Is 2 mm of clearance between the wheel and brake caliber cutting it too close?

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Mar 2, 2017 | 03:07 PM
  #1  
Is 2 mm of clearance between the wheel and brake caliber cutting it too close?

Putting on Vossen 20' CVT on my 16 C300 Sport and don't really feel like using the 5 mm spacer for the front
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Mar 2, 2017 | 03:11 PM
  #2  
I think if you so much as curbed a front wheel there'd be a good chance of eating up that 2mm margin and damaging the calipers. I'd do the spacers.
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Mar 2, 2017 | 04:03 PM
  #3  
2mm is fine.
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Mar 2, 2017 | 04:04 PM
  #4  
Quote: I think if you so much as curbed a front wheel there'd be a good chance of eating up that 2mm margin and damaging the calipers. I'd do the spacers.
I can't picture what you are describing?

curbing the wheel would have no impact on brake clearance, maybe I'm missing something.
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Mar 2, 2017 | 05:18 PM
  #5  
It's 1/16th of an inch. I'm thinking if you accidentally grind the face of the wheel against a curb you're momentarily pushing the wheel inward toward the caliper and 1/16th of an inch isn't much clearance. But it's your car. It might be fine. I'd run the spacers.
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Mar 2, 2017 | 06:00 PM
  #6  
Factory clearance from the Brembo calliper to the 19" multi spoke is 3-4mm at it closest point.. (Toward the centre)...
I think you would be fine... Adding a 5mm spacer would achieve twice factory which seems excessive..
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Mar 2, 2017 | 07:32 PM
  #7  
Thanks for the input fellas!

I ran the 5mm spacers last year and it was a complete pain in the *** removing the spacers as they were slightly rusted on.
I run the factory 18's during winter 4 mo. of the year.
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Mar 2, 2017 | 08:28 PM
  #8  
Yeah, they can bind up on there. A little WD40 on the mounting surface helps. I do try to avoid spacers since they can cause vibrations but the 5mm aren't bad.
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Mar 2, 2017 | 08:38 PM
  #9  
Quote: It's 1/16th of an inch. I'm thinking if you accidentally grind the face of the wheel against a curb you're momentarily pushing the wheel inward toward the caliper and 1/16th of an inch isn't much clearance. But it's your car. It might be fine. I'd run the spacers.
That's not how it works. The wheel won't move away from the hub if it is bolted to the hub. Not unless the entire wheel is bent, which would be more likely from a nasty pothole than it would be from curbing a wheel.

You're basically saying the undulation of the suspension can move the hard, static wheel toward a static and fixed caliper.

As long as the metals have room to heat and expand should be good to go.
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Mar 2, 2017 | 08:40 PM
  #10  
Quote: Thanks for the input fellas!

I ran the 5mm spacers last year and it was a complete pain in the *** removing the spacers as they were slightly rusted on.
I run the factory 18's during winter 4 mo. of the year.
You can also use some anti-seize on the surface/hub
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Mar 2, 2017 | 09:01 PM
  #11  



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Mar 2, 2017 | 10:37 PM
  #12  
Pretty.
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Mar 2, 2017 | 10:48 PM
  #13  
Get a 3MM spacer and call it a day.
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