GTi Si Posted November 22, 2004 Report Share Posted November 22, 2004 How much can I safely space the wheels out by?I would like the Bathursts nearer the front of the arches.Anyone know where I can get good quality spacers and extended bolts? And how much they would be?CheersS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigz™ Posted November 22, 2004 Report Share Posted November 22, 2004 Speak to Linconshire GTi hes used rear spaces on his GTi.I would say if your lowering the car, only rears should be needed as you'll avoid any clearance problems with the standard fronts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTi Si Posted November 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2004 Cheers style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulbin Posted November 22, 2004 Report Share Posted November 22, 2004 im also thinking about putting spacers on the backs as soon as i get my wheels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanGTI Posted November 22, 2004 Report Share Posted November 22, 2004 Im after doing this too cos they look a bit too far tucked under the arches.....post back on here once u find out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigz™ Posted November 22, 2004 Report Share Posted November 22, 2004 Just so you know guys, there are some "issues" acording to a few members, i dont know whats true and whats not, so I'll leave it for someone else to help out on this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted November 22, 2004 Report Share Posted November 22, 2004 If you change just the back ones, you'll potentially affect the car's handling (theoretically cause more understeer, but you'd really need to try it to be sure).If you change all of them, the handling should remain the same, but the suspension will become slightly softer.Make sure you get hubcentric spacers, unless you want to put large amounts of stress on the bolts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanGTI Posted November 22, 2004 Report Share Posted November 22, 2004 sorry if this is a dumb question but for those that have never bought wheel spacers.....how do you tell if theyre hubcentric? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrat Posted November 22, 2004 Report Share Posted November 22, 2004 they got a little lip wich locates them onto the wheel wich in turn allows the wheel to locate onto the hub, they not just a round flat plate that can move aroundif you use the halfords 'special' plates you wont get the wheel to align onto the hub, and therefore you will have severe vibration wich may cause the wheels bolts to loosen and then snap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTi Si Posted November 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2004 So, it is 'better' just to get wider wheels or a smaller offset?LincolnGTI used 5mm spacers, but he has 17's............S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabo Posted November 23, 2004 Report Share Posted November 23, 2004 What about the unsprung mass increase problem? IS it a problem at all?Have you got any links to places selling 14" `4-stud` spacers for TDis? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdwindustries Posted November 23, 2004 Report Share Posted November 23, 2004 you know VW spaced those wheels there for a reason. they have computers and things which told them the optimum set up - i know it looks dodgy but cant help thinking those wheels are there for a reason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigz™ Posted November 23, 2004 Report Share Posted November 23, 2004 Very, very good point Tim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted November 23, 2004 Report Share Posted November 23, 2004 I'm impressed with your faith in their thoroughness!My Mk3 Ibiza was horribly lairy to drive in the wet, would hang the tail out with the slightest provocation. Everyone (and I mean everyone) who wanted to improve the handling found that by adding 20mm spacers to the rear wheels made a night and day difference.Why? Because they used a Mk3 Golf setup for the front wheels and a Mk4 Polo setup for the rear wheels. And didn't bother to correct for the difference in track width. :roll:Obviously not saying the Lupo is anywhere near as bad as that, but don't assume these guys are 100% thorough all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdwindustries Posted November 23, 2004 Report Share Posted November 23, 2004 well yes, i guess the reality is the Lupo was set up for the best handling in all circumstances including shopping, car parks, round abouts and motorways - not race tracks. So I think it will be the optimum for the cars usage generally - that doesnt mean to say its good at going round bends in the wet, or the dry as I well know.The thought of adding spacers and softening the suspension seems a silly idea though. I am a purist . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted November 23, 2004 Report Share Posted November 23, 2004 You could equally argue VW set it up to be safe, not fun or fast. `Power-on` understeer is very easy to correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdwindustries Posted November 23, 2004 Report Share Posted November 23, 2004 yes i suppose you could. its not that bloody safe though is it. i can get him off at any speed, anywhere, any time. just driving in that red part of the rev counter seems to make it act differently Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted November 23, 2004 Report Share Posted November 23, 2004 It's safe for when granny puts it into a roundabout too fast - the natural thing to do when you panic is to lift off the gas, which is precisely what needs to be done to recover the situation. If it was set up to do `four-wheel` drifts out the box, granny might find herself sliding sideways into the kerb because she didn't put opposite lock on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdwindustries Posted November 23, 2004 Report Share Posted November 23, 2004 well timmy couldnt control him no matter if he took power off or power on. i am still gonna get coilovers, but want optimum set up. might pop to VW Racing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted November 23, 2004 Report Share Posted November 23, 2004 That's cos Timmy went into the corner faster than me with crap tyres. style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":lol:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" />Anyway, you lifted off `half-way` round. If you'd done that in a car set up with less understeer by default, you might have hit the kerb backwards instead of sideways. style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdwindustries Posted November 23, 2004 Report Share Posted November 23, 2004 true true it did do pretty well, and i am glad you blame the tyres - so do i Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted November 23, 2004 Report Share Posted November 23, 2004 I don't remember blaming the tyres. I blamed you for going into the corner too fast, the tyres were merely a contributing factor style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p88bel Posted November 23, 2004 Report Share Posted November 23, 2004 ive steered clear from spacers, i reckon that rear looks as though the wheels are tucked in lots because the sahpe of the standard rear arch, i converted mines and left wheels sitting as normal and it looks much better so spacing em may just make it look a little off. I am changing to porsche rims soon though that are much fatter and using hub adaptors but wont be going for cheap crap ive had probs with a previous car. Id a esocrt with 18s no spacers used and id to change hub bolts and nuts near enuf every second week well the garage that supplied the wheels did it for some bizzare reason they kept cracking then breaking i eventually got sick of it and opted for 17s without any probs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdwindustries Posted November 23, 2004 Report Share Posted November 23, 2004 shortly after this i did some work at the nurburgring so things are much better now, i have the handling perfected Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTi Si Posted November 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2004 Well, I guess someone should get some and see what happens.... style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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