Member - Roachie (SA) replied:

Sounds perfectly logical to me ol' mate!!

Far too many people get all precious about various mods that some of us do to our vehicle/s.

I have a list a mile long of things that I know don't quite meet the regs when it comes to my truck. But I'm not in the business of doing stuff that is gunna end up with me or my family getting hurt (or anybody else for that matter).

There can be no logical reason why what you've done is a safety issue. The only downside MIGHT be that your rear wheel bearings will wear out a bit earlier than may otherwise have been the case.

As for insurance companies.....if you ever have a major bingle (I pray that you don't of course), then they would have to prove that the spacers contributed to the accident. Even if you did have a serious accident possibly resulting in the vehicle being written off, they (the assessor) would be unlikely to even check the presence of spacers.....it would have to be a case of the rear axle broke/snapped , causing the accident; ahhh let's see if we can find out why the axle snapped; oh what have we here? etc etc. Highly unlikely IMHO...

Good onya champ, don't worry about the panzy brigade.

MrBitchi (QLD) replied:

Changes in wheel track normally come about due to different rims/tyres, not the use of spacers.

howesy replied:

The Australian Standards document you refer to applies to the fitment of rims and tyres and does not refer to wheel spacers. I went through this with my sons car. At least in NSW any changes in wheel track must be within allowable limits and must be effected in an engineer approved manor (diff alterations etc) with appropriate documentation or you must have changed the track with the fitment of rims and tyres as set out in the standards document. In NSW there is no engineer approval for any brand of wheel spacers. You have changed your track by means other than referred to in the standards document (rim and tyre fitment) and used spacers and usually they have seperate specifications for front and rear track so it is the rear track spec you must not exceed by 80mm which is 40mm each side.

As I said this is how it is in NSW and I checked rather extensively so I would be getting an engineers letter if I were you to cover your A*@e

Anyway I hope it all works out for you, take care.

Member - Phil G (SA) replied:

Only the WA Dept of Transport will give you a straight answer.
Your document refers to wheels and tyres and not spacers.

And any idea whether they have made any difference to your fishtailing?

mowing replied:

Hi Steve, The link that you have provided appears IMHO to refer to rims and tyres only, it doesn't mention anything about spacers. I would be contacting DPI to get a ruling as you know what insurance companies are like, if they can get out of paying, they will. Plus a yellow sticker would clash with the merlot TDV8.

Having said all of that, there would be a number of lifted 4WD's cruising around that have not been cleared by an engineer as to the lane changing rules.

Regards

Mark

mechpete replied:

you guys never cease to amaze me , the reason spacers are illegal is that the weight of the vehicle is now transfered to the studs alone ,where as without them the weight is carried on the centre of the hub ,the studs are normally to hold the wheel on ,not the weight
mechpete

John S (NSW) replied:

Gone Bush,

Wheel spacers do not have ADR approval, and are for off road use only. But even still, if you have an accident with wheel spacers fitted, your insurance company will NOT pay out !! They are illegal to use on public roads (NSW) and if pulled over by the boys in blue they will give you a nice new red sticker. I helped a poor dude out a few weeks ago who didn't know better and got caught. He had to remove the spacers before he could drive it away - lucky his tyres still fitted without rubbing.

Changing the offset of wheels changes the forces on the axles. The wheel bearing is meant to take the weight of the vehicle. Moving the centre of a tyre in or out actually puts increased loads on the axle at the diff centre. This will fatigue the axle and cause early diff bearing failure. That is why you can only change the track by small amounts and if you have increased the GVM, these allowances are reduced.

Spacers are dangerous and I will never put myself or my family at risk just to save on a new set of rims.

mowing replied:

Hi Steve, I stand by my post. Go to DPI and get a ruling, if they say the wheel spacers are fine, then you can come back on here and say that the goody two shoes are wrong. If they don't and you still use them someone might, if involved in an accident try to reduce your self managed super fund by sueing you. The fact that you have put the details on this website may have a negative impact in this regard!!!A solicitor would dance down St Georges Tce singing" Oh what a wonderful day"
You have a bloody nice cruiser, caravan and the time to see the sights of this great country. Enjoy!! I wish I could and I would live with a 80mm difference in wheel track.

Regards

Mark

Hoyks replied:

"Fitting of wheel spacers (or adaptors for dual wheel conversions) between the wheel mounting face and the road wheel is not allowed unless fitted as original equipment by the vehicle manufacturer"

Vehicle Standard Bulletin 14

Scroll down to Page 15LS/71. This is a national Code of Practice, but not all of it has been adopted by all states. It seams each state picks and chooses which bits they will adopt.

blown4by replied:

Mate the article you refer to is superceded in WA by the Light Vehicle National Code of Practice (NCOP) which has been adopted in WA for all such modification matters. Also the Vehicle Standards Regs (VSR's) that you refer to have been replaced by the VSR's of 2002 and that Vehicle Safety Branch (VSB) brochure is no longer relevent due to the forgoing. The NCOP states limits for wideneing of the track on 4x4's with beam axles and independent suspensions and also has information on the use of spacers. Refer www.dotars.gov.au or www.dpi.wa.gov.au/licensing/my vehicle/vehicle safety/vehicle publications/codesof practice/VSB14. The main problem with spacers is they change the way the wheel rim is mounted to the vehicle in that some are spigotted so the spigot carries the load and not the wheel studs. Also you are putting extra load on the wheel studs by moving the wheel further away from the hub and your wheel nuts may not engage far enough on the threads of the studs. Also you can affect steering and braking characteristics which under normal driving conditions you may not notice but in an emergency where a crash stop or evasive action may be required you are putting full load onto all components and you may exceed the design load by the mods you have carried out. Sure lots will say that this is a load of bull--- but insurance companies, coroners courts and civil courts may take a different view.

blown4by replied:

Mate the article you refer to is superceded in WA by the Light Vehicle National Code of Practice (NCOP) which has been adopted in WA for all such modification matters. Also the Vehicle Standards Regs (VSR's) that you refer to have been replaced by the VSR's of 2002 and that Vehicle Safety Branch (VSB) brochure is no longer relevent due to the forgoing. The NCOP states limits for wideneing of the track on 4x4's with beam axles and independent suspensions and also has information on the use of spacers. Refer www.dotars.gov.au or www.dpi.wa.gov.au/licensing/my vehicle/vehicle safety/vehicle publications/codesof practice/VSB14. The main problem with spacers is they change the way the wheel rim is mounted to the vehicle in that some are spigotted so the spigot carries the load and not the wheel studs. Also you are putting extra load on the wheel studs by moving the wheel further away from the hub and your wheel nuts may not engage far enough on the threads of the studs. Also you can affect steering and braking characteristics which under normal driving conditions you may not notice but in an emergency where a crash stop or evasive action may be required you are putting full load onto all components and you may exceed the design load by the mods you have carried out. Sure lots will say that this is a load of bull--- but insurance companies, coroners courts and civil courts may take a different view.