I have a fairly standard e36 Evolution (UK car) running Koni struts with Eibach springs and GT underbody brace. Car runs staggered factory 10 spoke/sunflowers I do a few trackdays per year - never more than 3/4.

Recently I picked up a set of Eibach Pro Wheel spacers to space out the front wheels by 15mm either side. The spacers were originally for a big brake kit that subsequently did not materilize :banghead: and I am left with the spacers.

Is there any benefit in running the spacers? Instinctively I would say not but I'm no expert.

They seem like good quality (aircraft grade alloy etc etc according to Eibach) and they weren't cheap so I don't want them to sit on the shelf if there is any benefit to running them...

edited to say: spacers came with extended wheel nuts if it makes a difference

I am no expert either. My experience has been that spacers on the front will make your steering wheel a bit heavier and the car will tramline more readily. I also believe it wears the suspension parts out quicker, but I can't be sure.

I like to stay under 5mm's

Hope this helps

Bruce

A wider track will stabilize the front of the car. You will also increase scrub radius though. I run 15mm spacers in the front of my M3 and it feels more planted when turning. On the other hand... the wheel tire assembly SHOULD be as close to centered over the wheel bearings as possible or you will decrease the service life of the bearing.

Not worried about bearings that much but it has occurred to me that stabilizing the front of the car sounds like more pronounced understeer - am I correct?

Hate understeer!

A wider track will stabilize the front of the car. You will also increase scrub radius though. I run 15mm spacers in the front of my M3 and it feels more planted when turning. On the other hand... the wheel tire assembly SHOULD be as close to centered over the wheel bearings as possible or you will decrease the service life of the bearing.

Does the same apply for the rear? I just got 20mm spacers for my track wheels(18x9.. ET40) in the rear and i was thinking it could be posssibly problematic for increased wear on suspension components.

Does the same apply for the rear? I just got 20mm spacers for my track wheels(18x9.. ET40) in the rear and i was thinking it could be posssibly problematic for increased wear on suspension components.

Mostly wheel bearings

Not worried about bearings that much but it has occurred to me that stabilizing the front of the car sounds like more pronounced understeer - am I correct?

Hate understeer!

I've been told that it causes the opposite. The wider track leads to less weight transfer which improves front grip. Now how noticeable that is over all the other changes or if the positives outweigh the negatives that it causes I have no idea.

I doubt 15mm will do much at all for feel or for wear. On the racecar we switch those things out without having a second thought to how it will affect the handling-- we use them to put some space for different tires which rub otherwise. I have had 2 Datsun 510s, one widebody with 1.5" spacers and one with a plain body with no spacers and the only difference I feel is that the car will track more on bad roads and that the wheel is a little harder to turn from a low speed. I can't speak for the wear on the bearings as I just bought the widebody car as a project, but the steering feel change is marginal. As for the handling characteristic, I really don't think 15mm will do enough for you to notice anything.

Well then I feel pretty silly. I just sold a set of ssr GT comps 18 X9.5 w/27mm offset. I COULD have used them if I decided to go to 18" wheels on my Dmod. I choose to sell them because I didn't think the would track properly. Also I already have three sets of 17" kosies and didn't want to buy two additional sets of 18's. Woe is me.....

+1 to Walter's comments.

Vorshlag manufactures wheel spacers... I wouldn't really say they add or detract considerably from handling, but 15mm worth per side is sizable. On a road course a wider track can help grip ever so slightly but using wider wheels and tires to achieve the increased track would help performance a whole lot more! :D

Spacers (with proper length wheel studs!) are used primarily as a fix for improper wheel offset or BBK caliper clearance. A means to an end.

Tips: any spacer wider than 5mm should be hubcentric with an extended hub. Use exended wheel studs vs longer wheel bolts to save yourself wheel mounting hassles! Engage at least "1 diameter" worth of threads into the lugnuts (12mm worth). Longer studs never hurt but using ones too short sure can ruin your day.

We make 5mm and 10mm spacers. What other BMW sizes do bf.com users want/need? We are thinking of making 12mm and 15mm, too...

Presonally I can tell the difference between no spacers and 15mm, which = 30mm total track width increase. I am switching wheels and can go back to no spacers if I want to but will keep the 15mm installed. I can feel the difference when the car is at the edge of the traction envelope. We support a NASA TT car which holds the record in class at Infineon and is a few thousands off at Thunderhill. He will not run a wider spacer since it slows his car down. It's all about setup as to how far you can go with spacers.

We make 5mm and 10mm spacers. What other BMW sizes do bf.com users want/need? We are thinking of making 12mm and 15mm, too...

Please do as well as the corresponding studs. I need to run more spacer and and am out of threads on my old 57mm Motorforce kit.

Drive Safely,
Raza

Since you are using factory wheels with the spacers, I would think you would notice slightly more *tramlining* and hunting over ruts and bumps. I am using 10mm spacers with standard wheels, so this is my experience.

The very slight increase in nervousness is due to what used to be called the "King pin inclination" in the UK now being different.

Doubtful that 10mm will decrease bearing life that much, unless your road mileage tend to be high on a car that already has 100+K miles on the original bearings.

Widening the front track only will tend to increase lateral grip of the front tyres, not cause understeer.

m

Please do as well as the corresponding studs. I need to run more spacer and and am out of threads on my old 57mm Motorforce kit.

Drive Safely,
Raza
We already make longer studs (for spacers over 10mm thick): Check out the Vorshlag 80mm stud kit (http://www.vorshlag.com/cart/index.php?cPath=1_4_27) (or the 80/60 combo kit, which is very popular).

http://www.vorshlag.com/cart/images/5-lug_80+60mm_stud_kit_thm.jpg http://www.vorshlag.com/cart/images/5-lug_60mm_stud_kit_thm.jpg http://www.vorshlag.com/cart/images/5-lug_80mm_stud_kit_thm.jpg

Today we have our first batch of brand new 75mm and 92mm studs being plated and should have them in the shopping cart tonight. These two new sizes include a 10mm unthreaded lead-in as well as an Allen socket drive; color is black. Will post them in the "new products" section.

Thanks,

Terry,
You will have a PM soon.

Thanks!

Drive Safely,
Raza