Is this too much arch gap to correct with spacers?

M

Michael O'Connor

Guest
OK, so not technically arch gap but you know what I mean. The original alloys on my A3 were like this too, and even with these S-line alloys being half an inch wider with I think only 1mm difference in offset, they're still nowhere near flush with the arches.

1st and 2nd pictures show how far the back wheels sit inside the arches. Are they too far in for spacers to correct? I'm thinking they'd need to be at least 20mm-if not more--to get anywhere near flush with the arches, but would this affect the drivability and stability of the car, or put unnecessary increased wear on the axle? Hubcentric spacers, I know. I don't want poke, just the wheels to sit a little further out and look like they're 'meant' to be on the car. They fill the arches well at the moment but when you can see how far in they are (from certain angles) it looks a bit strange-maybe it's just me that notices it though.

IMG 1629
IMG 1630


Just for comparison-the front wheels sit out quite a bit further. In the pictures below they look much further into the arches than they really, quite deceiving. Still not quite flush, but not really far in like the back wheels are. I can live with the fronts, if the back ones could be evened out more. Or if the fronts could be improved too I'd consider sticking spacers on both front and back at the same time.

IMG 1627

IMG 1628

Will be selling this in the next year I think, but until then the wheels sitting in (mainly the back ones) just irritate me a bit too much haha. Anyway, thoughts? (Thanks :) )
 
Measure see if 20mm will fit. I had 20mm on my last car hub centric ones. They bolted to the car then the wheel to them. NO adverse handling, no extra wear on bearings. Even if you buy one axle set for now try one on the back and one on the front and see how it is then
 
LEE69 said:
Measure see if 20mm will fit. I had 20mm on my last car hub centric ones. They bolted to the car then the wheel to them. NO adverse handling, no extra wear on bearings. Even if you buy one axle set for now try one on the back and one on the front and see how it is then
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info mate. Spacers go bigger than 20mm right, just in case?

Also wouldn't that eff with my tracking if I put a 20mm on one side at the back then another 20mm on the same side at the front?

Really should have got the A4 S-line variant as I believe the offset for those is ET43, 13mm would have made a big difference haha. Just couldn't pass the price for these ones up in the condition they were in though
 
You need to be careful that the tyres do not start rubbing on the arch liner or the screw holding in the arch liner on the outer edge.
More of a problem if you have people in the back seats.
Other threads about this say to use max of 12mm rear and 10mm front if you are to avoid rubbing. Email DPM performance for confirmation.
 
prt57 said:
You need to be careful that the tyres do not start rubbing on the arch liner or the screw holding in the arch liner on the outer edge.
More of a problem if you have people in the back seats.
Other threads about this say to use max of 12mm rear and 10mm front if you are to avoid rubbing. Email DPM performance for confirmation.
Click to expand...

Very helpful man, thanks! I don’t usually (ever) take people in the back but never say never I guess. **** 12mm, that’s pretty far off 20-25mm. Will check with DPM
 
prt57 said:
You need to be careful that the tyres do not start rubbing on the arch liner or the screw holding in the arch liner on the outer edge.
More of a problem if you have people in the back seats.
Other threads about this say to use max of 12mm rear and 10mm front if you are to avoid rubbing. Email DPM performance for confirmation.
Click to expand...

Would the fact that my car is only lowered 20mm help/ reduce any rubbing? I believe this is 5mm less than standard S-line suspension on an A3.

Just to be clear, I would've never even considered a 20mm spacer or larger with a car where the wheels needed widening only slightly... It's just that in this case the back wheels are sitting so far inside the arches. Will come back with measurements of how far inside they are.
 
If I mind rightly the A3 offset is around ET54 so you would be looking at 12mm back 10mm front and that should bring your alloys in line with arch , as for gap between underside off arch to top tyre that will depend on how low your bring it down
 
You could probably go 20mm on the rear and 15mm on the front with no issues. Buy some 15mm spacers and try them on the front and rear to see what they look like. Then get another set 15 or 20mm depending on what they look like.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-VW-Vol...it-5x100-112-57-1-20mm-OE-Bolts/223302747578?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-15mm-...pacers-57-1-bore-10-Wheel-Bolts/223240105273?
OE wheels have radius seats so check anything you buy has radius seat bolts as opposed to taper seats.
 
ch1z64 said:
If I mind rightly the A3 offset is around ET54 so you would be looking at 12mm back 10mm front and that should bring your alloys in line with arch , as for gap between underside off arch to top tyre that will depend on how low your bring it down
Click to expand...

