Strange spacer question

[pdh 14a]

Ok,i've just fitted some new wider alloys to my Altea! and fitted 5mm spacers to the rear to bring them out to match the front! But when i looked at it,the passenger rear looked out more than the drivers side! so i got the spirit level and tape measure out,and the passenger side sat 7mm proud of the arch and drivers side 2mm!
So i've now removed the spacer from the passenger side and the both wheels are only 2mm proud of the arch!

So my question is,can i run with one 5mm spacer and have the wheels level,or is it safer/better/more legal to run with none,and have odd finishing wheels
p.s i have checked everything for tightness/alignment etc!
So any ideas
Thanks.Paul

 

[oldtimer]

I know this may sound daft, but have you checked the alloys?

 

[pdh 14a]

I know this may sound daft, but have you checked the alloys?

Yep.all 45et!
I think the problem may be the way the car was aligned! heard of a few people having problems with VAG stuff being out in this way
Doing more investigating!

 

[Backdraft]

Could be the camber if the subframe has been shifted.

 

[Toxic]

more likely to be the alignment out somewhat.

btw what size alloys and spacers did you get?

 

[pdh 14a]

more likely to be the alignment out somewhat.

btw what size alloys and spacers did you get?

They are 18 by 8 and 45et,and i chucked 5mm slip on spacers on the rear. but have removed them as the wheels stuck out too far
Sticking out 2mm from the arch now on one side and in about 2mm on the other without any spacers!
I'll pop some pics up tomorrow mate!

 

[Toxic]

2mm outside of the arch? mine are inside the arch by a fair bit. haven't measured it up but will do soon

 

[oldtimer]

Are you sure 45et is the correct offset? Possible it should be 35 to 42 max for Altea.

 

[Slimy]

Do you still have the original wheels? What do they look like in relation to the wings? If they're out then its the suspension setup, if they're ok then its your wheels.

The other option that it might be is a badly fitted brake disc. Having something stuck under the brake disc and it not fitting flush to the hub might cause the wheel to be sticking out further than it should. And its surprisingly easy to do without noticing it, as everything goes back together perfectly ok, even the caliper simply 'compensates' for the misaligned disc.

As for them sticking out, I don't know whether thats an MOT failure?

 

[pdh 14a]

Are you sure 45et is the correct offset? Possible it should be 35 to 42 max for Altea.

I think they are 58 standard.very weak!

 

[pdh 14a]

Do you still have the original wheels? What do they look like in relation to the wings? If they're out then its the suspension setup, if they're ok then its your wheels.

The other option that it might be is a badly fitted brake disc. Having something stuck under the brake disc and it not fitting flush to the hub might cause the wheel to be sticking out further than it should. And its surprisingly easy to do without noticing it, as everything goes back together perfectly ok, even the caliper simply 'compensates' for the misaligned disc.

As for them sticking out, I don't know whether thats an MOT failure?

I'll check all the above! they are coming back off in a few weeks for winter,i'll have a better strip down etc then!

 

[pdh 14a]

2mm outside of the arch? mine are inside the arch by a fair bit. haven't measured it up but will do soon

These are the sides with the spacers still on! which are now removed!

I'll put the nice pics of the new wheels up in my other thread too!
Thanks for all the help and suggestions guys,i will get to the bottom of this and post my results!

 

[oldtimer]

I'm talking about 18''. Liven up!!



A wheels offset is the distance from the centre of the wheel to the face of the bolting plate.



Effectively the offset is also the distance from the centreline of the wheel to the hub face.

Therefore :

If you put a wheel on the same hub with a bigger offset, the wheel will sit further inside the wheel arch because the wheels bolting face will have to move further in to meet the hub.

Alternatively if it has a smaller offset it will sit further out from the wheel arch.

For sports purposes grip would be improved by increasing the width of the wheel(and tyre) and using a smaller offset to allow for the extra width on the wheel in the wheel arch.

More information on wheels

Vehicle wheels are usually described with a designation of something like '13-5.5J' and this is decoded as follows.

The 13 is the diameter of the wheel in inches from edge to edge, measured inside the flange with sizes ranging from 10 inch on the original mini's to 23 inch on 4x4 vehicles.

The second number is the width of the rim, again measured in inches between the flanges. The original mini used 4.5 wheels and sizes range all the way up to 12 as used on some supercars.

The letter, in this case J refers to the shape of the rim. Rim contours are standardized by the Tire and Rim Association, so that tires will fit.

Another important thing is the wheel offset, which is the distance between the middle line of the centre of the wheel width and the mounting surface of where the wheel bolts to the hub on the vehicle. The offset is described by the term ET, which is from the German word 'Einpresstiefe' translated as 'insertion depth'. Most wheels have a positive offset which means the mounting surface is further outboard than the wheels centre. If you reduce the amount of positive ET on the wheel the the vehicles track is widened and vice versa if the ET number is reduced. Straying too far from the original offset can be detremental as fouling to the suspension and bodywork can occur as well as eccess strain on wheel bolts or studs

 

[pdh 14a]

Good info but I just don't remember the offset of the wheels! I know what offset is!

 

[pdh 14a]

Are you sure 45et is the correct offset? Possible it should be 35 to 42 max for Altea.

Just checked and they are et 35 all round! No wonder they are so far out in the arches!
No rubbing though

 

[oldtimer]

I don't want to appear a gloom merchant, but I think you'll find it is illegal to have wheels/tyres protruding beyond the body. Also assuming the spacers were both 5mm and the wheels identical, how come one stuck out further than the other?

One last thing, the track is supposed to be wider at the front than the rear, making them the same could adversely affect the handling.

 

[chrisash32]

thats quite wide!!!
Crazy with them spacers! lol

 

[pdh 14a]

I don't want to appear a gloom merchant, but I think you'll find it is illegal to have wheels/tyres protruding beyond the body. Also assuming the spacers were both 5mm and the wheels identical, how come one stuck out further than the other?

One last thing, the track is supposed to be wider at the front than the rear, making them the same could adversely affect the handling.

What you've asked in the first paragraph is pretty much what i asked origionally!
But yes it is a concern that will be dealt with in time!
Rears are spacerless now,and just about flush with the arches,one 2mm in and one 2mm out
But it will be sorted! standard wheels are going back on in a month for the winter!

 

[pdh 14a]

thats quite wide!!!
Crazy with them spacers! lol

Yep,thinking of getting a gravedigger bodyvinyl made up

 

[googies]

Are you not allowed up to 5mm over the arches for MOT legality? Im led to believe you are.