spacers
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 875
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From: Los Angeles
2002 c230k
They throw off the designed geometry of the suspension. The wheel will travel in a slightly different arc causing small camber changes relative to travel from center(normal) position. This can put stress on parts and cause the tire to be at the wrong angle when going over bumps or turning. The other downside is the stress on the longer bolts can cause them to break. Yeah, just for looks!
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From: Houston, TX
2002 C230 Coupe Black/Charcoal C5 C7 Auto
Originally posted by Buellwinkle
I've heard that front spacers can cause steering/handling issues. I love my rear spacers, no problems.
I've heard that front spacers can cause steering/handling issues. I love my rear spacers, no problems.
). I'm thinking of getting the 15mm as u suggested....are they pretty easy to install? Do they work along with the hubcentric rings that I have on the aftermarket rims? thanks.
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
I have 10mm but 15mm would look even better. They are H&R and have a lip for the hubcentric wheels. You just remove the wheel, put the hub on making sure the holes line up (use a bolt to line it up) and then put the wheel on. Takes just a few minutes each. You also have to get the H&R bolts to go with it. It makes the rear on the coupe look so much better and more muscular.
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Houston, TX
2002 C230 Coupe Black/Charcoal C5 C7 Auto
Originally posted by Buellwinkle
Takes just a few minutes each. You also have to get the H&R bolts to go with it. It makes the rear on the coupe look so much better and more muscular.
Takes just a few minutes each. You also have to get the H&R bolts to go with it. It makes the rear on the coupe look so much better and more muscular.
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,211
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Originally posted by linh
Buellwinkle !!!
Who give you those spacer and idea...lol??
Buellwinkle !!!
Who give you those spacer and idea...lol??
TBerry, you'll need bolts that are 10mm/15mm longer as the factory bolts will not stretch, I tried. Also most wheel shops around me didn't have different lenght bolts for MBs. Get them too long and they'll touch the brakes, not good. Get them too short and you'll loose a wheel or two, not good.
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Houston, TX
2002 C230 Coupe Black/Charcoal C5 C7 Auto
BUell, the problem is that my aftermarket wheels required different bolts that were shorter then MB bolts (about 15mm to be exact) so actually the MB bolts may work. BUT discount tire has explanined that there are 2 bolt patterns (acorn and ??) acorn is what most aftermarket rims uses and ?? is what OEM/MB uses. Discount Tires ppl. are very knowledgable and i trust them to get me the right ones. Do you have Discount Tires over where u live?
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 875
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From: Los Angeles
2002 c230k
Originally posted by tberry
BUell, the problem is that my aftermarket wheels required different bolts that were shorter then MB bolts (about 15mm to be exact) so actually the MB bolts may work. BUT discount tire has explanined that there are 2 bolt patterns (acorn and ??) acorn is what most aftermarket rims uses and ?? is what OEM/MB uses. Discount Tires ppl. are very knowledgable and i trust them to get me the right ones. Do you have Discount Tires over where u live?
BUell, the problem is that my aftermarket wheels required different bolts that were shorter then MB bolts (about 15mm to be exact) so actually the MB bolts may work. BUT discount tire has explanined that there are 2 bolt patterns (acorn and ??) acorn is what most aftermarket rims uses and ?? is what OEM/MB uses. Discount Tires ppl. are very knowledgable and i trust them to get me the right ones. Do you have Discount Tires over where u live?
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 987
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From: Houston, TX
2002 C230 Coupe Black/Charcoal C5 C7 Auto
Originally posted by mdp c230k
I have had the exact opposite experience with Discount Tire here in Los Angeles, they are stupid thieves! They don't know diddly about tires and I caught them putting 3 out of 4 new valve stems on all the cars in the shop! At $2.50 per stem and 40 cars a day they are stealling $3000 a month from people and risking lives!
