Using wheel spacers, good or bad?
#16
Originally posted by Kean
...See the horizontal arrow that is labeled "offset"? On the right of that arrow is the mounting surface. Now, if you add a spacer then you've just moved the mounting surface closer to the middle of the wheel (not further out). As a result, the offset will become lower (i.e. a wheel with a 50mm offset that has a 5mm spacer would then be 45mm). Trust me, if you draw it out on paper it makes more sense.
- Kean
...See the horizontal arrow that is labeled "offset"? On the right of that arrow is the mounting surface. Now, if you add a spacer then you've just moved the mounting surface closer to the middle of the wheel (not further out). As a result, the offset will become lower (i.e. a wheel with a 50mm offset that has a 5mm spacer would then be 45mm). Trust me, if you draw it out on paper it makes more sense.
- Kean
OIC, said the blind man. I was thinking of what would happen to the wheel as a whole (add a spacer and it moves further away from the center of a car, similar to a wheel with a higher positive offset) as opposed to just the mounting surface....nevermind...ignore my posts [i just realized/remembered that a wheel with a lower offset puts a wheel ffurther away from the center of the car]
#17
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Location: So. Ca., CA USA
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Car Info: 03 WRX / 08 Forester
Originally posted by EsoterikWRX
OIC, said the blind man. I was thinking of what would happen to the wheel as a whole (add a spacer and it moves further away from the center of a car, similar to a wheel with a higher positive offset) as opposed to just the mounting surface....nevermind...ignore my posts [i just realized/remembered that a wheel with a lower offset puts a wheel ffurther away from the center of the car]
OIC, said the blind man. I was thinking of what would happen to the wheel as a whole (add a spacer and it moves further away from the center of a car, similar to a wheel with a higher positive offset) as opposed to just the mounting surface....nevermind...ignore my posts [i just realized/remembered that a wheel with a lower offset puts a wheel ffurther away from the center of the car]
#18
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Location: Warsaw, Indiana
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Car Info: 02 WRX Wagon White
asianboy,
Just FYI and maybe to clear things up: a 25mm spacer would mean that you're trying to get a wheel with about a 75mm offset to fit your WRX. I've never seen a wheel with a 75mm offset. If this helps then good. If it still isn't clear just summarize your question(s) and I'll try to finalize your transformation into "offset expert" on Monday.
Just FYI and maybe to clear things up: a 25mm spacer would mean that you're trying to get a wheel with about a 75mm offset to fit your WRX. I've never seen a wheel with a 75mm offset. If this helps then good. If it still isn't clear just summarize your question(s) and I'll try to finalize your transformation into "offset expert" on Monday.
#19
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Location: So. Ca., CA USA
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Car Info: 03 WRX / 08 Forester
Originally posted by Dexter@tirerack
asianboy,
Just FYI and maybe to clear things up: a 25mm spacer would mean that you're trying to get a wheel with about a 75mm offset to fit your WRX. I've never seen a wheel with a 75mm offset. If this helps then good. If it still isn't clear just summarize your question(s) and I'll try to finalize your transformation into "offset expert" on Monday.
asianboy,
Just FYI and maybe to clear things up: a 25mm spacer would mean that you're trying to get a wheel with about a 75mm offset to fit your WRX. I've never seen a wheel with a 75mm offset. If this helps then good. If it still isn't clear just summarize your question(s) and I'll try to finalize your transformation into "offset expert" on Monday.
#20
Damn, DAMN, DAMN!
Either I was right originally, or Dexter is wrong/misreading, or I can't read. If asianboy bought wheels for his Suby then the wheels would more or less hav an offset of, lets say, 50mm. And if he then decides that Pontiac was right & Wider is Better and gets some 25mm spacers from H&R & installs them. Wouldn't his wheels have an effective offset of 25mm and NOT 75mm, Like Dexter said? (Because, once again, the lower the offset the further out a wheel is from the center of the car...right?)
At any rate, I still think it would be better to get wider wheels, b/c IMHO I'd think that installing 25mm spacers on a street car would definatley cause premature bearing failure, & additional steering system stress, because the goemetry is off.
Kean, help me out! Am I losing it?
At any rate, I still think it would be better to get wider wheels, b/c IMHO I'd think that installing 25mm spacers on a street car would definatley cause premature bearing failure, & additional steering system stress, because the goemetry is off.
Kean, help me out! Am I losing it?
