Wheel spacers: I know this is a repeat but...

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I have searched and read many threads on this, but it has not helped my confusion as there are conflicting advice out there.

I just bought a Stoptech BBK. It will not fit my 02 wheels without a 15mm spacer front and 25mm rear.

I'm a little dissapointed because my weight savings go right back into wheel spacers.

My question is, what detrimental effect does this have on performance? Should I go with equal spacers front and rear? I don't care so much about looks, I care about performance. In reading old posts, some claim a performance benefit from a wider track.... others say it was heavy and was slowing them down...

Guys I know this all has been discussed before but can someone that knows what they are talking about shed some light for me?
 
Wider track = more stability and grip.

Wider rear relative to front - slightly more rear grip (added) than front (added). This is not a bad thing. 10mm wider increase in rear won't be a huge perceivable difference. Just do it so your brakes will clear.

The 'heavier' unsprung weight comment is insignificant. Wider track far outweighs a slight increase in unsprung weight.


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Just the guy I wanted an answer from. So Billy get 15 and 25 or 25 and 25? Do I need to re-align the car?
 
Esthetically, 25 mm on the rear with OEM wheels 255/17 look kind of skinny.

I run 15 mm all around with the Stoptech/02+ wheels and because of the camber (about +/- about 2.+) it looks almost like I have no spacers - very much OEM - for the track I use Volk wheels and I remove the spacers. :wink:
 
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Just the guy I wanted an answer from. So Billy get 15 and 25 or 25 and 25? Do I need to re-align the car?

Dave, I'm running spacers with my 02 wheels to clear Brembos. With the 02 wheels you have two choices.

If you get the bolt on spacers you have to go 25mm front and rear because otherwise the studs with the nuts will not fit the indentation of the 02 wheel if you go less than 25mm.

images


If you get the spacers with longer studs and not the bolt on than you can run 15mm for the front and rear. I am running 15mm H&R front and 20mm (STMPO) rear just because I think the 20mm rear fills out the rear better and looks better than the 15mm in the back.

suspension_hr_spacers_lg.jpg



BTW: Zero problems tracking them.

And no you don't have to get an alignment.




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15mm front/ 25mm rear. :) I went with 20mm rear because it tucks the wheel in just a bit more and match the front look wise.


Jim


Oh.... forgot. Option 3 is Dali's integral 16mm. I had these but didn't like them because of having to use the key to tighten them. The key only has two prongs instead of 4 so it's difficult to get them to 80lb/ft without them slipping/popping out, etc.

16mm-integral-stud-spacer.image.jpg
 
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Esthetically, 25 mm on the rear with OEM wheels 255/17 look kind of skinny.

I run 15 mm all around with the Stoptech?02+ wheels and because of the camber (about +/- anpout 2.+) it looks almost like I have no spacers - very much OEM - for the track i use Volk wheels and I remove the spacers. :wink:

Hrant why do you remove the spacers? different offsets on your track wheels? What do you mean 2mm looks skinny? I thought pushing them out makes them look "fatter". No?
 
If you get the bolt on spacers you have to go 25mm front and rear because otherwise the studs with the nuts will not fit the indentation of the 02 wheel if you go less than 25mm.

Jim this sentence really confuses me. Can you word it in... English? LOL...

Studs with the nuts... you mean the factory studs with aftermarket nuts holding the spacer into place? If so what exactly is the problem then? then wheel goes onto that and the lugnuts go onto the wheel.
 
Hrant why do you remove the spacers? different offsets on your track wheels? What do you mean 2mm looks skinny? I thought pushing them out makes them look "fatter". No?


With the 17/8" Volks, I don't need spacers they clear - and with 225/17 R compound on the fronts with any spacer it will be hard to drive and back to rubbing the fender on compression - hence whu I added much needed camber.

I meant 25 mm spacers with OEM wheels makes the tire/wheel look skinny.
 
Sounds like I need to get Ross to make me a set of 15/20.

STMPO's site lists 25 and 30 only. Jim you sure you have 20 STMPO's? this way 15 clears the front better, and 20 sounds just right for looks and clerance rear. Not to mention keeping the rear more planted which is always good with this car.
 
Oh.... forgot. Option 3 is Dali's integral 16mm. I had these but didn't like them because of having to use the key to tighten them. The key only has two prongs instead of 4 so it's difficult to get them to 80lb/ft without them slipping/popping out, etc.

16mm-integral-stud-spacer.image.jpg

Don't get the Dali ones because all my keys are broken now. The spacers are good but keys break so easily.

Nim
 
So H&R makes a 15mm with seperate longer studs, right? Jim where did you get yours from? SOS?

Yeah that Dali key looks bad. I'm also hesitant to buy from Dali.
 
I did 25 rear and 15 front on stock rims. Just got the front done today.
Kicks 25mm bolt on spacer for rear
H&R 15mm spacers (came with studs to replace OE studs on hub) for the front. Lookin sweet!
 
I did 25 rear and 15 front on stock rims. Just got the front done today.
Kicks 25mm bolt on spacer for rear
H&R 15mm spacers (came with studs to replace OE studs on hub) for the front. Lookin sweet!

