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[katsbimmer]

I thinking about putting 10mm spacers on the front.. I'm running m5 (Reps.) 18x8 with a 38 offset. Will these work?? I just purchased 12mm for the rears 18x9 with 38 offset...the car is not lowered, but i may pick-up some stock sport pkg. springs... (hopefully from someone on this site).. and have them installed just to drop it a bit...

[Next M3]

I have 12mm spacers for my front OEM Comp Package CSL wheels. I've been asking myself if it is safe to run spacers on the front wheels.

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by Next M3

I have 12mm spacers for my front OEM Comp Package CSL wheels. I've been asking myself if it is safe to run spacers on the front wheels.

Spacers look cool but they tend to put more stress on the wheels/suspension components and decrease lifespan.

[katsbimmer]

Originally Posted by matsarge

Spacers look cool but they tend to put more stress on the wheels/suspension components and decrease lifespan.

So don't put them on the front??? I'm only going with 10mm...

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by katsbimmer

So don't put them on the front??? I'm only going with 10mm...

Spacers of any size could cause the issue. It's the price you pay.

[edy74]

i'm running 13mm spacers on front with 18/8 M wheels ...., no problem

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by edy74

i'm running 13mm spacers on front with 18/8 M wheels ...., no problem

It's not something the shows itself immediately. The added wear on parts shows itself over time as you have to replace things like wheels bearings, etc. more often.

[katsbimmer]

Originally Posted by matsarge

Spacers of any size could cause the issue. It's the price you pay.

So whats the difference if i got a wheel with the correct offset vs. using spacers the get the same offset??? The wheel is still offset the same amount....Where is the logic here??? I'm just trying to understand this spacers thing...So i should get the same wear on parts, anyway you do it...correct?? Why would you get more wear by using spacers the wheel would be the same distance out off the hub..

[AK]

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by katsbimmer

So whats the difference if i got a wheel with the correct offset vs. using spacers the get the same offset??? The wheel is still offset the same amount....Where is the logic here??? I'm just trying to understand this spacers thing...So i should get the same wear on parts, anyway you do it...correct?? Why would you get more wear by using spacers the wheel would be the same distance out off the hub..

Think about it, they are not the same thing. When you use a spacer the base of the wheel rides on the spacer, not the rotor (hub) itself putting pressure on it which puts pressure on the rotor. That is what causes the extra strain.

[gIzzE]

I don't get this either, as long as the spacer is the same size as the hub I can't see what extra pressure it puts on anything??

[AK]

Originally Posted by gIzzE

I don't get this either, as long as the spacer is the same size as the hub I can't see what extra pressure it puts on anything??

+1

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by gIzzE

I don't get this either, as long as the spacer is the same size as the hub I can't see what extra pressure it puts on anything??

This is from Sport Compact Car's "Making it Stick Series"....

The easiest way to increase track width is to use wider wheels and tires that fill out the wheel wells. This also increases the amount of rubber on the road. Using wheel spacers and wheels with a more positive offset can also increase track width. Any positive change in track width, and therefore offset, increases the scrub radius (note: this is also known as throwing off the "Ackerman angle"). Scrub radius is the distance from the certerline of the tire's contact patch to the point where the steeing axis intersects the ground, also know to regular readers as "The Dave Point." Increasing the scrub radius allows forces generated by the tire more leverage to act on the steering. To the driver, this translates as torque steer under acceleration and braking.

To minimize the change in scrub radius, it's important to try to increase wheel width to the inside as well as the ouside by paying close attention to the sheel offset. this puts more rubber on the road and increases the track wideth while maintaining the same scrub radius.

Increasing track width also changes the motion ratio of the suspension, which effectivley reduces spring and anti-roll bar rates. Lastly, a very positive offset wheel puts a large strain on wheel bearings, ball joints and steering linkage, making them wear much faster. All of these are good reasons not to go overboard with this method of increasing track width. A good rule of thumb is it's safe to use the largest wheels and tires you can stuff in your stock wheel wells by rolling the inner fender flange.

[gIzzE]

Yeah I get that, but that is not really what was said originally, a wheel that is 8.5 x 19 et35 will have the same effect as a wheel that is 8.5 x 19 et45 with a 10mm spacer.
OK both the above will put more pressure on parts than a wheel that is 8 x 19 et45, but nothing to worry about really.

When you start putting 9.5x18 ET27 on and bringing in the camber to allow it to fit, as alot of guys do with their track only CSL's I can see it putting slightly more strain on it, but adding a 10mm spacer is nothing.

[michaelalex17]

I realize this thread is super old but I have the same question that was never really answered here which is does running spacers cause any additional wear as compared to running wider wheels without spacers.

[Maxmax73]

Originally Posted by michaelalex17

I realize this thread is super old but I have the same question that was never really answered here which is does running spacers cause any additional wear as compared to running wider wheels without spacers.

Simple answer is NO

[michaelalex17]

Originally Posted by Maxmax73

Simple answer is NO

What's the long answer lol. I'm genuinely curious