Wheel spacer options on 18inch 9.5j ET38

[Apex Strider]

Hi All

Looking for some info and help for a set up.

Currently running 18's 9.5J ET38 with 235/45R18's on OEM struts and H&R springs.

Currently, the car rides and handles well but I want to dial in a bit of camber for track use.

The fronts look almost positive camber. I dont need anything aggressive.
Thinking of running either a 5mm or 10mm spacer with extended studs to allow me to dial in camber with SPC camber bolts.

Im on a stock body and already there's a lot of poke.

Would anyone know if I would be able to max out the camber with camber bolts on 5mm spacers or would I need 10mm spacers and still have enough clearance from the strut perch and wheel.

At the moment there is about a 5mm-7mm gap.

Hope you can help.
Thanks
Cheers

[Shizuka]

You don't need spacers at all, you need coilovers and possibly control arms if you really care about "maxing out" camber... Bolts will get you in a decent spot, but IMO all you need is ~ -3deg for track use anyways.

[Leonardo]

IMO, you want minimum:

Coilovers Wcamber plates
Rear LCA
Roll center/bumpsteer kit - I highly suggest this, I have the whiteline kit. It makes the steering feel amazing after lowering.

You may also want:
Rear Toe arms - Depending on how low you want to go. - needed to adjust toe out.
Rear trailing arms - - Depending on how low you want to go. These center the wheel front and rear in the wheel well after lowering. - I am running some.
Camber bolts ( I run both camber bolts and camber plates)

If you slam, you will also want adjustable endlinks for the sways.

Also, next time get different size tires. 99% of People run one of these sizes on 18x9.5 wheels: 225/40, 235/40, 245/35, 255/35, or 265/35. I suggest one of these three sizes depending on availability, price, and look you are going for: 235/40/18, 245/35/18, or 255/35/18

[Shizuka]

I was just looking at that whiteline bump steer kit actually, do you think it makes much difference?

I'm lowered 2"+ (a lot) so I was wondering what kind of impact it would make

[Leonardo]

Originally Posted by Shizuka

I was just looking at that whiteline bump steer kit actually, do you think it makes much difference?

I'm lowered 2"+ (a lot) so I was wondering what kind of impact it would make

I feel like the kit is totally worth it!

I installed my coils, sways, end links, toe arms, trailing arms, and LCA on my car. Tested everything. Then installed the bumpsteer kit.

The difference was very noticeable. The steering had a planted more precise feeling; it felt like it was new again. In technicalish terms: it fixes the suspension's geometry after lowering your car, and, IIRC, is highly suggest if you are lowered more than 1".

Edit: Pic of parts I used.

[Apex Strider]

Originally Posted by Shizuka

You don't need spacers at all, you need coilovers and possibly control arms if you really care about "maxing out" camber... Bolts will get you in a decent spot, but IMO all you need is ~ -3deg for track use anyways.

100% Agree. Coilovers with some adjustable arms and sway bars is the way to go.

I recently fitted the springs and the plan is to upgrade the braking system next, so will run it like this for now until I go coilovers with top mounts. Then I can sort out the camber.

[Apex Strider]

Originally Posted by Leonardo

I feel like the kit is totally worth it!

I installed my coils, sways, end links, toe arms, trailing arms, and LCA on my car. Tested everything. Then installed the bumpsteer kit.

The difference was very noticeable. The steering had a planted more precise feeling; it felt like it was new again. In technicalish terms: it fixes the suspension's geometry after lowering your car, and, IIRC, is highly suggest if you are lowered more than 1".

Edit: Pic of parts I used.

Looks awesome!

[Infinity]

Originally Posted by Leonardo

I feel like the kit is totally worth it!

I installed my coils, sways, end links, toe arms, trailing arms, and LCA on my car. Tested everything. Then installed the bumpsteer kit.

The difference was very noticeable. The steering had a planted more precise feeling; it felt like it was new again. In technicalish terms: it fixes the suspension's geometry after lowering your car, and, IIRC, is highly suggest if you are lowered more than 1".

Edit: Pic of parts I used.

I am very curious about the Whiteline Bump Steer/ Roll Center Kit you have. I am going to be installing coilovers, rear lower control arms, and a few other pieces in the next week or 2 and I have been on the edge on whether or not to get the Whiteline KCA435.

I read in another thread that the extended ball joints cause a lot of headache and it is not worth it for the minimal improvement. I think they caused a loss of camber in the front and created some clearance issues.

What front camber were you able to achieve on the front with the Whiteline kit installed? Did you have any clearance issues?


