joey_turbo

iTrader: (26)

Could Bugeye WRX rims clear Brembos if spacers were fittted?
If so, where can you get them, and (can of worms opened) are they safe?

joey_turbo

iTrader: (26)

No one used them?

NUTTYNICK

I have used spacers on my MY95 classic which uses the standard wrx wheels(different to bugeye wheels though). I had to clear the brembo calipers which are mahoosive.

Initially I used longer wheel studs to accomodate the spacer and a 'universal' type 10mm spacer. Wheel shudder through the steering wheel was awful to say the least. I managed to reduce it by a lot of faffing around trying to centre the spacer on the hub. The main problem was that the wheel no longer 'sat' on the hub spigot ring.

I quickly bit the bullet, and purchases some hubcentric spacers. These re-introduce the spigot ring to the wheel and provide a much greater precision when it comes to the centering of the spacer. The quality was also in a different leage as they are machined and not pressed.

Result, wheel wobble totally reduced and clearance of calipers using standard wheels.

My wheels have an offset of 50mm. I have noticed no difference in handling at all, and tyre wear appears to be as it was without. I've completed approximately 1500miles so far with this set up with no visible problems.

Any spacer over 5mm needs to be of the hubcentric type really. Do a google search, there are a few companies that sell them and some websites have some good info regarding the fitting of spacers.

172sport

iTrader: (6)

With the amount of buggering about you may as well buy sti rims. I got some for £150 in mint condition.

joey_turbo

iTrader: (26)

Cheers NIck, some interesting info there.
So is the offset, from what I mean to be the offset, say ET47 a measurement in mm's? So an ET47 would obviously be a 47mm offset.
The rims I have are 17's and so are the STI rims that clear Brembo's, so I might not even have 10mm to go.

172sport, if its a simple as two hubcentric spacers on the front wheels, its no buggering about. I've just had my wheels refurbed, so don't want to get anymore.

NUTTYNICK

Unfortunately, it's not just down to the offset, and yes ET47 is 47mm. The main problem is down to the spoke design, some wheels fit and some don't even with the same offset.

STi rims for £150 sound great, I would have saved myself £90 before even considering the cost of removing and fitting tyres.

Fitting the new studs (longer due to thicker spacer) took about an hour start to finish. I used an old wheel stud and knocked the original studs out, then pulled them through using a half inch socket and another old wheel nut, simple.

joey_turbo

iTrader: (26)

Oh yeah, I didn't think about longer wheels studs.
How much were they?

NUTTYNICK

I bought off ebay from here.

NUTTYNICK

I loosely fitted all the components together, then fitted the rims and used open jaw spanners of all things to act as spacers. When I could see a clear gap between the inside of the spokes and the caliper, I measured the thickness of the spanner, it came to about 8mm which meant a 10mm spacer would be fine for my purposes.

I guess the only way to see how big a spacer you'd need would be to try them out. Remember though, easily available spacers may only come in certain thicknesses. I'm sure others are available, but it's all down to cost at the end of the day.

touyahk

May I have a quick ask that if I use spacers to the front should I also do the same to the rear to make both front and rear at the same width?