Wheel Spacers
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4
From: Minnesota
Normally, when you use spaces you change the geometry. That can screw up the handling. To make it handle like it does with the factory wheels, you need to look at centerlines, offset, etc and make it come out the same as the factory wheels. It would be better to use some wheels with the correct offsets that are made to clear the new calipers if available
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 48
From: Virginia
Spacers won't, on their own, ruin your suspension's geometry. They're built to make a wheel have a more negative offset. With two wheels that have the same width, a more negative offset will cause that one wheel to sit farther out from the original position. If you're using them to 'correct' a wheel's offset, they can actually be beneficial.
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/...jsp?techid=101 <= Pretty good info on offset.
I've seen cars run on spacers for years and not have problems; however, it's kind of an extreme measure. Unless their is a wheel that you MUST have that doesn't have the right offset, I'd go with a wheel that's closer to the factory offset. If you do go with a spacer, spend a little more and go hub-centric. This basically centers the spacer on the center of the wheels using a little lip as opposed to other spacers that 'hang' off the lugs before the wheels are bolted down. Check and see what it takes to install a hub-centric before you buy; I've heard they can be moderately difficult to install but I don't have personal experience doing it. Oh, and here's a good link for figuring out what types of clearances you'll be dealing with. (http://www.1010tires.com/WheelOffsetCalculator.asp) You can type in something like 'X mm to inches' into google and it will convert for you.
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/...jsp?techid=101 <= Pretty good info on offset.
I've seen cars run on spacers for years and not have problems; however, it's kind of an extreme measure. Unless their is a wheel that you MUST have that doesn't have the right offset, I'd go with a wheel that's closer to the factory offset. If you do go with a spacer, spend a little more and go hub-centric. This basically centers the spacer on the center of the wheels using a little lip as opposed to other spacers that 'hang' off the lugs before the wheels are bolted down. Check and see what it takes to install a hub-centric before you buy; I've heard they can be moderately difficult to install but I don't have personal experience doing it. Oh, and here's a good link for figuring out what types of clearances you'll be dealing with. (http://www.1010tires.com/WheelOffsetCalculator.asp) You can type in something like 'X mm to inches' into google and it will convert for you.
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 784
From: Tennessee
Normally, when you use spaces you change the geometry. That can screw up the handling. To make it handle like it does with the factory wheels, you need to look at centerlines, offset, etc and make it come out the same as the factory wheels. It would be better to use some wheels with the correct offsets that are made to clear the new calipers if available
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