[sunshinewelly]

I am looking at getting a set of bilstein 12 pro springs and dampers. Now some spring threads mention fitting "spacers" - what are they and what do they do and are they a requirement when altering the suspension.

if so where do i get them from and what ones do people use

 

[grantldn]

Form what I know people tend to go for H&R. I get mine from a wheel company in Essex called DGT I have had 3 sets and never had an issue and they are £45.00 a pair roughly.

Spacers are used to fill the arch and bring the wheel out further or can be used to clear the suspenion strut.

I'm sure someone can give a more technical answer for you though.

 

[Jibbotson]

I feel a crude Microsoft paint drawing is needed.

Edit:

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also the post below has a good link.

 

[JamesHS]

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...g-You-Ever-Wanted-To-Know-About-Wheel-Spacers

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Have a read if that

 

[sunshinewelly]

read it - so basically no use whatsoever.

 

[Mike Roberts]

I would dispute the 'Handling' section of that. You're messing with the geo. Wider track doesn't instantly make it better, it makes it different, which could in fact be worse.

They're for aesthetics and correction/clearance.

 

[sunshinewelly]

so they are not a necessary purchase if adding springs/dampers

 

[Mike Roberts]

Nope, there's no technical reason to add them, it's only aesthetics in this scenario. You want to keep the geo as close to stock as possible ideally. So don't drop it too far or mess with the track.

 

[br0wny]

I've found in the past a wider track makes the rear more surefooted for sure. More noticeable on FWD hot hatches from experience.

Less lean and roll or whatever you wanna call it too I'm guessing from essentially lowering the cog.

There will be a scientific explanation to say I'm wrong but I'm just going on personal experience. So fcuk the science

 

[R88]

Watch this:

And this (although it's about BRZ the theory is still relevant):

 

[Mike Roberts]

I've never wanted to add more rear grip to a FWD car!!!

 

[marco_polo]

Less lean and roll or whatever you wanna call it too I'm guessing from essentially lowering the cog.

There will be a scientific explanation to say I'm wrong but I'm just going on personal experience. So fcuk the science

How do spacers alter the CoG? :?

Adding spacers makes a car roll more, not less! You can get a tiny bit more grip, at the expense of messing up your scrub radius.

-------------------------------------

Watch this:

Those videos are very good.

-------------------------------------

OP, spacers don't do anything particularly positive. The only time I'd consider them is on the rear, to help correct a touch of oversteer. To fill those arches better, get yourself some wider wheels with a similar offset to stock. The standard wheels are crap anyway!

 

[br0wny]

Because the wider width brings the cog lower surely?

Will require more force for something wider to topple.

 

[grantldn]

To fill those arches better, get yourself some wider wheels with a similar offset to stock. The standard wheels are crap anyway!

Please explain. I went from 7.5J 17" et38 wheels to 10J 19" et45. So just because I have wider wheels does not mean I will not need spacers. It's to do with your offsets? Width will by all means fit the arch but spacing depends on the et right?

 

[marco_polo]

Because the wider width brings the cog lower surely?

Will require more force for something wider to topple.

CoG is a position (height/width/length), it's not altered by wheel spacers (assuming you add equal thickness spacers to both sides).

These cars will always slide before they topple, that's not an issue unless you're talking tall skinny vehicles like double decker buses or Bedford Rascals!

 

[marco_polo]

To fill those arches better, get yourself some wider wheels with a similar offset to stock. The standard wheels are crap anyway!

Please explain. I went from 7.5J 17" et38 wheels to 10J 19" et45. So just because I have wider wheels does not mean I will not need spacers. It's to do with your offsets? Width will by all means fit the arch but spacing depends on the et right?

Wheel spacing is indeed measured in ET / offset, millimeters from centreline.

If you fit a wheel which is 2" wider that stock with the same ET (for example), it will fill the arch an extra inch with zero impact on scrub radius.

You could have fitted a 25mm spacer instead (to get the same arch fill) but it wouldn't handle as nicely.

 

[br0wny]

Because the wider width brings the cog lower surely?

Will require more force for something wider to topple.

CoG is a position (height/width/length), it's not altered by wheel spacers (assuming you add equal thickness spacers to both sides).

These cars will always slide before they topple, that's not an issue unless you're talking tall skinny vehicles like double decker buses or Bedford Rascals!

well im only going on how my cars have felt in the past and surely there is some truth in what im saying and surely you understand what im trying to say haha

 

[marco_polo]

Not really, sorry!

I'd recommend you fit a nice set of BBS CH-R's, near-perfect stance and fitment.

 

[Red5]

I found the spacers on my 130i a mixed bag.

I did want to make it look as good as possible, but didn't realise they had a downside!

Essentially, you're giving the wheel to anlonger lever, by which the contact patch can exert forces on the geo components. This could be felt under maximum loads like braking.

The car was less stable when braking really hard, causing me to realise the above.
I loved the looks, but did end up removing them for performance sake.

 

[Paul CS]

Long story short... Don't fit spacers other than for vanity. I'm working with some very well respected motor sport suspension guys and that's what they say. Messing with the characteristics of the tyre contact patch is the difference between having an accident or not. It's a precisely understood science albeit one that very few people understand. BTW, I'm not the expert so please don't shoot this humble messenger.

Paul