I have had the exact opposite experience with Discount Tire here in Los Angeles, they are stupid thieves! They don't know diddly about tires and I caught them putting 3 out of 4 new valve stems on all the cars in the shop! At $2.50 per stem and 40 cars a day they are stealling $3000 a month from people and risking lives!
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From: Ashburn, VA
'19 GLC 300, '19 TM3SR+
Originally posted by mdp c230k
They throw off the designed geometry of the suspension. The wheel will travel in a slightly different arc causing small camber changes relative to travel from center(normal) position. This can put stress on parts and cause the tire to be at the wrong angle when going over bumps or turning. The other downside is the stress on the longer bolts can cause them to break. Yeah, just for looks!
They throw off the designed geometry of the suspension. The wheel will travel in a slightly different arc causing small camber changes relative to travel from center(normal) position. This can put stress on parts and cause the tire to be at the wrong angle when going over bumps or turning. The other downside is the stress on the longer bolts can cause them to break. Yeah, just for looks!
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 875
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From: Los Angeles
2002 c230k
Originally posted by vadim
How do you know which wheels is the suspension geometry based on? Stock 16"? Evolution 17"? Staggered 17" AMG? They all are based on different rim widths. a 10 or 15 mm spacer would have an effect comparable to a staggered (wider) rim.
How do you know which wheels is the suspension geometry based on? Stock 16"? Evolution 17"? Staggered 17" AMG? They all are based on different rim widths. a 10 or 15 mm spacer would have an effect comparable to a staggered (wider) rim.
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From: Ashburn, VA
'19 GLC 300, '19 TM3SR+
Originally posted by mdp c230k
They are all based on the same center line whereas the spacers throw that line further out..
They are all based on the same center line whereas the spacers throw that line further out..
On some MB pictures Evolution wheels in the rear are clearly spaced, I'll post a picture when I find it.
As for the chassis geometry - there are many variables involved here, and almost any alteration/adjustment changes it. You put on different wheels - its' changed; different springs - it's changed; you inflate/deflate the tires - it's changed again. A half-inch spacer likely causes less impact than changing between the stock 7" (16") and the AMG 8.5" (17") wheels. Let's not exaggerate things - nobody in the right mind will put, say, 4" spacers, which would indeed thow things out of whack.
P.S. I'm talking about the rear wheels.
Last edited by vadim; Nov 8, 2002 at 04:56 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 875
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles
2002 c230k
Originally posted by vadim
That would be physically correct, if the contact between the road and the tire occured at the center line, which is not the case. Do you have any evidence that contact patches are centered around the same "center line" for different wheel widths, or is this going to be another argument based on "hypothetic" reality?
On some MB pictures Evolution wheels in the rear are clearly spaced, I'll post a picture when I find it.
As for the chassis geometry - there are many variables involved here, and almost any alteration/adjustment changes it. You put on different wheels - its' changed; different springs - it's changed; you inflate/deflate the tires - it's changed again. A half-inch spacer likely causes less impact than changing between the stock 7" (16") and the AMG 8.5" (17") wheels. Let's not exaggerate things - nobody in the right mind will put, say, 4" spacers, which would indeed thow things out of whack.
P.S. I'm talking about the rear wheels.
That would be physically correct, if the contact between the road and the tire occured at the center line, which is not the case. Do you have any evidence that contact patches are centered around the same "center line" for different wheel widths, or is this going to be another argument based on "hypothetic" reality?
On some MB pictures Evolution wheels in the rear are clearly spaced, I'll post a picture when I find it.
As for the chassis geometry - there are many variables involved here, and almost any alteration/adjustment changes it. You put on different wheels - its' changed; different springs - it's changed; you inflate/deflate the tires - it's changed again. A half-inch spacer likely causes less impact than changing between the stock 7" (16") and the AMG 8.5" (17") wheels. Let's not exaggerate things - nobody in the right mind will put, say, 4" spacers, which would indeed thow things out of whack.
P.S. I'm talking about the rear wheels.
Last edited by mdp c230k; Nov 9, 2002 at 06:49 AM.
