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What is the normal gap between your front wheel and edge of fender?
I'm running 8.5 +33 front Volk rims. The top of the wheels sit in 1 inch from the edge of the fender, it goes flusher as you move down due to camber and it doesn't stick out much at all at the bottom of the rocker. Is this pretty much the standard gap? I'm lowered on S Techs as well
Last edited by shorez11759; Mar 30, 2016 at 07:36 AM.
Thats the same size as a stock anniversary rear wheel... Car comes with some sunken in wheels. Sucks if you got volks and not even the right size... Hope they were used... Lots run a 20mm front 25mm rear spacer to flush it up.
What size tires are you using? 20mm 25mm 30mm the safest spacer is no spacer but lots of people use them without any problems... Theirs an entire sticky thread thar will tell you everything you will ever want to know about spacers...
Just make sure and get hub centric spacers for the Z 5/114 lug pattern. Don't get a generic wheel spacer because it may move around on the lugs and cause a vibration.
I don't know if your Volks have holes in the back of the wheels to allow for mounting spacers but you may want to check that also. I know anything bigger than 10mm spacers have to have new wheel lugs mounted in the spacer and you have to have room for the stock lugs and lug nuts to go into the back of the wheel unless your spacer is 25mm or larger. Than the stock lug nuts shouldn't stick out past the spacer, so no holes are necessary in the back of the wheel.
Is anyone running 10 mm spacers without new lugs pressed into the spacer? I have 5mm spacers on my car now, but would like just a tad more in the back to flush it. 10mm would be perfect if i have enough threads on my lugs to tighten the wheel down safely.
What size tires are you using? 20mm 25mm 30mm the safest spacer is no spacer but lots of people use them without any problems... Theirs an entire sticky thread thar will tell you everything you will ever want to know about spacers...
I'm using 245/33/19 F and 275/35/19 R
I've been reading up on spacers...they sounds like trouble. The other options are leaving it be, or getting 2 10.5's +22 for the rear and putting the 9.5s +22s on the front. I worried about rolling fenders, didn't want to do that.
Last edited by shorez11759; Mar 30, 2016 at 01:37 PM.
I've been running 25 mm spacers front and rear for about 8 years and never had a problem. The wheels fit pretty flush. I've had three or four sets of wheels during that time and the spacers worked perfectly with each of them.
Much ado about nothing, IMO. I think your car looks fine, OP. BUT.... I get personal preferences so if you're hellbent on "flushing your wheels", go with a set of 15mm spacers F&R making effective offset +18 Front and whatever your rears less 15mm. (Heck, even 10mm would be fine, IMO.)
But constantly check your fender clearance.
Disclaimer: I have always said "I hate spacers and will never use them." But apparently I lied as I have at least 4 spare sets of spacers in my tool chest for varying uses, the largest of which is a 20mm so that I can use 370Z S-Tune wheels on my Z33s (19x9 Front wheels with Honda-like offset of 47).
I ran a set of 15mm on the rear of my Nismo as well to run 19x10.5 +29s down at +14...
And my project car ('88 300ZX) runs 20mm all around on my Track wheels making them effective +10 and +13.
Point is, after a lifetime of loathing the thought of using spacers, well, I still would RATHER not; but to make my wheels work, sometimes ones gotta do what ones gotta do. I have not had any issues in the last 3 years since I bought my first set. I originally checked their torque every couple of months but now, every time I change my wheels around (obsessively on a monthly basis or so) I have to re-do the spacers anyhow.
Much ado about nothing, IMO. I think your car looks fine, OP. BUT.... I get personal preferences so if you're hellbent on "flushing your wheels", go with a set of 15mm spacers F&R making effective offset +18 Front and whatever your rears less 15mm. (Heck, even 10mm would be fine, IMO.)
But constantly check your fender clearance.
Disclaimer: I have always said "I hate spacers and will never use them." But apparently I lied as I have at least 4 spare sets of spacers in my tool chest for varying uses, the largest of which is a 20mm so that I can use 370Z S-Tune wheels on my Z33s (19x9 Front wheels with Honda-like offset of 47).
I ran a set of 15mm on the rear of my Nismo as well to run 19x10.5 +29s down at +14...
And my project car ('88 300ZX) runs 20mm all around on my Track wheels making them effective +10 and +13.
Point is, after a lifetime of loathing the thought of using spacers, well, I still would RATHER not; but to make my wheels work, sometimes ones gotta do what ones gotta do. I have not had any issues in the last 3 years since I bought my first set. I originally checked their torque every couple of months but now, every time I change my wheels around (obsessively on a monthly basis or so) I have to re-do the spacers anyhow.
Ok I think I finally understand offsets (I'm slow on the uptake..). Diameter doesn't matter, but rims with same offsets and width will "flush" the same. I went from 18x8.5 +30, 18x9.5 +25 Nismo LMGT4s to 19 x 8.5 +33 and 19x9.5+22. So now it's 3mm more recessed up front, and 3mm pushed out in back.
The backs look great to me, not sure I want to risk pushing out another half inch. If I added a 10mm spacer, it would be effectively +23 in the front and push them back out. I guess it's up to me if its worth the labor or longer studs to get back at least my 3mm tuck from my last setup and push it out more. I don't need it flush, just don't want it looking too recessed.
The opinions on spacers seem all over the board and even the users seem a bit wary!
Functionally speaking, the car is the same as it was with the Nismos (although the rim and tires combined are lighter on my ZE40 setup)
Last edited by shorez11759; Mar 30, 2016 at 04:10 PM.
Ok I think I finally understand offsets (I'm slow on the uptake..). Diameter doesn't matter, but rims with same offsets and width will "flush" the same. I went from 18x8.5 +30, 18x9.5 +25 Nismo LMGT4s to 19 x 8.5 +33 and 19x9.5+22. So now it's 3mm more recessed up front, and 3mm pushed out in back.
The backs look great to me, not sure I want to risk pushing out another half inch. If I added a 10mm spacer, it would be effectively +23 in the front and push them back out. I guess it's up to me if its worth the labor or longer studs to get back at least my 3mm tuck from my last setup and push it out more. I don't need it flush, just don't want it looking too recessed.
The opinions on spacers seem all over the board and even the users seem a bit wary!
Functionally speaking, the car is the same as it was with the Nismos (although the rim and tires combined are lighter on my ZE40 setup)
You've got the offset concept nailed.
You're right, opinions are spread out all over. My opinion hasn't changed really. Again, prefer NOT to run them but they do work for getting the wheels set right if not bought with absolutely correct offset from the get-go. (All but two of my sets were purchased used.)
Best/favorite ones for me... LMZ5 S-Tunes bought NOS....
OP...If you are just worried about the 3mm you lost in the front, I agree with travlee, just get a set of 5mm spacers. I have 5mm spacers all around to flush my wheels up a little more and you don't have to run longer studs with just 5mm. You can get a hub centric set of 5mm spacers that fit properly on Amazon for under $20.
Wheel too tucked in?
