wheel, coilover & arch advice!!

[Andyb5]

I have recently invested some hard earned money and jumped into Audi A4 B5 ownership and can’t stop smiling

I have been into modifying cars since I have had a licence but over the last 5-6 years have been out the game and was looking for some advice from some other A4 B5 owners

Right I have my nice A4 B5 1.8T completely standard and I am now keen to begin my modifying of her (nothing too much just a bit to set her out from the crowd)

Initially I’m planning on lowering her on coilovers and putting a nice set of rims on her

To me the lower the better so was looking for a little bit of advice on what sort of set up I would need to create my desired look first time round

What I was planning was some 8 or 8.5 x 18 inch rims (some standard Audi ones are preffered) either RS4, TTRS, or some flat fives off an A8 if I can get hold of some easily

Not sure of the best offset to go for?? Can anyone let me know what the standard offset is and am I best sticking with that if I want to go really low??

I am hoping to drop her by 100mm all round or as much as practically possible so probably not quite that much on a set of 18s but ill see. I was hoping not to have to flair the arches and just have them rolled does this sound feasible or if I’m going as low as possible on 18s will I really need to flair them??

Can anyone give me any advice/info if they have been through this process and what the best way to go is? I want the car to sit as flat as possible, with the rear wheels/tyre slightly tucking into the rear arches, no stretched tyres look & nothing too over the top just enough that it looks like it’s slammed and enough gap at the front to get over (most) speed bumps. There will be no body kits fitted the bodywork is staying standard as she came out the factory....

 

[aragorn]

A car sat on its **** wont handle properly, which totally defeats the point of shelling out on coilovers.

The sweet point is around 25" arch to ground. There it looks good, drives properly and doesnt scrape on things every 12 seconds.

This is slightly above 25" (and on 17" rims,): http://friesian.lr90.org/gallery2/d/2332-2/P1040570.JPG
This is also slightly above 25", with 225/40r18 at ET37: http://friesian.lr90.org/gallery2/d/185-2/DSC00243.JPG

8" wide rims with 225 tyres is what the B5 body takes comfortably. If you go any wider you end up with stupid stretched tyres and ridiculous poke. Some people have done 8.5 and think it looks ok, but i personally think it often looks like you've baught wheels that dont fit.

Genuine RS4 wheels are both 8.5" and ET20 and look fairly ridiculous fitted to a normal A4 body.

Standard offset is ET45, however its fairly common to drop this to around ET38 when running 8" rims to improve inner clearance and help the wheel fill the arches a bit.

 

[Andyb5]

This is really helpfull cheers mate

I definatley prefer the yellow one on 18s but was hoping to go lower if im honest, really wanted to eliminate any gap between tyre and arch maybe not actually have it sitting under the arch but ill be happy with the gap filled and by the looks of things 18s will do that better than 17s.

I have seen a set of ttrs replica wheels which come in 8x18 with an offset of ET 45 so if i go for some 225/40r18 tyres that is heading in the direction i was hoping to go in. I cant seem to find any pictures of any A4 B5s with these ttrs 5 spoke wheels on dont suppose anyone out there has a pic of one??

would love to see pics of any lowered B5s out there, have already been through the B5 gallery but if there are any others out the let me see em

cheers

Andy

 

[aragorn]

the problem is, that due to the shape of the arch, when you get the tyre low enough that theres "no gap" at the top, you end up with a huge gap fore and aft of the wheel due to the way the wheel arch tapers out. For me when you get to that point, it just ends up looking like the cars suspension has broken.

Those pics show a small but even gap round most of the tyre, which IMO at least, looks far better. You can probably do 5 or 10mm lower than those pics without too much trouble, but much more than that and you'll start to detract from the handling, and most likely start scraping bits of the exhaust on speed bumps etc.

 

[jcb]

I run coilovers and have 1.5 horizontal finger widths between edge of tyre and edge of arch (not precise but I agree with above, tyres inside arches is too low and looks crap, handles crap and looks crap)
its enough to handle well, not scrap liners and not enough for the clamp boys to get their chain round the wheel!
this clamp is resting up against the wheel!

