Why do you run spacers?

[BustaMOVEs]

Just curious and wanting to get people's views on this, I've never been a fan of this myself but I'm contemplating it as I have some light wheels (5.9 kg) that I'm tempted to put on but the inner spoke fouls the caliper a bit, so probably 10mm spacer would do it.
the wheels I have are 15"/6.5j et45 so IMO are perfect apart from the inner spoke fouling caliper. I really don't want to sell these wheels but I'm really contemplating ATM so need a solution that I can agree/understand.

Also what the standard offset on the 172s and max offset I can safely run if I go spacer route

Anyway enough rambling

But the main question is the title of the thread, I see a 'lot' on here run spacers hub centric ones seem the fav.
now is it because your wheels rub? Or don't clear etc? Or is it for the wider look?
now just for looks I can't understand as doesn't that strain your bearings? And a lot of clios on here are used on trackdays, doesn't that worry you?

Your views and reasons please?

 

[Tony Hunter]

I race with 25mm on the front and 15mm on the back. Bearings are fine.

 

[BustaMOVEs]

But why do you run them in the first place? Did you have issues prior? And why run more at front than rear?
I need to understand the reasons and the dynamics around this for me to be convinced

 

[Keith185]

Usually,

Race cars, increase the front track width and clearances for tyres/brakes.

Road Cars, looks.

 

[Knuckles]

I'm getting some eventually... Because mk3s look immense wide and low

 

[Joe#]

But why do you run them in the first place? Did you have issues prior? And why run more at front than rear?
I need to understand the reasons and the dynamics around this for me to be convinced

Always best for the front wheels to be further than the rears as it will reduce the understeer iirc.

 

[BustaMOVEs]

Thanks guys, it's kind of helped.

But I will need them all round me thinks to clear calipers, would 10 at rear and 15 at front be ok (hub centric) or 15 rear and 20 front?

What would you suggest? Would I have any problems with scraping/rubbing with the wheel specs mentioned above, running 195/50 tyres

 

[BustaMOVEs]

I race with 25mm on the front and 15mm on the back. Bearings are fine.

Is that on a cup or 172 and what offset wheels are you using?

 

[MartinR]

16mm up front to clear brembo calipers.

 

[JP83]

Road Cars, looks.

Partially that, and also so my wheels fit.

 

[Tony Hunter]

Is that on a cup or 172 and what offset wheels are you using?

172 standard oz f1's 43 I think.

 

[BustaMOVEs]

172 standard oz f1's 43 I think.

Ah cool, similar then as mine is et45, so may go down the same route. Your not excessively low are you? Any rubbing etc?

Am I right in thinking the longer stud version hub spacers are best to get? Rerther than them ones you have to bolt to hub first then bolt wheel with standard studs?

 

[aucky]

Your not excessively low are you? Any rubbing etc?

It's a race car!

 

[Tony Hunter]

Am I right in thinking the longer stud version hub spacers are best to get? Rerther than them ones you have to bolt to hub first then bolt wheel with standard studs?

No, totally wrong.

 

[BustaMOVEs]

No, totally wrong.

So the latter is better? (solid/reliable)

 

[Knuckles]

Bolt to hub > long bolts

 

[...]

Bolt to hub > long bolts

bolt to hub standard bolts, as the bolts to the hub are separate bolts and loctited in , you then just have a regular setup as for as wheel fitment goes

 

[Kelv]

I'm getting some eventually... Because mk3s look immense wide and low

I agree, and just joined the R27 brigade aswell.

im going for 8" wide wheels with an et55 offset and stepping up to a 225/45 Tyre.
the outer lip of the wheel will move out aprox 20mm with no need for spacers.
i can then convert over to a stud and bit kit aswell

 

[MG cup]

Rule of thumb, anything over a 15-20mm spacer you want the bolt to hub type, under and then you just use straight through hubcentric, lower again (circa 1-6mm on a Clio) you can just use the flat type as the hub spigot will still support the wheel.

Asking others what they have isn't a solution, get a tape and look at what will suite your ride height, wheels and tyres. Its tthe only way and you will have to cut away the bumper bracket on ph2's if your going low or tracking it with softer suspension.

 

[Knuckles]

I agree, and just joined the R27 brigade aswell.

im going for 8" wide wheels with an et55 offset and stepping up to a 225/45 Tyre.
the outer lip of the wheel will move out aprox 20mm with no need for spacers.
i can then convert over to a stud and bit kit aswell

wow. Am I right in thinking that is wider than the cup racer Speedlines?

 

[Kelv]

iirc, the R27 wheels are 7.5" with an et68
the cup speedlines are 8"

the OZ Ultraleggera's are 8" et55.

ive got the AST's on order but ive been given an 8 week lead time

 

[Knuckles]

Got a pic of them? Can't say I've seen them on mk3s. Not a fan of ultras myself.

I really want Speedlines or turinis, iirc the turinis don't require spacers

 

[Kelv]

only pic so far is from the AST web page.

 

[BustaMOVEs]

Rule of thumb, anything over a 15-20mm spacer you want the bolt to hub type, under and then you just use straight through hubcentric, lower again (circa 1-6mm on a Clio) you can just use the flat type as the hub spigot will still support the wheel.

