Rear wheel spacers: a good idea?
#1
Rear wheel spacers: a good idea?
Anyone ever notice how tucked the rear wheels of the max look? I was wondering if it was a good idea to add spacer or if that would affect handling, offset, tire wear etc. Any help would be much appriceated.
#4
D_Warner, would moving the wheels out like 15mm (widening the overall rear track by 30mm) really make that much of a difference? Me and a friend of mine were talking about getting some cause how recessed the rear wheels look. So in that same reguard would putting a wheel with a wider offset in the rear cause the same probs? i'm not doubting, but actually trying to learn, since it sounds like you have experience with this. i'm just like Eric95se, and i hate the way it looks. it wasn't so bad at stock ride height, but i've lowered it now, and it just looks odd. Any insight would be great from you or any others.
#5
The car is designed with a narrower rear track so that the inside rear tires track tighter in a turn. By moving the rear tires out, you essentially widen the turning radius by making the rear tires track further out. It's not a real big problem at lower speeds, cause the max turns pretty sharp as it is. But when you up the speeds, the wider track definately makes the car push. By increasing rear stability over that of the front in any manner you will run into that problem. The same thing would happen if you were to put 10 inch wide tires on the back and 8 inchers on the front.
#6
ive got 5mm spacers in the front because the wheels i got just barely rubbed the caliper, so i got the spacers for 12 bucks, and my car handles great still, only i can tell the difference, but even still i do contemplate getting spacers for the back, it does look better with 5mm difference, the problem is i dont feel like getting longer studs in the back. the studs i got were 3mm longer and were stock from another car, got them at discount auto parts, ran me 2 bucks a piece, so for 40 bucks worth of studs and 24 bucks worth of spacers, you decide whether its worth it, i personally have better things to spend the money on.
#9
Originally Posted by aspec0002
40 bucks worth of studs
#11
Originally Posted by I30tMikeD
I will be getting 15mm for the front and 20mm for the rear, purely cosmetic reasons.
#12
NEXT QUESTION: So wheel spacers afect turning radius. Than I am not concerned about. What I do think about is that the addition of spacers shortens the length that the wheel nut can attach to the threaded bolt on the beam axle. Is it safe to add a small spacer without worrying that a nut will come loose?
#13
Originally Posted by Eric95se
NEXT QUESTION: So wheel spacers afect turning radius. Than I am not concerned about. What I do think about is that the addition of spacers shortens the length that the wheel nut can attach to the threaded bolt on the beam axle. Is it safe to add a small spacer without worrying that a nut will come loose?
#14
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Originally Posted by Mad-MAX_SE
Where are you getting the spacers from? Also, how should i measure for what size i need...just measure the distance from tire to wheel well??
H&R makes hubcentric spacers for our cars. It will be about $200 for front and back. A little pricey but after consideration hubcentric is the only way to go and H&R is the only place that makes them.
I will either go with the before mentioned 20mm rear and 15mm front, or maybe 15mm rear and 5mm front. H&R does not make a 10mm spacer.
I am on stock 15's right now, but the 17's I used to have were 17mm further out than stock, which gave me a flush look in the front and just a tad tucked in the rear. So I know that 20mm rear and 15mm front will work just fine.
You can also measure using a 2' long 2x4 or something similar. Rest the 2x4 vertically against the wheels and mark with a pencil how far inset the top of the fender is.
#15
Originally Posted by Eric95se
NEXT QUESTION: So wheel spacers afect turning radius. Than I am not concerned about. What I do think about is that the addition of spacers shortens the length that the wheel nut can attach to the threaded bolt on the beam axle. Is it safe to add a small spacer without worrying that a nut will come loose?
Maybe I'm just a wee bit dense this morning, but I can't see where spacing the rear wheels out a little wider on a FWD car could possibly affect the turn radius unless you're doing handbrake or left-foot-braking turns.
Norm
#16
Originally Posted by I30tMikeD
H&R makes hubcentric spacers for our cars. It will be about $200 for front and back. A little pricey but after consideration hubcentric is the only way to go and H&R is the only place that makes them.
I will either go with the before mentioned 20mm rear and 15mm front, or maybe 15mm rear and 5mm front. H&R does not make a 10mm spacer.
I am on stock 15's right now, but the 17's I used to have were 17mm further out than stock, which gave me a flush look in the front and just a tad tucked in the rear. So I know that 20mm rear and 15mm front will work just fine.
You can also measure using a 2' long 2x4 or something similar. Rest the 2x4 vertically against the wheels and mark with a pencil how far inset the top of the fender is.
I will either go with the before mentioned 20mm rear and 15mm front, or maybe 15mm rear and 5mm front. H&R does not make a 10mm spacer.
I am on stock 15's right now, but the 17's I used to have were 17mm further out than stock, which gave me a flush look in the front and just a tad tucked in the rear. So I know that 20mm rear and 15mm front will work just fine.
You can also measure using a 2' long 2x4 or something similar. Rest the 2x4 vertically against the wheels and mark with a pencil how far inset the top of the fender is.
#17
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Originally Posted by Mad-MAX_SE
Are the they the type that you bolt on the stock studs, and use studs on the spacer?
Both. I **think** the 5mm and 15mm spacers just use longer studs and the 20mm and 25mm use the spacers that have the studs attached. I know for sure they use both kinds, just can't remember which sizes use which.
#20
Originally Posted by Eric95se
Anyone ever notice how tucked the rear wheels of the max look? I was wondering if it was a good idea to add spacer or if that would affect handling, offset, tire wear etc. Any help would be much appriceated.
#21
I have 3mm wheel spacers in the rear to clear the rear hubs. I did not want to go larger than that with stock studs. I am going to end up going with 5mm h&r spacers so I can put my rear hub sheilds back on.
#22
Originally Posted by I30tMikeD
H&R makes hubcentric spacers for our cars. It will be about $200 for front and back. A little pricey but after consideration hubcentric is the only way to go and H&R is the only place that makes them.
I will either go with the before mentioned 20mm rear and 15mm front, or maybe 15mm rear and 5mm front. H&R does not make a 10mm spacer.
I am on stock 15's right now, but the 17's I used to have were 17mm further out than stock, which gave me a flush look in the front and just a tad tucked in the rear. So I know that 20mm rear and 15mm front will work just fine.
You can also measure using a 2' long 2x4 or something similar. Rest the 2x4 vertically against the wheels and mark with a pencil how far inset the top of the fender is.
I will either go with the before mentioned 20mm rear and 15mm front, or maybe 15mm rear and 5mm front. H&R does not make a 10mm spacer.
I am on stock 15's right now, but the 17's I used to have were 17mm further out than stock, which gave me a flush look in the front and just a tad tucked in the rear. So I know that 20mm rear and 15mm front will work just fine.
You can also measure using a 2' long 2x4 or something similar. Rest the 2x4 vertically against the wheels and mark with a pencil how far inset the top of the fender is.
Looks alot better. Can't really tell a difference handling wise. There were a little expensive but to me were worth it. You can see some close up pics on page 3 of my website.
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