Wheel Spacers
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You will probably get a lot of "don't do it"s on this one.
And while it is true that wheel spacers but more pressure on bearings, I have never heard of an engineered set of spacers causing a problem.
What do they do?
They lower the roll center of the car.
And they also have the effect of changing the camber center.
On of the problems with my Z3 is that there is no rear camber adjustment and the rear end, like many RWD cars, wants to come around. (Like the old porsches, you have to drive the Z3, a concept that many do not understand and few can actually do)
Well, there is an industry accepted fix which is to use H&R (german suspension company) Wheel spacers on the rear only. No one even knows someone who has had suspension problems from doing this and it makes the Z3 a completely balanced machine.....depending on how much spacer you use. 25MM plants the rear so much that the balance shifts to understeer. I run 10MM which still leaves the car a bit tail happy when pushed, but I like it that way. :2:
Putting wheel spacers all the way around on the Murano will also lower the roll center but I haven't a clue as to what it would do to handling.
Flatter in the corners? Most certainly.
Oversteer or understeer? Probably.:8:
I would suspect that if you never explored the Murano's handling at the limit, you would only feel the roll center effect and you would like it. BUT. If you inadvertently explored the outer fringes of the Murano handling by turning into a decreasing turn off ramp at high speed, you could kill your self if the spacers made the rear come around unexpectedly!
I've said quite enough here.
The bottom line is that nobody knows what putting wheel spacers on a murano will do.
But the "dangers" to wheel bearings etc is greatly exaggerated.
Homer
And while it is true that wheel spacers but more pressure on bearings, I have never heard of an engineered set of spacers causing a problem.
What do they do?
They lower the roll center of the car.
And they also have the effect of changing the camber center.
On of the problems with my Z3 is that there is no rear camber adjustment and the rear end, like many RWD cars, wants to come around. (Like the old porsches, you have to drive the Z3, a concept that many do not understand and few can actually do)
Well, there is an industry accepted fix which is to use H&R (german suspension company) Wheel spacers on the rear only. No one even knows someone who has had suspension problems from doing this and it makes the Z3 a completely balanced machine.....depending on how much spacer you use. 25MM plants the rear so much that the balance shifts to understeer. I run 10MM which still leaves the car a bit tail happy when pushed, but I like it that way. :2:
Putting wheel spacers all the way around on the Murano will also lower the roll center but I haven't a clue as to what it would do to handling.
Flatter in the corners? Most certainly.
Oversteer or understeer? Probably.:8:
I would suspect that if you never explored the Murano's handling at the limit, you would only feel the roll center effect and you would like it. BUT. If you inadvertently explored the outer fringes of the Murano handling by turning into a decreasing turn off ramp at high speed, you could kill your self if the spacers made the rear come around unexpectedly!
I've said quite enough here.
The bottom line is that nobody knows what putting wheel spacers on a murano will do.
But the "dangers" to wheel bearings etc is greatly exaggerated.
Homer
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5,268 Posts
Homer,
veeeeeeeeeeery comprehensive post...
I would say:
- if you want spacers install it. But make sure the wheels/tires do not protrude from the body! It just does not look right (to be polite with this statement).
- want a great handling, performing car? Look for something else. Murano is a great car for what it is. But it is not a sports car and never will be...
veeeeeeeeeeery comprehensive post...
I would say:
- if you want spacers install it. But make sure the wheels/tires do not protrude from the body! It just does not look right (to be polite with this statement).
- want a great handling, performing car? Look for something else. Murano is a great car for what it is. But it is not a sports car and never will be...
Joined
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12,665 Posts
mattsmo-
I am glad you brought this up.
Believe it or not, but two days ago I saw a 2004 MO in my town that had stock wheels sticking out about an inch or so from the body. Obviously the owner had installed spacers. Hopefully I am not offending anyone, but it looked ridiculous.
Even though the MO has huge 18" wheels, they don't fill out the wheel wells as good as they should. The extended wheels only exacerbated the wheel well gap. It is just my opinion, but the car looked goofy.
My recommendation is to put on a set of 19, 20, or 21" rims. That will definitely make you MO look fine.
-njjoe
I am glad you brought this up.
Believe it or not, but two days ago I saw a 2004 MO in my town that had stock wheels sticking out about an inch or so from the body. Obviously the owner had installed spacers. Hopefully I am not offending anyone, but it looked ridiculous.
Even though the MO has huge 18" wheels, they don't fill out the wheel wells as good as they should. The extended wheels only exacerbated the wheel well gap. It is just my opinion, but the car looked goofy.
My recommendation is to put on a set of 19, 20, or 21" rims. That will definitely make you MO look fine.
-njjoe
Yeah wheels sticking out that far would look stupid. Did that MO have a kazoo for a muffler as well?