Thanks mate. According to this site...
https://www.original-felgen.com/8p0601025s1h7.html

... The wheels are 7.5J, offset is Et55. They weren't on the car as standard-it's an SE spec so had the 16" 6.5j ET50 alloys on originally. I'm not sure if that makes a difference though, I would have assumed the base chassis or axle width would be the same for all 8P A3s of this gen. In fact I would have assumed an alloy that is a whole inch wider with only a 5mm larger offset would sit out a lot more in the arch. Anyway...

Have a look at the 1st and 2nd pictures I posted... I'm really not sure a 12mm spacer would bring the rear wheels that much more flush with the arch; from what I've had a look at under the arch, it's much more than a 10mm gap.

The car is already lowered on Eibach on Pro kit springs, I'm fairly happy with the ride height which is manageable and not stupidly low for London roads, speed bumps etc.
 
desertstorm said:
You could probably go 20mm on the rear and 15mm on the front with no issues. Buy some 15mm spacers and try them on the front and rear to see what they look like. Then get another set 15 or 20mm depending on what they look like.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-VW-Vol...it-5x100-112-57-1-20mm-OE-Bolts/223302747578?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-15mm-...pacers-57-1-bore-10-Wheel-Bolts/223240105273?
OE wheels have radius seats so check anything you buy has radius seat bolts as opposed to taper seats.
Click to expand...

Thanks very much, I was wondering what what seat types the OE bolts had.

I was looking at some hubcentric H&R spacers, the ones that come with 5 countersunk holes and bolts to fix the spacer onto the hub using the holes in the hub, then the spacer has another 5 holes that you you can use the standard wheel bolts to attach the wheel with. I'm not really keen on buying spacers that just sit between the hub and the wheel without being bolted on first, as I'd then need to also buy all new bolts + 4 longer locking nuts too. Although this would only be an issue if I had to get spacers that are 20mm or over, as I guess the thinner ones aren't even wide enough to be bolted onto the hub first anyway.

If I was going to need 20mm for the rear, I was looking at these:
https://www.dpmperformance.co.uk/ca...ck-pcd-5112-centre-bore-571-bolt-thread-14x15
 
Need to actually just sit down and do some measurements under the arches which to end all this speculation and uncertainty on my part haha
 
ch1z64 said:
If I am reading it right you have 16x7.5, ET why not just upgrade to 18 7.5 ET 45
Click to expand...

Don’t think you’re reading it right mate haha, I said it has 7.5j ET55 alloys on it now, but originally had 6.5j ET50 16” alloys on. The ones on there now are 18” lol, you can see from the pictures they’re the 5 arm 18s that come on S-line A3s (and also A4 but with a slightly smaller offset)
 
Michael O'Connor said:
Don’t think you’re reading it right mate haha, I said it has 7.5j ET55 alloys on it now, but originally had 6.5j ET50 16” alloys on. The ones on there now are 18” lol, you can see from the pictures they’re the 5 arm 18s that come on S-line A3s (and also A4 but with a slightly smaller offset)
Click to expand...
Ok got you now , so your car is as wide as mine so to bring 18" alloys in line with wheel arch to make it look flush you would want ET44 then you wouldn't need any spacers , if you look at this car it has A4 ET44
 

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ch1z64 said:
Ok got you now , so your car is as wide as mine so to bring 18" alloys in line with wheel arch to make it look flush you would want ET44 then you wouldn't need any spacers , if you look at this car it has A4 ET44
Click to expand...

I don’t think that’s an option to be honest, I’m perfectly happy with the alloys on the car. To get the same alloys in that kind of offset I’d have to get hold of 2x A4 variants of the same alloy (offset ET43), then they’d no doubt need refurbishing, plus tyres, decent ones not cheapies. All would cost well over £500 lol. I may as well work with what I’ve got and just get some spacers
 
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