I recently bought a set of 17 inch racestars for the rear and have been surprised I dont see a lot of posts about problems with quality control. The first kit I ordered had a defective lug and the retailer I ordered it from wouldn't ship a replacement out immediately so I returned that set and bought from a different retailer. The next set comes with another defective lug. On top of that the center caps wont go on because the screws they sent are too big. I called racestar this time to get a replacement and she said she would send me the lug and centercap screws right over. A couple days later I get a package with a lug and no centercap screws. I had to go to the tire shop for a balance because the rim spun in the wheel and when they take it off to balance it the guy shows me how another two lugs even though they fit werent drilled on the center and were damaging the rim. I've given up on their lugnuts at this point and am going to find some from another manufacturer. Looks like I'll be doing my 15inch conversion and welds sooner than planned. The rims do look great though lol....
Racestar quality problems/review
Satan
41 - 58 of 58 Posts
I have the same wheels and haven't had any issues. I don't leave them on, only put them on when going to the track, take them off afterwards, no issues at all. I do take the lugs and washers and store them in a ziplock and saturate them with WD40, so far so good, washers are all loose and come off the lugs freely. I do still get a little tire rotation, but with mounting them dry it's only been 1/2" to 2".
I swap mine quite a bit. My biggest problem is the washers getting chewed up by the lug nut. Gorilla washers are in the near future to try to rectify this.
When mounting the wheel take your time. Make sure its flat on the hub. I drive the lug nuts in with a 3/8 ratchet to avoid having issues.
They just require a little extra care to install, not a big deal.
They don't publish torque specs for some reason. You can find a chart online of what is required. But I remember thinking it was extremely low. I use the stock torque setting for my wheels. By memory I'm thinking it's 111ft/lbs.
Yep, 111 or 113 is stock, forgot as well. Thanks for your help!
Lol.... the never ending RaceStar story.
The Dark Stars are good looking and cheap compared to the "good" wheels. They look great on a Hellcat and come in plug and play sizes for the front and rear for drag racing.
That being said.... there is the shanked lug problem. It would be a pain in the ass even if the lugs and washers were quality pieces. But they're not. The lugs themselves are a bad joke. I've seen the threaded center so off center it is laughable.
What to do...... Buy a couple extra packs of lugs and washers. Inspect them and throw out any that are obviously no good (off center.... you'll know one when you see it).
When mounting the wheel.... make sure it is centered on the hub and start the lugs by hand and make sure they are going on before using any tools to tighten them.
Make sure your studs are clean and lubed and..... Never use an impact! If you have a problem with one.... throw it out and go to your lug supply bag for a clean new one.
The washers are a problem because they expand when compressed. That's good when used for the first time. Don't consider them reusable. They will squash out to where they will lodge in the barrel and bind up the lug. Get a big bag of washers so you always have fresh ones.
The weight balancing problem is new. The earlier fronts had a lip where you could use hammer-on weights on the inside where they are out of sight (like in the picture). The new ones.... do not have that lip. That means that stick on weights have to be mounted on the outside of the wheel where they can be seen. No explanation for why they did that.
Knowing all this makes life with RaceStars easier.
Do I like it.... No. Is it really a problem for me..... No. It can be if you don't follow the rules but now that I've figured this out..... we have sort of a love hate relationship that I can live with. They're kinda like a pretty wife who's a btch. It's going to cost a lot of money to get rid of her.....
The Dark Stars are good looking and cheap compared to the "good" wheels. They look great on a Hellcat and come in plug and play sizes for the front and rear for drag racing.
That being said.... there is the shanked lug problem. It would be a pain in the ass even if the lugs and washers were quality pieces. But they're not. The lugs themselves are a bad joke. I've seen the threaded center so off center it is laughable.
What to do...... Buy a couple extra packs of lugs and washers. Inspect them and throw out any that are obviously no good (off center.... you'll know one when you see it).
When mounting the wheel.... make sure it is centered on the hub and start the lugs by hand and make sure they are going on before using any tools to tighten them.
Make sure your studs are clean and lubed and..... Never use an impact! If you have a problem with one.... throw it out and go to your lug supply bag for a clean new one.
The washers are a problem because they expand when compressed. That's good when used for the first time. Don't consider them reusable. They will squash out to where they will lodge in the barrel and bind up the lug. Get a big bag of washers so you always have fresh ones.
The weight balancing problem is new. The earlier fronts had a lip where you could use hammer-on weights on the inside where they are out of sight (like in the picture). The new ones.... do not have that lip. That means that stick on weights have to be mounted on the outside of the wheel where they can be seen. No explanation for why they did that.
Knowing all this makes life with RaceStars easier.
Do I like it.... No. Is it really a problem for me..... No. It can be if you don't follow the rules but now that I've figured this out..... we have sort of a love hate relationship that I can live with. They're kinda like a pretty wife who's a btch. It's going to cost a lot of money to get rid of her.....
