Spacers on an LCR

[EmDee]

Those of you who have been following my readers rides thread probably saw this one coming. I feel pretty stupid for buying these alloys now - heres the deal:

Basically, they are the right size, bolt pattern and offset, but they wont fit over the brembos. They are designed for the Audi TT and I thought it would have some beefy brakes on it anyway, but it turns out it has hairdresser's brakes (surprise)! According to my fag packet calculations I'm gonna need 15mm spacers on the front if I want to keep them.

If I get some decent quality aluminium hubcentric spacers they will fit, but I have been told that this is a bad idea and it will cause me all sorts of problems.

Has anyone had spacers of this size or can anyone tell me if it will really screw up my loverly LCR? I imagine it will put added stress on the hubs and bearings etc, but I dont know if this is just a popular misconception or not. Maybe it would be fine? I really really like these alloys and they would look sooo nice!

Help meeeeee!

 

[ibizacupra]

what actual offset you got?

 

[EmDee]

what actual offset you got?

They're ET35

 

[EmDee]

*bump*

I really wanna get this sorted this weekend.

Someone must have some good advice?

 

[DamianPM]

A lot of people use spacers and you won't have any problems. The norm for the front of the LCR is usually 10mm but depending on if the car is lowered or not you should be ok with 15mm, it would bring the wheels down to a ET20 but they shouldn't stick out too far.

I'd stick with hubcentric spacers, something like the H&R's...

http://www.dpmperformance.co.uk/hr-15mm-30mm-per-axle-wheel-spacers-bolts-leon-1m-1199-p-528.html

Damian @ DPM

 

[EmDee]

A lot of people use spacers and you won't have any problems. The norm for the front of the LCR is usually 10mm but depending on if the car is lowered or not you should be ok with 15mm, it would bring the wheels down to a ET20 but they shouldn't stick out too far.

I'd stick with hubcentric spacers, something like the H&R's...

http://www.dpmperformance.co.uk/hr-15mm-30mm-per-axle-wheel-spacers-bolts-leon-1m-1199-p-528.html

Damian @ DPM

Cheers mate, very helpful. The car is lowered by roughly 30mm (maybe less). Will this make it a no go?

I wish there was somewhere local I could go that keeps this stuff in stock and can actually give proper, reliable advice! Everywhere I've rang has just said "we dont do spacers - if your wheels dont fit you need new ones"

 

[DamianPM]

You should be ok, we have had a customer who's done 15mm's on the front before but it's hard to say without seeing how much clearance you actually have.

Damian @ DPM

 

[EmDee]

Okay, so your main concern is about clearance then?

My main question was whether it is a good idea to use spacers, I'm worried about replacing bearings and putting too much strain on the hubs. Is this concern unfounded or should I sell my new wheels and get some that fit?

 

[DamianPM]

We sell loads of spacers and nobody ever has any problems, i personally run 20mm front and 25mm rear spacers on my car.

Damian @ DPM

 

[EmDee]

Thanks for your help Damian, I really appreciate it.

If anyone was about to say "dont do it" then please hold back as I've made up my mind!

I'm off to pick up some spacers and get these bad boys fitted!