Wheel Spacer Question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: Sun Peaks British Columbia
Wheel Spacer Question
I'm hoping to install new rims on my 79' coupe, but I've been told that the wheels I chose may not clear the calipers. The solution may be using wheel spacers. The range of spacers I'd be using would be 1/4" to 1/2".
Q. Would adding these have any detrimental effect to my wheel bearings?
Q. Would my wheel alignment require to be changed? (I don't think so, but I'm not sure)
(Note: Rims will be 15 X 8 w/ -37 Offset 3 1/2" backspace.)
YV
Q. Would adding these have any detrimental effect to my wheel bearings?
Q. Would my wheel alignment require to be changed? (I don't think so, but I'm not sure)
(Note: Rims will be 15 X 8 w/ -37 Offset 3 1/2" backspace.)
YV
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
Likes: 15
From: Calgary Alberta
I haven't heard good things about wheel spacers. I suggest you look into wheel adapters - they bolt onto your lug studs and have there own lug studs that bolt to the wheel. I have heard about people losing wheels with cheap spacers. Sorry if I didn't answer your question, I am trying to give the best advice possible.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,844
Likes: 99
From: Orrtanna Pa.
I run spacers on the front that are 1/2" thick. If I were you,I'd order 4 1/2" BS rims,use the 1/2" spacer to clear the brakes,and you'll end up right on with the stock geometry. I also opted to run 3" studs for insurance.Alignment will not change,and more importantly,your fender will not be destroyed if you bottom out on a pothole in the road.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: Sun Peaks British Columbia
I run spacers on the front that are 1/2" thick. If I were you,I'd order 4 1/2" BS rims,use the 1/2" spacer to clear the brakes,and you'll end up right on with the stock geometry. I also opted to run 3" studs for insurance.Alignment will not change,and more importantly,your fender will not be destroyed if you bottom out on a pothole in the road.
I don't mind getting a slightly wider stance all around as well.
YV
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
I've driven over 20k miles with C3's with wheel spacers with no issues.. I even ran several 1/4 mile passes with spacers and had no issues. Just make sure to get quality billet spacers and not the El Cheapo cast aluminum spacers. I actually used 1/4 inch Mark Williams spacers on my race car when it was running in the mid 10's.. No issues.. The only time that you'd have an issue is if you'd use cone style lug nuts as you'll reduce the amount of tead that the lug nuts get. If they are shank style lug nuts, you just have to get lug nuts that are longer by the size of the spacer and you shouldn't have any problems.
http://www.markwilliams.com/pdfdownload.aspx
open the document and go to page 55
They have both, 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch billet spacers!!
http://www.markwilliams.com/pdfdownload.aspx
open the document and go to page 55
They have both, 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch billet spacers!!
Last edited by GrandSportC3; Feb 27, 2008 at 02:23 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,044
Likes: 0
From: Henrico VA
My understanding is that while wheel spacers look great, they negatively impact handling and the increased moment that is created whenever a bump is hit causes them to get out of alignment very quickly.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
I would just keep searching for wheels that are the correct BS and clear the calipers.
Last year i used some junk 10X15 wheels with 1/4 spacers on the front for road racing. They worked until I could buy the 10X17 without spacers
Last year i used some junk 10X15 wheels with 1/4 spacers on the front for road racing. They worked until I could buy the 10X17 without spacers
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,030
Likes: 17
From: White Pine / Dandridge TN
This topic pops up every now and then. I you search the archives you should be able to find lots of threads on this subject. I'm running C5 wheels with wheel adapters. I forgot the exact thickness but somthing like and inch or so. A consideration is if the adapter is wheel and hub centric. That is to say that the adapter had both the recess and the lip to replicate an oem fit. If you look at your current hub it has a lip that fits snugly into the back of your oem wheel. This helps to keep some of the load off the wheel studs. The adapters I purchased had the recess on the backside like your oem wheel and then have the lip on the front side like your oem hub. I would be concered about not having these and made sure that mine did.
jim
jim
