Broke my Macht Snell 12 MM spacer

Garage5 · 05-17-2012, 09:54 AM

I was running there longer lug nuts. The wheels were properly torqued. I've put about 7k miles on the street, and roughly 1k miles on them on the track.

Heard a horrible sound at the track, so I pulled off, couldn't get it to reproduce. Was going to pack up and go home. Drove it out on the street to my trailer, then the car came to scratching halt.

All 5 lugs broke as well as the spacer, ruined the inside of my wheel. Luckily the car wasn't damaged the rest is a formality.

Has anyone else broken a macht snell spacer?
Any sort of warranty on these?

I know I should have been running studs, that is my fault, but it was a street car that I took the track every once in a while, but I learned from my mistake.

Just wondering if its worth my time to contact them! Thanks fellas.

mkPOTO · 05-17-2012, 09:56 AM

in to see what the cause was

THE TECH · 05-17-2012, 10:08 AM

Don't think studs would have changed anything.

aus · 05-17-2012, 10:48 AM

Looks like the bolts broke and then the movement if the wheel messed up the spacer. It's still their bolt that failed.

THE TECH · 05-17-2012, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus

Looks like the bolts broke and then the movement if the wheel messed up the spacer. It's still their bolt that failed.

Just hard to believe that all 5 bolts broke. If there was a defective set of bolts made, it's hard to believe we haven't heard about others having issues.

Garage5 · 05-17-2012, 12:03 PM

None of the lugs were backed out after they broke off.

Found 4 out of 5 lugs on the side of the road.

signes · 05-17-2012, 12:14 PM

Damn, very lucky that didn't completely let go at high speed.

BIGW0RM · 05-17-2012, 12:22 PM

That sucks! Are you sure your lug bolts where snug?

THE TECH · 05-17-2012, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILSMKU

That sucks! Are you sure your lug bolts where snug?

Pretty much what I'm thinking. The odds of them all breaking at the same time is extremely rare if the wheels were indeed torqued down at the time of the incident.

AMPowerJ · 05-17-2012, 12:26 PM

e1000 · 05-17-2012, 12:42 PM

what's up with the wad of cash!? haha!

I agree that it looks like the spacer failed because the nuts/studs failed. With that said, I'd never put MS parts on critical, load-bearing areas of my car.

THE TECH · 05-17-2012, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e1000

what's up with the wad of cash!? haha!

I agree that it looks like the spacer failed because the nuts/studs failed. With that said, I'd never put MS parts on critical, load-bearing areas of my car.

MS only makes the spacer which doesn't carry a load. The bolts are surely supplied from a 3rd party.

e1000 · 05-17-2012, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE TECH

MS only makes the spacer which doesn't carry a load. The bolts are surely supplied from a 3rd party.

So the lip on that hubcentric spacer isn't where the vehicles's load is placed?

哇靠M3 · 05-17-2012, 12:55 PM

guess everything from MS falls off or break. heard the intake falls off as well.

THE TECH · 05-17-2012, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e1000

So the lip on that hubcentric spacer isn't where the vehicles's load is placed?

I can't answer that with certainty. Yes, the wheel rests there but the load is carried by the wheel bolts to my knowledge. The damage on the spacer more than likely only occurred after the wheel bolts broke.

e1000 · 05-17-2012, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE TECH

I can't answer that with certainty. Yes, the wheel rests there but the load is carried by the wheel bolts to my knowledge. The damage on the spacer more than likely only occurred after the wheel bolts broke.

The hub is what carries the load, that's what makes it hubcentric. The lug bolts or studs/nuts are there to keep the wheel in good solid contact with the hub.

A hubcentric spacer is by all means a load bearing piece.

Whether or not a 3rd party manufactures the bolts or not, MS still sells them and the consumer in this example, trusts thier judement to pick quality parts that will not fail.

THE TECH · 05-17-2012, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e1000

The hub is what carries the load, that's what makes it hubcentric. The lug bolts or studs/nuts are there to keep the wheel in good solid contact with the hub.

A hubcentric spacer is by all means a load bearing piece.

Whether or not a 3rd party manufactures the bolts or not, MS still sells them and the consumer in this example, trusts thier judement to pick quality parts that will not fail.

The lip on the spacer is not the hub but just a means to center the wheel on the car. While the very inside edge of the wheel sits on it, I'm not clear as to how much load it actually carries.

THE TECH · 05-17-2012, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WAHHKAOOM3

guess everything from MS falls off or break. heard the intake falls off as well.

I think that issue was limited to their 1st gen intake setups.

e1000 · 05-17-2012, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE TECH

The lip on the spacer is not the hub but just a means to center the wheel on the car. While the very inside edge of the wheel sits on it, I'm not clear as to how much load it actually carries.

Let me put it to you this way, if you put a 15mm spacer on your car without that lip (which extends the hub), your wheel will shear all 5 bolts off and fall off of the car very quickly. It's a load bearing piece. PERIOD.

THE TECH · 05-17-2012, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e1000

Let me put it to you this way, if you put a 15mm spacer on your car without that lip (which extends the hub), your wheel will shear all 5 bolts off and fall off of the car very quickly. It's a load bearing piece. PERIOD.