I would only want to put on 10mm or 15mm spacers on each side. Just a subtile change.
Homer, very interesting info. I never drive near the edge of the MO's handling ability but it is fun to follow a BMW M3 around an offramp and see the look of surprise in their rearview mirror when your sticking right on their tail.
So let me see if I understand the dynamics. Imagin a rain slick highway offramp and were driving the MO. (front wheel drive)
If I had wheel spacers on the rear wheels the backend would tend to break loose sooner than if I had none.
If I had the the same spacer on the front wheels whould the rearend still breakloose at the same point or would it be the same as if I had no spacers?
Matt
I would only want to put on 10mm or 15mm spacers on each side. Just a subtile change.
Homer, very interesting info. I never drive near the edge of the MO's handling ability but it is fun to follow a BMW M3 around an offramp and see the look of surprise in their rearview mirror when your sticking right on their tail.
So let me see if I understand the dynamics. Imagin a rain slick highway offramp and were driving the MO. (front wheel drive)
If I had wheel spacers on the rear wheels the backend would tend to break loose sooner than if I had none.
If I had the the same spacer on the front wheels whould the rearend still breakloose at the same point or would it be the same as if I had no spacers?
Matt
I was afraid this would happen.
I need to keep my replies simple and to the point.
Most of my reply concerned a BMW Z3 which will walk off and leave a Murano on any ramp anywhere.
And it was only for the rear of this particular model, which has a strong tendency to oversteeer.
There is no way the Z won't out perform the Murano.
Faster 0-60, faster 1/4, faster top end.
Quicker turn in, quicker sweepers, better brakes, etc
The murano is cute but can't stay with a sportscar.
As to what spacers would do on a Murano I believe I said :8:
Certainly 10 or 15MM spacers would look just fine and not even come close to sticking out beyond the fender.
A 15 mm spacer would move the edge of the tire out
6 tenths of an inch.
Total foot print would be 1.2 inches wider. I think it would look good.
Handling? I repeat :8:
Homer
I need to keep my replies simple and to the point.
Most of my reply concerned a BMW Z3 which will walk off and leave a Murano on any ramp anywhere.
And it was only for the rear of this particular model, which has a strong tendency to oversteeer.
There is no way the Z won't out perform the Murano.
Faster 0-60, faster 1/4, faster top end.
Quicker turn in, quicker sweepers, better brakes, etc
The murano is cute but can't stay with a sportscar.
As to what spacers would do on a Murano I believe I said :8:
Certainly 10 or 15MM spacers would look just fine and not even come close to sticking out beyond the fender.
A 15 mm spacer would move the edge of the tire out
6 tenths of an inch.
Total foot print would be 1.2 inches wider. I think it would look good.
Handling? I repeat :8:
Homer
I hope I didnt leave the impression that the MO would be superior to any BMW or sports car.
I was just interested in the physics and what effect that change would have. Obviously a little change like a 10mm spacer would have little effect on a street car in everyday driving.
Matt
I was just interested in the physics and what effect that change would have. Obviously a little change like a 10mm spacer would have little effect on a street car in everyday driving.
Matt
Obviously a little change like a 10mm spacer would have little effect on a street car in everyday driving.
Yeah, I would think so.
The 10s on the rear of my Z3......I couldn't feel any difference......until I pushed it very hard.
Let us know.
I suspect you "might" feel a little more stable around corners, but I just don't know.
I know it will look better.
Have you settled on 10mm?
Where are you going to get them?
Performancenissanparts have some nice H&Rs (quality brand) for the Murano.
Homer
Yeah, I would think so.
The 10s on the rear of my Z3......I couldn't feel any difference......until I pushed it very hard.
Let us know.
I suspect you "might" feel a little more stable around corners, but I just don't know.
I know it will look better.
Have you settled on 10mm?
Where are you going to get them?
Performancenissanparts have some nice H&Rs (quality brand) for the Murano.
Homer
I was looking at these. 10 or 15mm. I will check out Performance Nissan.
http://www.ichibausa.com/altimamurano02.html
On your Z3 was it hard to change out the wheel studs?
http://www.ichibausa.com/altimamurano02.html
On your Z3 was it hard to change out the wheel studs?
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444 Posts
25mm spacers in the back
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444 Posts
Less sway. Feels more stable in corners.
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12,665 Posts
[email protected], that was quick!
Your MO looks good. It now has a slightly more aggressive stance.
-njjoe
Your MO looks good. It now has a slightly more aggressive stance.
-njjoe
Joined
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444 Posts
yup...you got it...
I have 20" wheels and tires that are 275/55/20 that stick out about 1-2 inches(not for sure how far), but I think it gives it a more aggressive look. I like the tires out further than the body. When I put my stocks back on in Nov, it looked bland after having the rims on for so long.
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