Asking others what they have isn't a solution, get a tape and look at what will suite your ride height, wheels and tyres. Its tthe only way and you will have to cut away the bumper bracket on ph2's if your going low or tracking it with softer suspension.

Thanks for info, my reasons are only to clear the caliper so the straight throught long bolt hub spacers will be ok for me? Only probably need 10-20 all round. Seen some 16mm that I may buy. But thinking I may get larger fronts to avoid too much under steer as mentioned above

 

[MG cup]

Thanks for info, my reasons are only to clear the caliper so the straight throught long bolt hub spacers will be ok for me? Only probably need 10-20 all round. Seen some 16mm that I may buy. But thinking I may get larger fronts to avoid too much under steer as mentioned above

If its ph2 172 then anything 16-25mm front and 16-20mm rear will be fine with your wheels as long as the sills aren't scraping the ground. I say 16mm as that's the smallest hub centric spacers you can fit on a Clio 1*2, anything smaller hub centric wise then you have to grind down the hubs a little.

Same applies with bolts, whatever size spacer you get I.e 15mm then get 15mm longer bolts.

 

[BustaMOVEs]

Swede, how long are the stock bolts btw?

 

[BustaMOVEs]

Is it 26mm?

 

[BustaMOVEs]

Well I've trail fitted my et45 wheels with 16mm spacer on rear which makes my offset at et29, is this offset too much? The wheel sits just right, took it round the block and turned hard as I could with no scraping so hopefully should be fine.
I have a good clearance from my caliper too which was the main reason for them, just deciding what to get for fronts and only bought 1 pair to test first. May just get another set of 16mm as don't want it sticking my wheels out too far.

 

[MG cup]

Now you have one set of spacers, test them on the front and see how much/less you can get away with.

 

[BustaMOVEs]

Yes I was thinking that but didn't have much time before tea, my problem is that's I'd like to go for a lower mm but I'd want the hub centric ones and 16mm is the smallest I can find, don't want to use the flat type tbh but I'll try them on front on weekend and see.
Are the fronts on 172 the same track as rears?

 

[Coops Mk1]

I use 15mm fronts on a 182 cup pack and ET37 15" 7J wheels on 195/50 profile tyres with cooksport lowering springs and they rub slightly on the arches over big humps at speed. so you wouldn't want anything that wide for track imo, if I ran the 182 on track i'd take the spacer off and just use the 37 ET advantage over the standard 182 cup 43 to get the extra bit of track width

as for ill effects etc, I have run 25mm bolt on spacers on my mk 1 300bhp track car for years and I have £7 front wheel bearing on there that have done countless track days on this setup, with full slicks as well, no issues at all

 

[BustaMOVEs]

I use 15mm fronts on a 182 cup pack and ET37 15" 7J wheels on 195/50 profile tyres with cooksport lowering springs and they rub slightly on the arches over big humps at speed. so you wouldn't want anything that wide for track imo, if I ran the 182 on track i'd take the spacer off and just use the 37 ET advantage over the standard 182 cup 43 to get the extra bit of track width

as for ill effects etc, I have run 25mm bolt on spacers on my mk 1 300bhp track car for years and I have £7 front wheel bearing on there that have done countless track days on this setup, with full slicks as well, no issues at all

So just to confirm, you are using 15mm on a et37 wheel which makes it et22? Is that correct?

I'm also on cooksports springs

 

[MG cup]

For ref Busta I have 16" et40 wheels with 10mm spacers so effectively et30 with sportline springs. I use it hard on track with no issues, it rubs the 'bulbous' piece of the arch liner away that covers the bumper bracket but after that's worn away it is perfect.

^^^Bad points for big spacers on track is it throws your scrub radius (it encourages understeer) to f**k but most don't care or couldn't tell. Also big spacers on the rear bearings will have an affect on rear bearings life when used with low offset wheels.

 

[BustaMOVEs]

For ref Busta I have 16" et40 wheels with 10mm spacers so effectively et30 with sportline springs. I use it hard on track with no issues, it rubs the 'bulbous' piece of the arch liner away that covers the bumper bracket but after that's worn away it is perfect.

^^^Bad points for big spacers on track is it throws your scrub radius (it encourages understeer) to f**k but most don't care or couldn't tell. Also big spacers on the rear bearings will have an affect on rear bearings life when used with low offset wheels.

Ah cool, so I take it that's with 205/195 45 tyres? 7" rim? So only 1mm difference then assuming its same width as 172 non cup.

My wheels are 6.5j and 195 tyres so hopefully should help a notch.

 

[MG cup]

Yes they are 205/45/16 federel rsr's which aren't a small tyre either and are on 7j wheels.

 

[BustaMOVEs]

Cheers SC I'll try on fronts on weekend and see what their like.
Mucho gratis.

 

[MG cup]

Just what you need Busta

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?717786-16mm-Spacers-amp-Long-bolts

 

[BustaMOVEs]

Thanks SC, just seen this, can get them for same price brand new http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360730246...eName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

 

[Chip-mk1]

Ive got 30mm spacers on my Ph1, to clear the brakes is the main reason.

I think it handles worse on them, but other than going to smaller brakes or bigger wheels im limited on alternatives!


Does look good though.

Here is my brake clearance:

 

[BustaMOVEs]

30mm is big IMO, get some proper pads with stock calipers (CL rc6/rc5+)