you I wouldn't do a long drive with it.

Now on my first drive on the freeway... It's gone.

ILY TOM

Bomiz wrote

I took both front wheels off. Cleaned the surfaces a little bit, not much honestly. Threw the spacers back on, and torqued to 88ft lbs. (i'm on studs btw).

The vibration was annoying the shit out of me and I would tell you I wouldn't do a long drive with it.

Now on my first drive on the freeway... It's gone.

ILY TOM

Fantastic, glad you're back to 100%. Thanks for following up.

Bomiz wrote

tom @ eas wrote

If wheels are good on the balancer, that's good enough. Eliminates ofe of the variables.

Check both rotor hub surface and wheel hub surfaces to be clean and free of any rust/debris. Then torque in a star pattern to 88ft-lbs.

I took both front wheels off. Cleaned the surfaces a little bit, not much honestly. Threw the spacers back on, and torqued to 88ft lbs. (i'm on studs btw).

The vibration was annoying the shit out of me and I would tell you I wouldn't do a long drive with it.

Now on my first drive on the freeway... It's gone.

ILY TOM

Excellent

ppatel14 wrote

Subscribing to this thread.

Ever since I've gotten the car (3rd owner), I've always had vibrations above 60mph. The day I tried to install wheel locks, I noticed the bolt was not long enough and realized the previous owner(s) had installed MS 10mm spacers in the rear and TMS 12.5mm spacers in the front. E92 ZCP wheels.

Question - does the 10mm spacer rule also apply to the rear wheels?

Based on byroncheung outcome, I may just get rid of spacers completely or swap them out for another brand.

At my wheel guy's place right now, turned out all 4 wheels are bent to some degree, he is in the process of straightening them. So I probably just didn't feel it before without the spacer. Hopefully, this would be it!

---- update ----
Wheels straightened and balanced, but still have the same vibration over 70mph, not even feeling much improvement after straightening the wheels. For now, I just take the spacer off, most of the vibration is gone without spacers. However, after this episode, it is a bit in my head now. I feel like occasionally there is still some minor vibration at over 70mph. But I suspect it has always been there, just the spacers experience made me a lot more conscious about it...

I guess I'm joining the camp of the unhappy spacer users

byroncheung wrote

At my wheel guy's place right now, turned out all 4 wheels are bent to some degree, he is in the process of straightening them. So I probably just didn't feel it before without the spacer. Hopefully, this would be it!

---- update ----
Wheels straightened and balanced, but still have the same vibration over 70mph, not even feeling much improvement after straightening the wheels. For now, I just take the spacer off, most of the vibration is gone without spacers. However, after this episode, it is a bit in my head now. I feel like occasionally there is still some minor vibration at over 70mph. But I suspect it has always been there, just the spacers experience made me a lot more conscious about it...

I guess I'm joining the camp of the unhappy spacer users

Thanks for the update. Currently waiting on TMS 15mm spacers to put up front to brand match the TMS 12.5mm that will go in the rear (previously in the front). I've cleaned up the hub, spacers, and wheels. If there is no improvement, I will balance the wheels and then try to repair the wheel (looking to powder coat anyway).

ppatel14 wrote

Thanks for the update. Currently waiting on TMS 15mm spacers to put up front to brand match the TMS 12.5mm that will go in the rear (previously in the front). I've cleaned up the hub, spacers, and wheels. If there is no improvement, I will balance the wheels and then try to repair the wheel (looking to powder coat anyway).

Try it without any spacer... In my case, I think there has always been some minor vibration > 70mph just that I never noticed it until the spacer magnified the vibration.

My current quest will now be hunting down the slight vibration without spacer : https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?p=23466581#post23466581

All these debugging is no fun

any update on this thread?? any vibration issued found after installing spacer?

can some spacer users share their experience here?