#21
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Location: Warsaw, Indiana
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Car Info: 02 WRX Wagon White
Reread my post. It gives the same answer you're figuring but in a different way. You are correct - a 25mm spacer applied to a 50mm offset wheel will result in an overall offset of 25mm. However, optimal offset on our Subarus is 50mm. So if you have a wheel with a 75mm offset, a 25mm spacer will allow it to fit our cars correctly - ie resulting in a 50mm offset.
On your stock wheels, a 25mm spacer is crazy - as you would guess. 55mm offset would be brought to 30mm - not good. I've heard of a 5-10mm spacer on stockers, but I don't even recommend that.
On your stock wheels, a 25mm spacer is crazy - as you would guess. 55mm offset would be brought to 30mm - not good. I've heard of a 5-10mm spacer on stockers, but I don't even recommend that.
#22
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: So. Ca., CA USA
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Car Info: 03 WRX / 08 Forester
Re: Damn, DAMN, DAMN!
Originally posted by EsoterikWRX
Kean, help me out! Am I losing it?
Kean, help me out! Am I losing it?
- Kean
#23
I have the offset thing under control & I think i have a good grasp of the space/offset thing (the lower the offset the further away the wheel is from the center of the car & spacers attempt to move the wheel further away from the center of the car). I guess that whole 'et 75 wheel' thing threw me off.
Anyways, to summarize: 25mm spacers, BAD (on street cars); 5-10mm spacers, Okay w/ adult supervision.
Anyways, to summarize: 25mm spacers, BAD (on street cars); 5-10mm spacers, Okay w/ adult supervision.
#24
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Originally posted by EsoterikWRX
Anyways, to summarize: 25mm spacers, BAD (on street cars); 5-10mm spacers, Okay w/ adult supervision.
Anyways, to summarize: 25mm spacers, BAD (on street cars); 5-10mm spacers, Okay w/ adult supervision.
Bringing my WRX to 38mm offset is a significant way off from the suggested 50mm.
#25
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: So. Ca., CA USA
Posts: 261
Car Info: 03 WRX / 08 Forester
Originally posted by huck
Is that the general consensus then? I can throw a 10mm spacer on my 17"x7.5" 48mm offset wheels on my WRX without having to worry too much?
Bringing my WRX to 38mm offset is a significant way off from the suggested 50mm.
Is that the general consensus then? I can throw a 10mm spacer on my 17"x7.5" 48mm offset wheels on my WRX without having to worry too much?
Bringing my WRX to 38mm offset is a significant way off from the suggested 50mm.
- Kean
#26
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i think in general spacers should not be used unless absolutely necessary.. esp. aluminum spacers next to say brembo brakes that will heat up. aluminum under heat has the tendency to expand and may back out the lug nuts.. (as this has happened to my car) they are alternative to the simple h&r spacers, but off the top fo my head, i forget so i would stay away from spacers if possible...
#27
I have a question about the H&R spacers.. I was pondering utilizing spacers on my stock wrx wheels.. I am in the process of getting the subaru 4-pot and some suspension parts prior to the race season.. I will not have money left over for new wheels, but yes to some tires.. I was hoping to be able to run some 225's on the stock wrx 16 inch rims and clear the front brake calipers..
Anyone have any insight.. has it been done before, saftety issues.. (Which were mentioned above) as well as what size spacer will be required to clear this set up and will I have to get longer threads..
Thanks
ALex
PS what is the price on them.. spacer things.
Anyone have any insight.. has it been done before, saftety issues.. (Which were mentioned above) as well as what size spacer will be required to clear this set up and will I have to get longer threads..
Thanks
ALex
PS what is the price on them.. spacer things.
#28
My personal opinion, I am not a big fan of spacers cause you lose thread engagement and it might lead to a vibration. Of course it depends on the quality of the spacer. Some are better made than others.
But if you must use a spacer, please don't go over 10mm
But if you must use a spacer, please don't go over 10mm
#30
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spacers can improve handling because of the wider stance.. but it's not worth that little bit of improvement (that's my opinion tho).
as for putting spacers on to clear stuph, i don't know wut size would work, but you'd have to change your studs too and then be very careful of brakes heating the spacers.
5mm spacers from h&r (aluminum) cost quite a bit. like around $60? i forget...
as for putting spacers on to clear stuph, i don't know wut size would work, but you'd have to change your studs too and then be very careful of brakes heating the spacers.
5mm spacers from h&r (aluminum) cost quite a bit. like around $60? i forget...