Wheel Spacers

[t-tony]

I bought my car some wheel spacers when we were on holiday as I felt that, although my car has fairly wide staggered wheel set up, they didn't really fill the wheel arches. Well they do now!! I fitted these last week, 20mm on the rear end and 12mm on the front. Looks loads better, handles loads better too. I'm happy. It's worth noting also that the Carweb data system at work quotes the torque figure for the wheel bolts at 110 - 130 NM so I've opted for the higher figure since fitting the spacers.

 

[David Cullen]

looks good Tony, was looking at this myself as i do think they need them for that finished look, just waiting for the new wheels to see what the offset is like on them. did you get extended bolts? how much did it set you back?

 

[t-tony]

looks good Tony, was looking at this myself as i do think they need them for that finished look, just waiting for the new wheels to see what the offset is like on them. did you get extended bolts? how much did it set you back?

Hey Dave, I got these from eBay seller venomwheelaccessories who are based in California. Cost was $109.03 + $61.75 p&p (£68.31 + £38.69) Includes 20 new bolts 10 each for front and rear. Hub centric type, seem to me to be very good quality.HTH.

Tony.

 

[GazHyde]

Much nicer with the wheels in line with the arches. Always disliked the recessed look some of the standard sized wheels have.

I also found my Z3 felt a bit more stable when I fitted 15MM spacers to mine.

 

[TaffZee]

I had 20mm on the rear, they caused the tyres to wear badly on the inside.

 

[zedonist]

Watch your paint disappear from your inner arches now.......

 

[David Cullen]

the spacers shouldnt cause tire ware Taff, this is usually caused by negative camber ie. if you have lowered your car you will create negative camber which will result in wear on the tires inside, you can buy camber adjusters or extended ball joints which counteract the negative camber...

 

[t-tony]

I think spacers are likely to exaggerate the negative camber but I'm prepared to accept that.

Tony.

 

[TaffZee]

Took them off, tyres wear even now, so if they shoudnt they did..Standard suspension.

 

[David Cullen]

if you decide to sell them TaffZee>> cough, cough

 

[TaffZee]

MTM had them.

 

[Brian H]

Looking good @t-tony, do you know what offset your front wheels are? I would not get a 12mm spacer in the front of my car.

I notice that you have KW suspension fitted, did yo put this on?

the spacers shouldnt cause tire ware Taff, this is usually caused by negative camber ie. if you have lowered your car you will create negative camber which will result in wear on the tires inside, you can buy camber adjusters or extended ball joints which counteract the negative camber...

Our car have quite a bit of negative camber in the rear as standard, I have 12mm spacers on my car and you can really see the camber when stood behind the car, you can as you say buy camber adjusters but these come in the form of either eccentric bushes ( a PITA to fit) or weld on tabs that fit on the rear beam (a real PITA to fit).

 

[t-tony]

Hi Brian, the K&W kit was fitted by the man I bought the car from.

Tony.

 

[David Cullen]

there shouldnt be negative camber on the car as standard Brian... strange ;-/ its worth doing the camber adjustment though if there is, saves money in the long run ;-)

 

[Cooper]

Here are the Bentley specifications. Hope it helps:

 

[Lee]

I can confirm i run 20mm on the rear and 12mm on the front. The car is lowered 35mm. The tyre wear is even on the rear (Other than my heavy foot) the car handling feels notably lighter and more stable on cornering. I do get the occasional clash of tyre with the arch, but the tyre wears and not the arch.
All in all the car looks much better.

Lee

 

[t-tony]

Cheers for that Lee, I haven't had any wheel arch contact even with me and Shirl in the car. Handling does feel much improved. I'm not sure how much the car has been lowered as it had been done when I bought the car. Time will tell on the tyre wear.

Tony.

 

[hard top]

I haven't had any wheel arch contact even with me and Shirl in the car.

You are walking on thin ice me thinks.........

 

[t-tony]

You are walking on thin ice me thinks.........

Well I can, I only weigh 3 stone wet through after all.

 

[Cooper]

@Lee out of curiosity did you just put lower springs in the trailing arm or did you do also do some welding and other modifications?