This is perfect.Lol.... the never ending RaceStar story.
The Dark Stars are good looking and cheap compared to the "good" wheels. They look great on a Hellcat and come in plug and play sizes for the front and rear for drag racing.
That being said.... there is the shanked lug problem. It would be a pain in the ass even if the lugs and washers were quality pieces. But they're not. The lugs themselves are a bad joke. I've seen the threaded center so off center it is laughable.
What to do...... Buy a couple extra packs of lugs and washers. Inspect them and throw out any that are obviously no good (off center.... you'll know one when you see it).
When mounting the wheel.... make sure it is centered on the hub and start the lugs by hand and make sure they are going on before using any tools to tighten them.
Make sure your studs are clean and lubed and..... Never use an impact! If you have a problem with one.... throw it out and go to your lug supply bag for a clean new one.
The washers are a problem because they expand when compressed. That's good when used for the first time. Don't consider them reusable. They will squash out to where they will lodge in the barrel and bind up the lug. Get a big bag of washers so you always have fresh ones.
The weigh balancing problem is new. The earlier fronts had a lip where you could use hammer-on weights on the inside where they are out of sight (like in the picture). The new ones.... do not have that lip. That means that stick on weights have to be mounted on the outside of the wheel where they can be seen. No explanation for why they did that.
Knowing all this makes life with RaceStars easier.
Do I like it.... No. Is it really a problem for me..... No. It can be if you don't follow the rules but now that I've figured this out..... we have sort of a love hate relationship that I can live with. They're kinda like a pretty wife who's a btch. It's going to cost a lot of money to get rid of her.....
As for the new weight problem. This is only an issue on the inside, so you won't see it. On the outside you can put weight inside the wheel as long as it's up against the spokes.
Now on the inside if you stick on weights on the outer lip. Is it a matter of time before one tries to escape through the fender or hood. Ultimately injuring anything in the way.
That’s great info! Any specific place to buy the washers? Or do I need to buy packs of lugs that come with them?This is perfect.
As for the new weight problem. This is only an issue on the inside, so you won't see it. On the outside you can put weight inside the wheel as long as it's up against the spokes.
Now on the inside if you stick on weights on the outer lip. Is it a matter of time before one tries to escape through the fender or hood. Ultimately injuring anything in the way.
Can I run a square set-up with any of racestar's 18x10.5s?
They're called Cragar washers. Jegs has them made by Gorilla I believe. You just have to order the right size (external and internal diameters). You can also buy a package set of the lugs, washers, hub centric rings all together from them. I bought a bag of 100 washers from Walmart on line for something like $15.
Looks like I’ll be going this route. Just need to find out the diameter
Inside is .75" Outside is 1.25" There are two outside sizes that Race Star says are ok to use. The outside diameter can be slightly smaller. 1.20 or something like that. Just can't be larger than the 1.25 and the inside has to be .75.
They are actually called Cragar washers. That is the "official" name for them so shop that.
Another wtf with Race Star is... they don't sell them or have a specific vender who does. You can only get them from their vendors with the lug package.
I start by hand and send them with the impact and finish to 111ftlbs with the torque wrench.
The main problem I have is the dust from the washer/drum/lug all over the wheels... Having said that, I've never actually washed it off of the wheels, so there are 2 seasons of metal flake all over them.
If you put them on by hand all of the way, it is just an exercise in frustration. They will bind and fight you all of the way. Just throw the impact on once they're started and let off once they're bottomed out in the barrel.
For sure, make sure the wheel is square to your hub.
Or, if you want to do things the nice way, do it like Marc. I'm one of those guys who will rush to the track, swap wheels like I'm on a pit crew, and get as many passes in as possible. Then I hurry to get them off because the wife has already been complaining for 4 hours and now I need to get home.
The main problem I have is the dust from the washer/drum/lug all over the wheels... Having said that, I've never actually washed it off of the wheels, so there are 2 seasons of metal flake all over them.
If you put them on by hand all of the way, it is just an exercise in frustration. They will bind and fight you all of the way. Just throw the impact on once they're started and let off once they're bottomed out in the barrel.
For sure, make sure the wheel is square to your hub.
Or, if you want to do things the nice way, do it like Marc. I'm one of those guys who will rush to the track, swap wheels like I'm on a pit crew, and get as many passes in as possible. Then I hurry to get them off because the wife has already been complaining for 4 hours and now I need to get home.
I am pretty sure the race star lugs and washers are actually from Cragar. I got some of theirs to bail me out and they are identical.
I remember now it was Wal-Mart you got them from. They don't carry them up here though.
You sir are a gentlemen! Thank you!
Shame on Cragar
lol41 - 58 of 58 Posts
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