Vibration with ECS spacers in hot weather??

[Rons01B5]

Hi all,
I installed ECS 15mm on OEM S5 wheels in February. I installed them as per the directions, I cleaned off the hub of any rust and debris, put grease on the hub and torqued them in a star pattern to spec, all was great, no vibrations for a few months. As soon as the weather started to get very warm, I started to notice a vibration through the steering wheel at around 60-65 mph and AT 80 to 85 mph I felt it through the floor as well. I had the wheels road force balanced twice and rotated the tires. It's been driving me crazy since you can see the steering wheel shake at a certain speed. So yesterday I decided to remove the spacers and all vibrations went away and the steering feels tighter at highway speeds. The downside is the car looks horrible without them.

Anyone else experience this? I never had spacers on any other car...is this a trade off? vibrations and loose steering feel in the warm weather? Or maybe just these spacers?

I am thinking of getting H&R DRA spacers, but I don't want to waste money if if going to cause vibrations.

[HazeMyth]

I've never had spacers on a car either, but I would assume that expansion and contraction of the metal cause by fluctuations in temperature could have an effect. Did you try removing the spacers, re-cleaning the hub, re-greasing and re-torquing them down? That's what I would personally try.

Even without having spacers on cars I sometimes have to remove and re-torque wheels on cars after extreme temperature changes. I've never had to do it on the Evo, but I had to do it pretty much every year on the STI when summer would hit and a handful of times on some other cars in the past, too.

[bknewtype]

never had issues with spacers, regardless of weather

make sure you have correct lugs for the spacers

make sure ur bushings aren't crapped out

if you want to do a test, take the spacers off and see if you still have the vibration

[HazeMyth]

if you want to do a test, take the spacers off and see if you still have the vibration

He removed the spacers and the vibration went away.

[bknewtype]

He removed the spacers and the vibration went away.

Oops didnt read that

Make sure your not using the same lugs. Spacers need extended


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[JamesRS5]

I had vibration with ECS spacers but that was with the 8mm which isn't hub centric. I switched to 10mm and it cleared the problem so your 15mm spacer should be hub centric too.

I would remove them and clean the hub face and remove the grease too. Use a wheel hanger to help locate the wheel when mounting and don't fully tighten the bolts until all the bolts are installed. Give the wheels a wobble as you tighten the bolts to help it locate centrally.

Check the wheel for runout once it's installed, you could fashion something to measure this, tape a screwdriver to a house brick and put the tip of the screwdriver next to the rim lip. Rotate the wheel and watch the gap between the wheel and screwdriver tip, if it alters then the wheel isn't sitting true on the hub so will vibrate.

[Rons01B5]

Oops didnt read that

Make sure your not using the same lugs. Spacers need extended


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I used the supplied bolts with the kit.

I tried re installing them a few times... everything fit super tight with no play.

[HazeMyth]

Did you maybe splash through some cold water while they were warm and warp them?

[Rons01B5]

Did you maybe splash through some cold water while they were warm and warp them?

Its possible.

I think I might give H&R DRA's a try.

[vk_s4]

I noticed with my ECS flush kit that front bolts were shorter than rear bolts for thicker spacer. Make sure you dont mix them around. ECS had to replace one of my bolts because it wasnt the same length. However, I still had vibrations as well with spacers.

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

I really can't see how a temperature increase would cause the spacers to have vibrations. Have you reinstalled them since you removed them? It could have just been loose lug bolts. Similar with running alloy wheels it's recommended to re-torque your bolts after installation every couple months.

Jason

[Rons01B5]

I really can't see how a temperature increase would cause the spacers to have vibrations. Have you reinstalled them since you removed them? It could have just been loose lug bolts. Similar with running alloy wheels it's recommended to re-torque your bolts after installation every couple months.

Jason

I did re-torque the wheels to 89 ft/lbs about a week after re-installing. I'm out of ideas...

[Vanimal]

I just put 5mm H&R on the rear of my S5 with my new 20x10 wheels. No vibrations at all.

I was worried with the 5mm, I used 15/20 hub centric ones prior with the stock wheels also with no vibration. They were ECS. To do my best to avoid vibration with the 5mm I used the Tommy bar thing or whatever it's called in the OEM jack Kit. Just snugged the lugs lightly star patterned, lowered the car and torqued to 90lbs also star patterned. So far so good, took a 2 hour highway ride already and all good.


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[JamesRS5]

I'm out of ideas...

Did you check the wheels for runout?