Never seen such a thing.

leemik · 05-17-2012, 01:10 PM

the pattern on the ring of the spacer looks a bit unusual.. like the wheel was rocking in and out to create that.. and finally it just gave way and bent the top

I'm thinking the wheel wasn't 100% flush on the spacer.. the bolts would still torque down "properly" (as you said) but there would be a small gap and the load of driving just worked the gap wider and wider until 4 of the bolts snapped and the wheel bent the lip of the spacer working itself off..

e1000 · 05-17-2012, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE TECH

Never seen such a thing.

Because nobody is dumb enough to put a lug-centric spacer on a hubcentric wheel/car combo? I don't know how else to explain this to you.

05-17-2012, 09:54 AM	#1
Garage5 Private First Class 45 Rep 111 Posts Drives: BMW M3 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 1999 BMW M3 [0.00]	Broke my Macht Snell 12 MM spacer I was running there longer lug nuts. The wheels were properly torqued. I've put about 7k miles on the street, and roughly 1k miles on them on the track. Heard a horrible sound at the track, so I pulled off, couldn't get it to reproduce. Was going to pack up and go home. Drove it out on the street to my trailer, then the car came to scratching halt. All 5 lugs broke as well as the spacer, ruined the inside of my wheel. Luckily the car wasn't damaged the rest is a formality. Has anyone else broken a macht snell spacer? Any sort of warranty on these? I know I should have been running studs, that is my fault, but it was a street car that I took the track every once in a while, but I learned from my mistake. Just wondering if its worth my time to contact them! Thanks fellas.
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05-17-2012, 09:56 AM	#2
mkPOTO Mr. Nice Says Hello 635 Rep 16,662 Posts Drives: BMW M3 \| X5 xdrive 35i MSport Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: USA iTrader: (25) Garage List 2002 Lexus GS300 [0.00] 2008 BMW E92 M3 [5.58]	in to see what the cause was
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05-17-2012, 10:08 AM	#3
THE TECH BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 307 Rep 13,093 Posts Drives: BPMsport 2012 E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kansas iTrader: (45) Garage List 2013 Nissan GTR [0.00] 2019 Sierra Denali ... [0.00] 1999 Nissan Silvia [0.00] 1999 Nissan Skyline ... [0.00] 1998 Toyota Supra [0.00]	Don't think studs would have changed anything.
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05-17-2012, 10:48 AM	#4
aus Major General 890 Rep 9,031 Posts Drives: Odysse Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seal Beach, CA iTrader: (10)	Looks like the bolts broke and then the movement if the wheel messed up the spacer. It's still their bolt that failed. __________________ Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by some of the top engineers in the world because some guys sponsored by a company told you it's "better??" But when you ask the same guy about tracking, "oh no, I have a kid now" or "I just detailed my car." or "i just got new tires."
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05-17-2012, 12:03 PM	#6
Garage5 Private First Class 45 Rep 111 Posts Drives: BMW M3 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 1999 BMW M3 [0.00]	None of the lugs were backed out after they broke off. Found 4 out of 5 lugs on the side of the road.
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05-17-2012, 12:14 PM	#7
signes Brigadier General 199 Rep 4,318 Posts Drives: 991 GT3 RS Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Living at (almost...) 9k iTrader: (5)	Damn, very lucky that didn't completely let go at high speed. __________________ GT3 RS \| Desperately seeking the next great M car...
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05-17-2012, 12:22 PM	#8
BIGW0RM You got my money? 3131 Rep 4,640 Posts Drives: Ice Cream Truck Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: ///OC iTrader: (14) Garage List 2022 BMW M3 [9.50]	That sucks! Are you sure your lug bolts where snug? __________________ 2022 G80 M3 Competition X / 2020 Range Rover Sport P525 / 2023 Ford Raptor
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05-17-2012, 12:26 PM	#10
AMPowerJ One mod leads to another ... 415 Rep 2,900 Posts Drives: 2014 F10 M5 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Blythewood, SC iTrader: (10)	__________________ Current: 2014 F10 M5 Previous: 2015 F80 M3, 2013 E92 M3, 2013 F10 M5, 2009 E90 M3, 1998 E36 M3
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05-17-2012, 12:42 PM	#11
e1000 that's what SHE said! 75 Rep 1,163 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M3 ZCP Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: OC iTrader: (1)	what's up with the wad of cash!? haha! I agree that it looks like the spacer failed because the nuts/studs failed. With that said, I'd never put MS parts on critical, load-bearing areas of my car. __________________
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05-17-2012, 12:55 PM	#14
哇靠M3 Captain 85 Rep 781 Posts Drives: e92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: 加州到台北 iTrader: (5) Garage List 2009 E92 M3 [9.00]	guess everything from MS falls off or break. heard the intake falls off as well.
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05-17-2012, 01:10 PM	#21
leemik Lieutenant Colonel 509 Rep 1,570 Posts Drives: 2013 LRP M3 Coupe Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Quincy, MA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2020 Acura NSX [0.00] 2013 BMW M3 [9.50]	the pattern on the ring of the spacer looks a bit unusual.. like the wheel was rocking in and out to create that.. and finally it just gave way and bent the top I'm thinking the wheel wasn't 100% flush on the spacer.. the bolts would still torque down "properly" (as you said) but there would be a small gap and the load of driving just worked the gap wider and wider until 4 of the bolts snapped and the wheel bent the lip of the spacer working itself off..
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