How hard was it to replace the studs? Why didn't you get H&R all around?
 
If you don't want to add longer studs, then go with Project Kics Integrated studs/spacers. Quality Japanese product. But not sure if they have the correct sizes you need. I have a set of 10mm and 15mm's. No issues for daily driving type use. But honestly, since you track your car quite a bit, maybe it's a good idea to avoid spacers all together and just some wheels like 17/18 Advan RS's or RZ's. Check the stoptech/wheel clearance thread.
 
If you don't want to add longer studs, then go with Project Kics Integrated studs/spacers. Quality Japanese product. But not sure if they have the correct sizes you need. I have a set of 10mm and 15mm's.

Won't work with OEM 02+ wheels.

But honestly, since you track your car quite a bit, maybe it's a good idea to avoid spacers all together.

Utter BS. Have been tracking with spacers, both bolt on and with the longer studs for years. I know for a fact that Porsche 935 (wide-bodies) raced with HUGE spacers.

large83.jpg
 
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Won't work with OEM 02+ wheels.



Utter BS. Have been tracking with spacers, both bolt on and with the longer studs for years. I know for a fact that Porsche 935 (wide-bodies) raced with HUGE spacers.

Yes, I agree and have read the multiple thread from those who have done this without a hitch. But personally, just makes me a bit nervous. Ya know, one of those things you worry about with no merit. One of the reasons I'm kept my advans.... But just make sure if you do go this route, go with quality studs/spacers. I have seen some poor quality studs snapping from regular daily driving.
 
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Yes, I agree and have read the multiple thread from those who have done this without a hitch. But personally, just makes me a bit nervous. Ya know, one of those things you worry about with no merit. One of the reasons I'm kept my advans.... But just make sure if you do go this route, go with quality studs/spacers. I have seen some poor quality studs snapping from regular daily driving.

And I have snapped multiple ARP studs on the track running with hubcentric rings (which everyone said I HAD TO RUN) with my Enkeis - no spacers btw. Took them off and ran with out them and never snapped another stud. Goes to show you, that not everyone knows everything. :)
 
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damn! That sucks!

Tell me about it.... pulling off and finding 2 studs gone on one rear wheel and one on the other. Then swapping them out at the track, back out and two more gone when I came in. We still aren't sure why, but I ran an entire season without the rings and never broke another one.
 
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Dave, I know they make hubcentric 20mm spacers for the rear because i'm using a set right now for my "track" set. There was also a 20mm set recently sold in the classifieds.
http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149261&highlight=spacers

I also know that a 25mm spacer on the 02+ wheels with 255 Star specs work on the track. My good friend just ran this setup at the last Dali SMMR event. (I don't know about camber settings but he was running "normal" camber by my eyeball test). You'll just have to figure out how much more you want the rear to stick out relative to the front.

Can I ask a sort of related question? What coilover set are you running? I was *this* close to buying KW V3s when I realized how heavy they were with the steel shock body and all. I mean, i'm not BJ on the track but I was really looking forward to shedding more weight with a new set of coilovers. So now i'm back to square one with trying to research coilovers all over again.
 
Yes, I agree and have read the multiple thread from those who have done this without a hitch. But personally, just makes me a bit nervous. Ya know, one of those things you worry about with no merit. One of the reasons I'm kept my advans.... But just make sure if you do go this route, go with quality studs/spacers. I have seen some poor quality studs snapping from regular daily driving.

Just wanted to support what the capt. said, and I have said it here before - these type of bolt-on spacers are actually OEM Porsche parts that come on some of the cars from factory - there is nothing wrong with running them - the only "issues" would be user error.

See them here:

http://www.porscheoemparts.com/part...&subcat1=139587&subcat2=139588&subcat3=139594
 
Dave, I know they make hubcentric 20mm spacers for the rear because i'm using a set right now for my "track" set. There was also a 20mm set recently sold in the classifieds.
http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149261&highlight=spacers

I also know that a 25mm spacer on the 02+ wheels with 255 Star specs work on the track. My good friend just ran this setup at the last Dali SMMR event. (I don't know about camber settings but he was running "normal" camber by my eyeball test). You'll just have to figure out how much more you want the rear to stick out relative to the front.

Can I ask a sort of related question? What coilover set are you running? I was *this* close to buying KW V3s when I realized how heavy they were with the steel shock body and all. I mean, i'm not BJ on the track but I was really looking forward to shedding more weight with a new set of coilovers. So now i'm back to square one with trying to research coilovers all over again.
IMO the weight difference between the steel KW V3 and an aluminum coilover is insignificant in terms of performance loss for pretty much everyone. If the weight difference is the main reason for not buying them, your car better not have AC, a stereo, stock seats, or the stock wing and side inlet scoops. Half of the weight of the coilover is unsprung. So if the V3 is 6lbs heavier, only 3lbs is unsprung.

FWIW the FXMD NSX ran larger than 25mm wheel spacers with 330 width slicks pulling around 2Gs. The ROUSH CTSCC Mustang runs wheel spacers with larger studs. Spacers are fine if you don't buy the cheap spacers with integrated studs.

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