Front wheel spacer?

[ediehl]

I’ve changed tires on my 2013 Stelvio NTX before, and I don’t recall having any issues. This time, however, I got it all back together, and the front wheel was bound, not turning. I loosened the axle pinch bolts and the axle nut, and it would turn fine. For this description, I’m going to call the ‘left’ side of the wheel being where my left hand would rest on the handlebars while mounted.
Looking at the 2nd pic below, the service manual advises to collect the spacer from the right side when removing the front wheel. That kinda contradicts the 1st pic from the parts catalog, which shows a spacer (#17) on the left side (by my definition of left), and no spacer at all on the other (ABS) side.
I’m confused. To begin with, I don’t believe I have a spacer on either side, and that doesn’t seem right. I wasn’t aware of any part falling out and rolling away, and I’ve searched the garage and the driveway pretty carefully. But, for whatever reason, I suspect I’m somehow missing the spacer (#17) on the left side. So, there is no spacer on the right (ABS) side?

[guzziart]

I'm not sure about the stelvio but some of my bikes only have one spacer on the outside since the axle has a step to it, it is utilized as the spacer on the opposite side....if that makes any sense to you.  Your illustrated parts breakdown shows the spacer on the same side as the stepped portion of the axle, the illustration might be a little misleading, the spacer may go on the opposite side.  Just because you see it in the illustration does  not necessarily mean it is indicative of it's relative position in the wheel assembly. My 2¢ worth.

Art

[ediehl]

Thanks, that's kinda the thought I had. I'll pull the wheel back off and verify that the step on the axle acts as a spacer on that side, and then order the spacer to install on the other side.

[acguzzi]

might want to check that your discs are not bent, I think your brake calipers are probably what your axle was tightening against.

[ediehl]

I pulled the wheel back off and verified that the shoulder on the left side of the axle does indeed function as a spacer on that side. My theory is, assuming there was no spacer on the ABS side when I started this task, is that what kept the wheel from drifting to the right were the brake discs being contained from side to side movement by the brake pads in the fixed calipers. I ordered that #17 spacer---I hope it's the right part, and I hope that it doesn't have to come from Italy.