[jmaddr]

Was the full weight of the car in the ground when you torqued the bolts? Since I have spacers (ECS 10/15) I hand tighten with the torque wrench on the lift as much as I can while holding the wheel steady. I then lower the wheel *just* enough to contact the ground so it does not turn while tightening. If you lower full weight of the car on the ground before tightening, I would think you could achieve full torque load without the rim centering. If that still doesn't work, check the rim like someone else said. Perhaps perform a rotation and see if you can "sense" the vibration has moved. One more thing, make sure to clean the hub and rim surfaces of rust prior. Apply anti-seize to both surfaces as the ECS are aluminum.

[Rons01B5]

Was the full weight of the car in the ground when you torqued the bolts? Since I have spacers (ECS 10/15) I hand tighten with the torque wrench on the lift as much as I can while holding the wheel steady. I then lower the wheel *just* enough to contact the ground so it does not turn while tightening. If you lower full weight of the car on the ground before tightening, I would think you could achieve full torque load without the rim centering. If that still doesn't work, check the rim like someone else said. Perhaps perform a rotation and see if you can "sense" the vibration has moved. One more thing, make sure to clean the hub and rim surfaces of rust prior. Apply anti-seize to both surfaces as the ECS are aluminum.

Hmm. Maybe I'll try that. I usually torqued them after I dropped the car from the lift.


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[ECS Tuning-Audi]

Hmm. Maybe I'll try that. I usually torqued them after I dropped the car from the lift.


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If the wheel isn't seated perfectly and you add the full load of the vehicle to the wheels, when you go to torque the bolts you wont be able to bring the wheel in all the way if it gets unseated due to the weight.

One of the most common installation errors when installing wheels/spacers.

Jason

[Rons01B5]

If the wheel isn't seated perfectly and you add the full load of the vehicle to the wheels, when you go to torque the bolts you wont be able to bring the wheel in all the way if it gets unseated due to the weight.

One of the most common installation errors when installing wheels/spacers.

Jason

Thanks man! I'm gonna give that a go


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[Rons01B5]

UPDATE: I officially HATE spacers!!! I reinstalled the ECS spacers with no luck in removing the vibrations. I did everything as per recommendations. So I decided to take a chance and get H&R DRA spacers. Installed them, most vibes are gone but now there is a vibration from 70 to 80 mph that comes through the floor, i can see the passenger headrest shake a bit.. So I assuming its from the rear. they have been on for a week now, re-torqued the wheels but still no success.

[u2nelson]

UPDATE: I officially HATE spacers!!! I reinstalled the ECS spacers with no luck in removing the vibrations. I did everything as per recommendations. So I decided to take a chance and get H&R DRA spacers. Installed them, most vibes are gone but now there is a vibration from 70 to 80 mph that comes through the floor, i can see the passenger headrest shake a bit.. So I assuming its from the rear. they have been on for a week now, re-torqued the wheels but still no success.

I've been running H&R spacers of various thickness for years with out issue. Always careful to torque as much as I can before putting any weight on the wheel, to help it center correctly, and bring it up to torque in stages using a star pattern.

[Rons01B5]

I've been running H&R spacers of various thickness for years with out issue. Always careful to torque as much as I can before putting any weight on the wheel, to help it center correctly, and bring it up to torque in stages using a star pattern.

I torqued them down with no weight on the wheels in a star pattern. I have no idea whats causing the vibes.

[JamesRS5]

I don't suppose you checked the runout with the spacers fitted?

[Sofreshs5]

Any luck ? I am having the same issue with my Vossen wheels. I had them balanced twice since I installed them. I love the look. Thinking of trying the BFI spacers. I might go up to 10mm in the rear but I would still need to run the 5mm upfront. I haven't tried to see if I have "wheel runout". If I did does that mean my wheels are bent?(noob to spacers). This has only happened with these ECS spacers.

[JamesRS5]

Runout means something isn't quite straight or not sitting flush, it is more likely to be a spacer fitment issue than with the wheel. Did you remove the stickers from the spacers, including the annoying sticky stuff ECS use to attach the stickers (WD40 does this well).
Use a wire brush to clean the hub face and then wipe them down to remove anything that could have been left behind. 1/4mm at the hub face is 2mm at the tire which is enough to vibrate.

Runout is really simple to check for and will eliminate one possible problem at least.

[JamesRS5]

Did you remove the brake rotors at all when you removed the wheels, or are the rotors securely attached to the hub?