I have run 17" and 18" in 8" and 8.5" in ET29 and ET35
currently running 235/40 on 8.5x18 ET29. Also ran 245/35 on 18x8.5's
some people dont like the "Poke" but its funny, I look at stock 18"x8" with ET35-45 and they seem to be hiding in the arches!

same coilover height
8jx18 ET 35 with 235/40

 

[Andyb5]

This was my inspiration and what i was going to aim for but from what you guys are saying this is not the way to go. Still cant help but think this does look pretty awesome do u not agree?

 

[PaulJC84]

That looks sweet to me. Those wheels are 18x8.5 and et45 but he will have spacers fitted.

I have my car lower than the guys above but not as low as the one you posted. I am on 17s as not found a set of 18s I fancy yet.

 

[Andyb5]

Yeh personally I think this look so good and was definitely what I wanted to achieve with mine. I will defiantly aim to go lower and do really want to eliminate that gap between wheel and arch going to go for 8x18s as the 8.5 do just look a little oversized. Can't wait to get these bits done it looks like a 4x4 from the back end at the moment

 

[michaelg1001]

I'm on coilovers, not sure what my arch gap or my ride height is, I'd guess I'm about 60 or 70mm lower, but I've got B7 multispokes, 18x8 with 8mm spacers taking it to ET34, which I personally think looks spot on.

Not a very good pic but it kind of shows how the wheel sits under the rear arch (btw, the vinyl didn't last long on the petrol flap!)

 

[Foxmeister]

This was my inspiration and what i was going to aim for but from what you guys are saying this is not the way to go. Still cant help but think this does look pretty awesome do u not agree?

This does look really good ^^^ but i imagine thats all it does, look good, imagine it will drive quite bumpy etc and then theres the roads where you live to consider aswell.

Had quite a few lower cars in my time and got used to the harsh ride, but i managed to get the Audi sitting about right and the ride isnt compromised, i imagine lowering it a bit more would look really good for pics etc, but when finished i want to drive the car more than have it sitting still so keeping mine as low as it is i think.

 

[Andyb5]

I'm on coilovers, not sure what my arch gap or my ride height is, I'd guess I'm about 60 or 70mm lower, but I've got B7 multispokes, 18x8 with 8mm spacers taking it to ET34, which I personally think looks spot on.

Not a very good pic but it kind of shows how the wheel sits under the rear arch (btw, the vinyl didn't last long on the petrol flap!)

Yeh these wheels look like they fitting in the arch really nice definitely dont look too big, have you got any more pics mate looks really smart

 

[Andyb5]

This does look really good ^^^ but i imagine thats all it does, look good, imagine it will drive quite bumpy etc and then theres the roads where you live to consider aswell.

Had quite a few lower cars in my time and got used to the harsh ride, but i managed to get the Audi sitting about right and the ride isnt compromised, i imagine lowering it a bit more would look really good for pics etc, but when finished i want to drive the car more than have it sitting still so keeping mine as low as it is i think.

does look good though hey... I doubt i will go quit as low as this but would love to, somehow i don't think the wife will be too impressed. Do want to try go for a similar stance atleast. Can i see some pics of yours mate?

 

[Foxmeister]

does look good though hey... I doubt i will go quit as low as this but would love to, somehow i don't think the wife will be too impressed. Do want to try go for a similar stance atleast. Can i see some pics of yours mate?

Sure mate

 

[Arrkon]

I'm running a 50mm drop, with 18's and a 37ET. Handles reasonably well (once I sort the rear axle bushes).

 

[Andyb5]

Like the motors foxmeister & arrkon did u guys need your arches rolled at these height?

I cant wait to get mine lowered these b5s look so good lowered

 

[Foxmeister]

Thanks Elmo. There isn't much of a lip on the B5 to have rolled, the rears are very thin and fronts is a small return lip.

I personally wanted my fronts trimmed or flatened, but forgot to ask the bodyshop before it went in for paint, no issues so far at that height running 18" ET35 wheels currently.

 

[michaelg1001]

Yeh these wheels look like they fitting in the arch really nice definitely dont look too big, have you got any more pics mate looks really smart

there you go mate, haven't really got any specifically of the arch gap, but you should get the idea from those

 

[jcb]

Thanks Elmo. There isn't much of a lip on the B5 to have rolled, the rears are very thin and fronts is a small return lip.

I personally wanted my fronts trimmed or flatened, but forgot to ask the bodyshop before it went in for paint, no issues so far at that height running 18" ET35 wheels currently.

mine are rolled.
helps when running less offset