Wheel spacers: Loctite or no Loctite?

[Bogrun]

I recently purchased a set of 1.5" BORA wheel spacers from MotorSport-Tech and was surprised by the fact the instructions don't recommend the use of Loctite during installation and that it will void your lifetime warranty.

This seemed quite different than the Spidertrax brand spacers that include red Loctite for use during installation with your purchase. Being that both brands are premium, made-in-USA, hub and wheel centric spacers I thought I'd reach out to MotorSport to get some clarification.

The owner was quick to reply to me and stated:

"Nobody should Really be recommending loctite for bolt on spacers.

Loctite can cause a lug nut to stick. When you go to loosen it, it could spin the stud in the spacer and then you got a really mess.

I’ve never seen a manufacturer recommend loctite on wheel hardware."

The spinning of the spacer studs was something I hadn't really considered before and hadn't seen mentioned in other threads on the subject. I have also seen concerns raised that the act of re-torquing the lug nuts with the use of Loctite negates the thread locking properties of it.

Given that it isn't necessary to use Loctite on your wheels, it seems logical to assume wheel spacers also wouldn't require it as long as they have the proper torque spec. What do you think? Are spacers a big enough risk as it is that the use of thread locker seem like a negligible factor to you?

 

[J-Roc]

When I’ve used Spidertrax in the past, I believe the instructions were to use the loctite only on the factory studs you are mounting the spacer to. Maybe they’re taking the “better safe than sorry” approach.

The instructions ask for 90ft-lbs when installing them with loctite. After 50 miles, you re-torque at 80ft-lbs to see if anything moves.
If they move at, the loctite did’t work and should be done over.
Is what I gather from that.

I would not use loctite on the spacer studs you are attaching your wheel to. Then your concern would come to point.
If you do plan on using loctite, you could use the Blue as it is removable.
But, if the manufacturer is recommending not using, even voiding the warranty if using, I probably wouldn’t use any.

Some people like them and have no issues, some people hate them and have had them fail.

Personally, I’ve used them in the past and would use them again.