[Sofreshs5]

Thanks for the input JamesRS5. I didn't get all the goo left behind from the stickers off. I didn't think that would be an issue. I will try to attack this again on Friday. Thanks again for your input.

[DVision]

Ugh... I'm having the same issue with my new F14's. I'm running 10mm ECS spacers on the rears and get the vibration at around 60mph. I started with 10mm USP Motorsport spacers and had the issue. Switched to the ECS and same problem. I'm losing it. Use spacers on the front and rears with my stocks during the winter months and never had a problem. Can't even run these without spacers due to fitment issues so the spacers are a must. If I don't figure something soon gonna throw these wheels on the market.

[lcarron]

Make sure your rims are not bent. It happen to me and the spacer make it worse.

[JamesRS5]

Have you guys seen the new spacer from ST Suspensions (a subsidiary of KW)

http://www.st-suspensions.net/st/inf..._wheel_spacers

These locate the wheel correctly, even on spacers less than 10mm which aren't usually hub-centric. They use an insert that locates on the hub, it centralises the spacer and locates the wheel too. Seems like a nice sensible option for a common problem.

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

For those using aftermarket wheels, the chamfer (beveled edge on the center bore) can vary. Our spacers are designed to work with OEM wheels. If the chamfer is different than OEM this could cause a fitment issue where the aftermarket wheel is not 100% centered - which could cause vibrations.

Jason

[Sofreshs5]

Wow... I wish I was told this before placing my order. I even called ECS and spoke to a rep and told them I had Vossen wheels and I wasn't given this information. Had I knew that I could've made a better decision on buying this kit. I emailed ST today to get more information about their spacers. Hopefully they will can fix my issue.

[LINDW4LL]

Wow... I wish I was told this before placing my order. I even called ECS and spoke to a rep and told them I had Vossen wheels and I wasn't given this information. Had I knew that I could've made a better decision on buying this kit. I emailed ST today to get more information about their spacers. Hopefully they will can fix my issue.

This isn't even applicable to you since you are running the 5mm spacers which don't have the hubcentric lip on them. And, what ECS said is applicable to any spacers regardless of manufacturer. Spacers cannot be made to fit 100% of manufacturing variances with different wheels, so almost all will be made to an OEM spec chamfer. The large majority of aftermarket wheels use the same spec "chamfer", so an issue with that is pretty uncommon (although possible).

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

It says this on the website in red print.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_A5...heels/Spacers/

Jason

[Gonzoe11]

Have you guys seen the new spacer from ST Suspensions (a subsidiary of KW)

http://www.st-suspensions.net/st/inf..._wheel_spacers

These locate the wheel correctly, even on spacers less than 10mm which aren't usually hub-centric. They use an insert that locates on the hub, it centralises the spacer and locates the wheel too. Seems like a nice sensible option for a common problem.

I just checked their site. interesting but not sure I see it available for our cars. Unless I'm missing something?

[Sofreshs5]

This does apply to me because I am running 5mm and 8mm spacers that I purchased with bolts that fit aftermarket wheels. So after asking about vibration I was told I wouldn't have any issues with my Vossen wheels. Now I'm being told they're made for OEM wheels. So why sell a kit with conical bolts if it's not used for my application?

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

5mm spacers don't have a chamfer. We have 2 style 8mm spacers, ones that are flat ( would work with any wheel) and ones that have a raised beveled edge that will fit OEM wheels and any aftermarket wheel that has the same chamfer as OEM.

The only time our spacers wouldn't work with an aftermarket wheel is if the beveled edge has a different angle than OEM.

Jason

[Sofreshs5]

This is what my hub looked like when I had vibrations from spacers.

I used sandpaper and cleaned it up really good. I added H&R hubcentric 10mm spacers and it rides smooth now. I hope this help.

[Sgibb16]

Good chamfer info in this thread

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8884047

[JamesRS5]

This is what my hub looked like when I had vibrations from spacers.

I used sandpaper and cleaned it up really good. I added H&R hubcentric 10mm spacers and it rides smooth now. I hope this help. [img]http:

Which spacers did you run before when you had vibrations and were they hubcentric?

[Sofreshs5]

5mm front and 8mm rears from ecs. Anything under 10mm doesn't have the hubcentric lip for the wheel to sit on. I don't have any vibration at the monment from the 5mm Ecs or the 10mm hubcentric H&R. Once the weather clears up from this tropical storm I will try to install the 8mm ecs spacers since I got the hubs cleaned.