Anybody here ever used spring spacers to avoid rubbing?

[Dotpage]

I am running 18x9.5 in the bac with 255/35/18 offset 33, after rolling fenders and shaving some rear bumper, rhe car still rubs, nothing very bad, just in deep road deppressions and tall parking lot entrances.

A local tire shop recomended spring spacers, they look like inverterd u-bolts or braces, they go between the spring turns.

Anybody has experience with this?

Pic (not mine)

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/2/4110/541/22772770013_large.jpg

[Dotpage]

They got installed, painted black, so now it is practically invisible, and the rubbing stopped altogether, also car seems to be riding and cornering better... Don't know if that is the best solution, but solved my problem. Will keep thread updated if anything changes

[C Withers Media]

I've done it, but I wouldnt recommend it. Do as I say, not as I do type stuff.

[danewilson77]

I would'nt use those as a permanent solution...

Droid! Srs Legitness!

[C Withers Media]

Exactly...Temp solution until problem can be solved for the long term. FWIW mine were even more archaeic than that, but my springs were a lot more compressed on the E36 I did it to.

[Dotpage]

DW, I am in touch with the wheel manufacturer to ask for directions, I may be able to machine a few mm off... but the solution is actually working fine, the car is very little stiffer, barely noticeable, and it corners better...

I shouldn't be so attached to looks, but I am... 18x9.5 offset @ 33 w/ 255/35/18 shouldn't be that much of an issue in our cars...

[danewilson77]

I would not machine my wheels. Only as a last resort. I would use spacers...to clear coils and/or roll/pull fenders. That's the right solution.

Droid! Srs Legitness!

[Dotpage]

fenders have been rolled already, I thought about the spacer, but wouldn't that lift the car?

[danewilson77]

No......spacers.....actually go between your hub and wheel, to kick the wheel out....to clear coilovers, springs, etc...

You don't have this issue....so that was shitty advice.

Prolly ok to cut wheel, as long as manufacturer says go for it.

[jvr826]

A spacer is not going to help in this situation because (I'll bet) your wheel is sticking out too far already. It rubs on the outside, but up inside the fender well, right?

The cause is a combination of a 9.5" wide wheel and a +33mm offset. Adding a spacer will reduce that +33 further. You need a higher offset wheel, in the range of +45 or so and that is something you cannot accomplish with a spacer.

[Crickett]

I've used a kit that looks exactly like the pic you posted but backwards: I used them as spring clamps to lower my old car ~0.75" until I got adjustable perches. As others have said, everyone cautioned me against using them permanently, so I'll say the same thing. They may be working swimmingly for now, but you don't want any sudden failures of any kind.

[Dotpage]

adjustable perches?

[Crickett]

Aftermarket struts with adjustable spring perches (screw up or down with a set screw) for my old '92 Sentra.

[Dotpage]

gotcha

[mimalmo]

If you go down to a 235 or 245 series tire it would probably fix your problem.

[Dotpage]

If you go down to a 235 or 245 series tire it would probably fix your problem.

wouldn't that be a small tire for a 9.5"?

[mimalmo]

235mm is about 9.25 inches.

[Dotpage]

9.5 inches = 241.3 millimeters, so 245 should be the right fit w/o stretching, right?

what are your tire/wheel sizes? It seems we have the same ones...

[Dotpage]

just a thought, wouldn't 10mm less in the tire width be the same as adding 10mm in the offset? Like from 33 to 43?

[mimalmo]

My old setup is in my signature pic. It was 19x9.5 rears ET45 with 255/30/19 Dunlop SP Sport Maxx

Car is lowered on KW V2 coilovers with tires tucking slightly at all 4 corners.

[Crickett]

just a thought, wouldn't 10mm less in the tire width be the same as adding 10mm in the offset? Like from 33 to 43?
No, I think it'd only be half the change, i.e. 5 mm.

Edit: Also, it'd only be effectively the same as adding 5 mm to the offset if you're considering clearance on the inside of the wheel; it'd be similar to subtracting 5 mm from the offset as far as outside clearance is concerned.