How To Install Wheel Spacers

Wheels, tires, and wheel spacers/adapters are a Safety Critical Part of your vehicle. DO NOT ATTEMPT installation, service, or replacement of your wheels, tires, or wheel spacers/adapters unless you are a Qualified Mechanic. These instructions are provided as a general guide, and are not specific to your vehicle. Always follow vehicle manufacturers installation instructions. INSPECT and VERIFY proper alignment and function of your wheels and tires before driving. TEST the performance of your wheels, tires, and wheel spacers/adapters in a controlled environment before driving. DO NOT OPERATE vehicle if wheels, tires, or wheel spacers/adapters are damaged or worn.

• Gloves (optional)
• Automotive Jack
• Jack Stand (optional)
• Tire iron or breaker bar with sockets
• Torque wrench
• Wire brush
• Degreaser
• Shop Rag

1. Always make sure you are installing wheel spacers/adapters that are designed for your vehicle. Never use wheel spacers/adapters which do not fit properly. Download the 5-Bolt, or download the 4, 6, 8-Bolt Sixity Auto Wheel Spacer Selection Guide.
2. Park your vehicle on a hard, level surface. Break loose, but DO NOT REMOVE, the lug nuts that fasten the wheel to the hub with the tire iron or breaker bar BEFORE raising up your vehicle.
3. Slide an automotive jack under the vehicle at an appropriate lift point and raise the vehicle enough to lift a single tire completely off the ground. Place a jack stand under your vehicle, and lower your vehicle on to the jack stand. Never work on or under a vehicle which is lifted only with an automotive jack, because it can easily fall or tip, causing injury or death.
4. Finish removing the lug nuts on the raised tire. Slide the wheel off the hub and set it aside. Spray degreaser on the lug studs and wipe them down with a rag. If the hub is dirty, rusted, or pitted use a wire brush to clean up the surface. Wipe down the entire hub surface, making sure it is clean and smooth.
5. If you are using Loctite to secure your spacer/adapter, place a drop of loctite on each wheel stud. Place your wheel spacer/adapter on to the hub, with the holes in the spacer lined up with the wheel studs, making sure the wheel spacer seats firmly against the hub. Attach the wheel spacer to your hub using the included bolts. Tighten the nuts that hold the spacer in place to the appropriate torque specification using a torque wrench. Do not overtighten or undertighten the nuts. If you have difficulty tightening the nuts because the hubs turn, have an assistant gently press the brake pedal to prevent the hub from turning.
6. Slide the wheel onto the studs protruding from the wheel spacer/adapter so that it seats firmly against the spacer/adapter. Install your original lug nuts and tighten them to the appropriate torque specification. Tighten bolts in a star pattern to ensure proper seating of the wheel onto the spacer. Raise the vehicle with the automotive jack, remove the jack stand and lower the vehicle onto the newly installed wheel.
7. Repeat steps 3-6 for each wheel.
8. Double check that all lug nuts are tightened to the manufacturer’s specification MINUS 10% with a properly calibrated torque wrench in a crisscross, star pattern. In our experience tightening all the way to manufacturer torque specifications can occasionally damage/break /weaken the studs on the wheel spacer. However it is always a good idea to routinely check the tightness of the lug nuts, especially soon after installation.

- End of Procedure -

Return to all Repair & Install Guides