Note: I am not saying that b2autodesigns spacers are bad and not to be used but......


A while back I installed a set of 20mm spacers from b2autodesigns on my G37. The spacers are nice and very high quality in fact, but the same can't be said about the golden nuts that come with them.

My front rotors needed to be replaced and it took forever because two (just two) out of 10 nuts did not want to come off. I did use the correct socket but because the nuts are really shallow and soft they rounded off anyway. I even tried special tools from Sears and this didn't really work either. Not sure if the nuts baked into the spacers or what the deal was but those two just didn't want to come off.

I had to use a dremel and plenty of cutting wheels to cut into the spacer to get it off. BTW, it was easier to cut into the wheels studs than the aluminum spacers.

Anyway, just want to suggest that maybe you guys don't use the soft/short nuts that come with the b2autodesigns spacers. I was able to find some better ones on Ebay.. See pics attached:





rounded off nut

 

What size are the golden ones

 

I am sorry you had issues with the lug nuts. Torqueing to the correct spec and using a 6point socket is highly recommended (which you did). On the rare chance this happens we always stock replacement nuts and studs. If any one has any questions about our spacers feel free to message me or call us 813-787-4075.


Thanks
Charles

 

The OP isn't wrong, Charles. Those flush lug nuts are crap. You can probably use them once, and remove them once, but only if you're very, very careful. And only if you use a 6-point socket, a torque wrench, and extreme care. Even then, the odds of rounding the edge of at least one or more is pretty high.

I understand the need to be flush with the spacer adapter, in case the wheel you're using doesn't have a recessed area between the lug holes. (Most do, BTW.) However, those little nuts are designed to be flush with a 15mm spacer. With a 20mm spacer, like the OP, they're actually 5mm deep. And unnecessarily so.

And I realize mine is a unique situation, in that I install your spacers over winter only, matched up with my winter rims, removing them in the Springtime for my summer rims. Most people will install spacers and never look back.

Coincidentally, I just received a set of 20 open-ended, spline drive lugnuts for this very use. That just happened today. Bought them through Amazon for $20.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This might be overkill, or complicated to explain to customers, but you might want to offer them an option like these nuts here, explaining that they will only work if the wheel used has proper clearance between the OEM lug holes. If I had known about this up front, I would have bought them with the spacer adapters, instead of having to figure it out after the fact. As in... this past Spring I had to bring the car to a shop to get two of those crappy lug nuts off. Fortunately for me, I didn't have to suffer the destruction the OP did.

Anyway, these are my new spacer adapter lug nuts. Cute little things, LOL.

 

I don't think the nuts were over-torqued in my case as I only torqued them to 85 lbs but it would be nice if the spacers come with some kind of instruction with the required torque specs.

I don't remember if these were included in the with the original spacers I got, but there def. was nothing there with the replacement spacer I just bought.

There was a piece of paper with the install instructions but did not have the torque specs on it.

 

Rochester,

I was going to buy the same nuts/lugs as you, but didn't want or trust the tool itself.

When the two nuts didn't move and rounded/stripped, I first sprayed all others with WD40 and after a while heated the nuts up a little with a torch and was able to remove the rest without any issues but it was still hard to move some of them.

As you said there is no need for them to be so short/shallow but I think it these weren't so extremely soft it would have helped too.

 

I didn't say the OP was wrong. Just stated how to use the lug nuts. This is a rare issue. Trust me when I say rare. I have sold 1000's of the B2designs spacers and only a few problems with the lug nuts. Care is needed when removing them. Good quality 6point socket also. I have personally removed many of my spacer kits with out any issues.


How ever I will have a talk with my supplier about the lug nuts. See if they make any different style lug nuts that will work too. Options for lug nuts.


Charles

 

I think because spacers are installed and ignored. If removed, they're probably discarded or sold or end up in the attic. I totally believe you when you say lug nut failure is rare... just suspicous on why it's rare.


It's just a phrase, Charles... saying someone is right by saying they aren't wrong. It was never meant as a quote or critical inference. For example, if I were to say you're right that double-negative wordplay is pretentious, when you didn't say anything of the kind... you're probably not wrong.

You know, you have a great rep here on the forum, and from what I've seen, it's earned and deserved. No worries, buddy. Now offer better lug nuts.

 

It's an industry standard, 6-slot spline drive. You can pick up a replacement key at any auto-parts store. I actually have two.

Unlike the McGard spline-drive, which is a proprietary 8-slot design

 

damn those nuts are shallow. ive only bought spacers from ebay with no issues and the nuts are taller. and before anyone says spacers from ebay are junk not all are and i wouldnt be surprised if vendors here get theirs from the same supplier just marked up. unless b2 manufactures their own but i doubt it. i could be wrong tho lol

 

Ichiba also has those jelly nuts.

 

This will be my third winter using 15mm Spacer Adapters from B2AutoDesigns.

These Gorilla half-height spline-drive lugnuts turned out 100% perfect for the job.

Here's a pic from this morning. Just look at that fitment! Awesome.



Sometimes it's the little things that make you happy tinkering with the car.

 

that looks good. BTW, I bought one spacer to replace the damaged one from b2autodesigns. However, I have no idea why, but now I am getting some vibration in the front once I pass 65mph. Can feel it and see it in the steering wheel. Did not have this vibration before, and during the two weeks I drove without spacers. Only started doing it after installing the new one.

 

The spacers you're using are hub-centric to the wheels you're using, right?

The spacer has a larger surface area in contact with the hub than the wheel does. Always clean the area thoroughly.

Or the balance is off because of tire wear... or a rim lost a wheel weight... or the spacer lug nuts aren't torqued to spec for whatever reason... or there was a less then optimal wheel balancing process in the first place... or you're just being hypersensitive because of the spacers.

So many things, man. Could be anything. That said, it's hard to deny the argument of "It didn't do this before I did this thing". G'luck.

 

I don't drive the car too much right now and with winter coming I will just continue to drive my 2003 G35 mostly until spring. Will remove spacers clean everything and try again when it starts to warm up again...