I had a StopTech BBK installed this weekend, and the installer included a stud kit along with the conversion. The BBK, a 10 mm spacer, and the +37mm offset wheels (17x7 OZ Superleggeras) have widened the front track to the point that it is wider than the fenders.

The installer, who I have a continued modifying relationship with , said that we could use a ~4mm spacer with the stud kit. He felt, though, that another solution might be better as the currently increased track would help handling.

So:
(1.) Has anyone had any experience with this setup, and can you give any advice.
(2.) Are there any fenders currently available on the market that can replace the stock black fenders?
(3.) Are there any other solutions or problems that I haven't brought up here?

 

I think you missed something. Studs shoud have no effect on the offset and how do you ADD a spacer and REDUCE the offset at the same time?????

 

Yeah that doesn't make sense. Adding a spacer, while it does reduce the offset (distance between the wheel centerline and mounting surface - the spacer simply takes up space and reduces it), it pushes the wheel by the spacer thickness from the mounting surface.


Offset is not how far the wheel is sticking out, it's a measurement of the wheel itself.

To reduce how far the wheel sticks out, you have to increase offset, which is not always possible (removing material from the wheel mounting surface).

No there are no off the shelf wider fenders - but that would be cool

 

Yep, I have to agree here that nothing makes sence. First, studs have no effect on spacing. Second, you will not get 37 offset to fit a Mini.

What's going on in the rear? I can't believe these are not rubbing also.
There are wider flairs out there, I think Moss has them, BUT you will still have to clear the body.

Sounds like a few bad choices were made.

 

If your wheels don't fit after installing a BBK and you didn't install a spcer, they didn't fit before you installed the BBK... It might just be a combination of the low offset and 7" wide wheel that makes it stick out. Are you sure they didn't add a spacer in? That's the only way your wheels would stick out more.

 

If what I think is correct, your installer did not install just studs but a spacer kit with studs in it. Just get a 4mm spacer with longer bolts.. if your superleggeras have a 37mm offset and you install a 4mm spacer, it should be same as having a 33mm offset wheel, which shouldn't stick out from the fender as much as what you're saying.

 

The wheels fit just fine before the BBK. I'll get the full story on what happened with the stud kit.

 

I did miss something. He put on 10mm hubcentric spacers on the front with the stud kit as he feels the extra track is good. Amazingly, I have no rubbing issues right now even with three people in the vehicle. We can go back to 4mm spacers, though with the reduced camber from a suspension/camber plate setup, he feels that the fronts will tuck nicely with some trimming. Aiding my lack of rubbing is the 215/40-17 tires.

 

That makes more sense...

To those that say +37 won't work, you're wrong. Plenty of people are running the Superleggera's, including myself. I can imagine that adding a 10mm spacer does put them on out there. Mine, with 215 tires, are fairly wide.

 

I have Stoptech with 50mm stud conversion, 5mm spacer and total ET of -40. My tires are clear but they don't stick outside the fender. How did you do that?

 

Well, my 10mm spacer is larger than your 4mm, and the +37mm offset will stick out further than your 40mm offset? Are you talking about the Team Dynamics Pro Race 1 wheels?

 

Yes and they're 45ET without spacers. If I understand you, you have 10mm spacer to make it 35ET or is your wheel already at 37ET which would make it 28ET with your spacers That WOULD stick out...

 

It's all coming together now.

 

Pictures:

 

The issue is the OZ wheels. IIRC, the StopTech calipers are mongo wide and your Superleggeras don't have the best caliper clearance. Use the StopTech caliper template to pick some wheels that fit your needs without using fat wheel spacers. Or keep what you have and don't worry about it as the wider front track should theoretically help the car turn.

Matt

 

Actually, the Superleggeras have really good caliper clearance (that's why I bought them in the first place) - the StopTech calipers are just ridiculously large. I think I can go down to a 3 or 4 mm spacer at this point, but there is currently no need as I have no rubbing issues. When I put on a lower suspension, then I will revisit the issue.

See here for Superleggera clearance:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...iper+clearance

 

Strom as I recall you were thinking about tracking your car. You might want to get some opinions of running a 10 mm spacer on the track. Perhaps you can just use the 4mm for the track and 10mm for the street ? If it were me I would play it safe and make the change.

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

Why do you feel there would be an issue with the 10mm hubcentric spacer? If I go to the 4mm, it won't be hubcentric.

 

There are many schools of thought on this and I was just opening the discussion up to forum . For me personally I am old and therefor old school No spacer is a good spacer I am sure that others have the opposite view and might want to post their feelings .

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

I'd also be interested to hear other peoples' thoughts on spacers.

 

I definitely agree that the Superleggera has good clearance. It's up there with the SSR Comp and the Pro Race 1 as the best available. You guys should quit questioning the poster... he's obviously done his research.

As far as spacers go... My feeling is the smaller the spacer the better. More spacer means more wear on the front bearings, as well as changing things like scrub radius (which I dont' know enough about to discuss).

As far as hubcentric, my feeling is who cares. The hubcentric bandwagon has gotten large over the past few years, but I still maintain that it does nothing other than aid in wheel fitment. Once you're torqued down, it's irrelevent. If you know the smaller spacer will fit, then go with that. If you're wanting a hubcentric spacer... I thought H&R made a 5mm one that was. Put it this way, I know they make one that's 5mm, but can't confirm that it's hubcentric.

 

I just looked, and Turner Motorsports lists the 5mm as being hubcentric. I know tire rack sells them as well.