This is a quote from kingkenny in another post on the subject:

"I had MoonFace extened ball joint , they remove camber and pull the wheel hub closer to the wheel wall , change ride height too ...After some suspension setup dail in again , they feel great but worn less than 10000km and just barely a year , 10+ track day + a dozen autoX + a few drift .

Because I think that might be a quality issue , I try Buddy Club this time . After install , although they look similar size to MoonFace , it actually longer . Rasie my heigh , further remove camber , pull wheel hub even closer , reset ride heigh drop it further and alignment a few time and finally get the car perform like it was ... Another issue was fund , the LCA rubbing on rotor .

I would say this now , go for oem length like racer X ball joint . Extended ball joint create all kind of issue for a little to nothing gain in performance . Not worth it ."


Link to the post: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...8&postcount=17

[churchx]

Infinity: whiteline bumpsteer/rollcenter kit main purpose is to fix geometry/handling of overlowered car. If you plan to drop/lower more then 1", it is advisable (alongside diff riser to reduce CV joint wear). If you are sensible and don't overlower, then OE should work well.

[Leonardo]

Originally Posted by Infinity

What front camber were you able to achieve on the front with the Whiteline kit installed? Did you have any clearance issues?


[/URL]

There are zero issues with how the kit fits. They fixed the weak rubber on the ball joints. The new kit, in my pics, looks different than the old kit.

Anyway, I am at -2.5 now, but have a ton of room to add more. My tires are worn; I will be switching my alignment to -3 front and -2.4 rear as soon as I get now tires.

I will swap my 15mm rear spacer to the front. (and my 12mm front spacers to the rear) I think that this will help keep everything looking even with the camber change. Essentially making the front 18x9 +27 and the rear 18x9 +30

[Infinity]

Originally Posted by churchx

Infinity: whiteline bumpsteer/rollcenter kit main purpose is to fix geometry/handling of overlowered car. If you plan to drop/lower more then 1", it is advisable (alongside diff riser to reduce CV joint wear). If you are sensible and don't overlower, then OE should work well.

I understand the purpose of the Whiteline bump steer/roll center kit, but I am just not sure if it is worth the trouble. Many popular coilovers recommend a 1.4" drop and I think that looks the best as well. So I am intending to lower the car approximately that much. But based on kingkenny's post, it may not be worth the trouble to install the Whiteline kit.

The Whiteline KCA435 kit is just taller ball joints and new tie rods. Several other manufactures offer the same solution like Hard Race, Moonface, Buddy Club, SPL, etc. If taller ball joints cause loss of camber and pull the wheel hub close enough for LCAs to rub on the rotors it may just not be worth the trouble. Especially considering there are many people out there that lower this car 1.4" - 2" and get by without roll center/bump steer correction.

[Infinity]

Originally Posted by Leonardo

There are zero issues with how the kit fits. They fixed the weak rubber on the ball joints. The new kit, in my pics, looks different than the old kit.

Anyway, I am at -2.5 now, but have a ton of room to add more. My tires are worn; I will be switching my alignment to -3 front and -2.4 rear as soon as I get now tires.

I will swap my 15mm rear spacer to the front. (and my 12mm front spacers to the rear) I think that this will help keep everything looking even with the camber change. Essentially making the front 18x9 +27 and the rear 18x9 +30

Now I am even more unsure what to do lol. It seems you have had a different experience than kingkenny. I wonder if the Whiteline tie rods included in the KCA435 kit do anything to correct the geometry to prevent the clearance issues kingkenny described?

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by Apex Strider

Hi All

Looking for some info and help for a set up.

Currently running 18's 9.5J ET38 with 235/45R18's on OEM struts and H&R springs.

Currently, the car rides and handles well but I want to dial in a bit of camber for track use.

The fronts look almost positive camber. I dont need anything aggressive.
Thinking of running either a 5mm or 10mm spacer with extended studs to allow me to dial in camber with SPC camber bolts.

Im on a stock body and already there's a lot of poke.

Would anyone know if I would be able to max out the camber with camber bolts on 5mm spacers or would I need 10mm spacers and still have enough clearance from the strut perch and wheel.

At the moment there is about a 5mm-7mm gap.

Hope you can help.
Thanks
Cheers

I would recommend coilovers with camber plates, different wheels/tires, or both.

Originally Posted by Shizuka

I was just looking at that whiteline bump steer kit actually, do you think it makes much difference?

I'm lowered 2"+ (a lot) so I was wondering what kind of impact it would make

Yes it does at a 2 inch drop.

- Andrew

[Infinity]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

Yes it does at a 2 inch drop.

- Andrew

I believe the recommended drop for RCE SS-1 is 1.25". Would you recommend the Whiteline kit at that amount of drop? Do you have any experience with it personally?