Wheel Spacers
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Boston, MA
1999 MB C43 AMG
Wheel Spacers
Hey guys,
My car has been lowered a few month ago and I noticed a rubbing noise (getting louder at speed) from the front end. Only rubbing when I'm turning right. Went to see my mechanic who told me to get spacers for the front so that the tire does not rub anymore within the fender.
I run the original AMG 17'' monoblock (225 in the front and 245 in the rear). I got myself a pair of 5mm hubcentric H&R spacers as well as the proper extended lug bolts. I tried to get them mounted this week end with my mechanic but we backed off given that there was a very slight play (between rim and wheel hub). My guy told me to get a pair of hubcentric plastic or aluminum rings to make sure the rim fit the hub perfectly with the spacers on and to avoid any issues while driving.
My questions are:
- Where can I get those hubcentric rings?
- Should I go with 10mm spacers given that they seem to have this hubcentric ring built-in? (Does this make sense?)
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
My car has been lowered a few month ago and I noticed a rubbing noise (getting louder at speed) from the front end. Only rubbing when I'm turning right. Went to see my mechanic who told me to get spacers for the front so that the tire does not rub anymore within the fender.
I run the original AMG 17'' monoblock (225 in the front and 245 in the rear). I got myself a pair of 5mm hubcentric H&R spacers as well as the proper extended lug bolts. I tried to get them mounted this week end with my mechanic but we backed off given that there was a very slight play (between rim and wheel hub). My guy told me to get a pair of hubcentric plastic or aluminum rings to make sure the rim fit the hub perfectly with the spacers on and to avoid any issues while driving.
My questions are:
- Where can I get those hubcentric rings?
- Should I go with 10mm spacers given that they seem to have this hubcentric ring built-in? (Does this make sense?)
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: A.D., U.A.E
2000 (W202 C200) & 2000 (W202 C55)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WHEEL-SPACER...ories&vxp=mtr]
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WHEEL-SPACER...item4150d46786
* you can reduce them to 5mm, if you wish........
ZAYED,,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WHEEL-SPACER...item4150d46786
* you can reduce them to 5mm, if you wish........
ZAYED,,
Last edited by cm60k; Feb 27, 2012 at 04:30 PM.
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From: Chapel Hill, NC/Montreal, QC
1995 C36 AMG, 1998 C43 AMG
Wait, let me get this straight, he told you to get spacers to push the wheel away from the fender??
Wouldn't spacers push the wheel out towards the fender???
How low are you?
Wouldn't spacers push the wheel out towards the fender???
How low are you?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Boston, MA
1999 MB C43 AMG
I'm not very low in the front, I can put a bit more than 1 finger (almost 2) between the tire and wheel arch.
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From: Chapel Hill, NC/Montreal, QC
1995 C36 AMG, 1998 C43 AMG
ah okay. Makes sense now
Thread Starter
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From: Boston, MA
1999 MB C43 AMG
I need to find those hubcentric rings to fix this issue or go with other spacers.
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Germany
C43 AMG 5.5 - 396.4HP
Forget those 5mm spacer. Centering will be poor, because the hub is not all the way cylindric. Use 10mm with double centering.
But I wonder if spacers will solve your problem or make it worse.
I suppose your wheel is rubbing inside your fender on top where the ABS hydraulic block is at opposit site inside the engine bay.
Just take a look inside your fenders. If there is rubbing you should find some marks...
But I wonder if spacers will solve your problem or make it worse.
I suppose your wheel is rubbing inside your fender on top where the ABS hydraulic block is at opposit site inside the engine bay.
Just take a look inside your fenders. If there is rubbing you should find some marks...
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 265
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From: Boston, MA
1999 MB C43 AMG
Forget those 5mm spacer. Centering will be poor, because the hub is not all the way cylindric. Use 10mm with double centering.
But I wonder if spacers will solve your problem or make it worse.
I suppose your wheel is rubbing inside your fender on top where the ABS hydraulic block is at opposit site inside the engine bay.
Just take a look inside your fenders. If there is rubbing you should find some marks...
But I wonder if spacers will solve your problem or make it worse.
I suppose your wheel is rubbing inside your fender on top where the ABS hydraulic block is at opposit site inside the engine bay.
Just take a look inside your fenders. If there is rubbing you should find some marks...
Member
Joined: May 2007
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From: Dallas
'99 C43
What's your camber look like? Is the top of the wheel tilted in or out? Maybe you have worn components like ball joints, lower control arm bushings, etc. that are allowing play in the suspension.
You need to take off the wheel and see for yourself where it's rubbing and determine what's going on. You should be able to see a shiny area where the rubbing is occuring, or black streaks where rubber is being deposited.
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From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
What is the offset (ET) on the wheels? I just can't imagine that stock 17" rub not unless something is wrong somewhere
Thread Starter
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From: Boston, MA
1999 MB C43 AMG
Don't know my offset though
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,889
Likes: 322
From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
What is the origin of the wheels? From another MB perhaps? If so this could point to a different offset
Thread Starter
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From: Boston, MA
1999 MB C43 AMG
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From: Germany
C43 AMG 5.5 - 396.4HP
Even with a stock C43 (and also standard W202) you can have rubbing in the left front housing. Check the 3 'Addidas' stripes of the hydraulic braking system inside the wheel housing.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Boston, MA
1999 MB C43 AMG
UPDATE:
Tired of looking for centering ring for the C43 to fit my 5mm spacers, I went ahead and followed ZAYED advice; I bought a set of 10mm Wheel spacers 5x112 with a 66.6 center bore for the front wheels (http://www.ebay.com/itm/270759655907...ht_2233wt_1398).
I already have the extended lug bolts. I will let you guys know if this solves my issue!
Tired of looking for centering ring for the C43 to fit my 5mm spacers, I went ahead and followed ZAYED advice; I bought a set of 10mm Wheel spacers 5x112 with a 66.6 center bore for the front wheels (http://www.ebay.com/itm/270759655907...ht_2233wt_1398).
I already have the extended lug bolts. I will let you guys know if this solves my issue!
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Boston, MA
1999 MB C43 AMG
UPDATE:
New 10mm spacers installed. They fit like a shoe on the hub and on the wheel, absolutely perfect, even my mechanic was surprised by the quality of those! I tried the spacers with the 17'' wheels and unfortunately it did not help to get rid of the noise.
Since, it the weather has been nice and the spacers did not help at all for my rubbing noise, I decided to put back my summer tires (18'' 225/255) with the spacers on. So, now the car looks amazing but I still have the same rubbing noise (no difference whatsoever between 17'' and 18'' with the spacers).
The investigation goes on .... Gotta love our cars !
New 10mm spacers installed. They fit like a shoe on the hub and on the wheel, absolutely perfect, even my mechanic was surprised by the quality of those! I tried the spacers with the 17'' wheels and unfortunately it did not help to get rid of the noise.
Since, it the weather has been nice and the spacers did not help at all for my rubbing noise, I decided to put back my summer tires (18'' 225/255) with the spacers on. So, now the car looks amazing but I still have the same rubbing noise (no difference whatsoever between 17'' and 18'' with the spacers).
The investigation goes on .... Gotta love our cars !
Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 119
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From: Dallas
'99 C43
that's strange...spacers, no spacers...17" wheels, or 18" wheels... and there's no difference.
Could you or your mechanic not see where it is rubbing when you had the wheels off?
You mentioned that you heard the rubbing at highway speeds. That means that you don't have to turn the wheel very far to have the rubbing occur.
Based on this, I'd look for something besides the tires rubbing the wheel wells.
Could you or your mechanic not see where it is rubbing when you had the wheels off?
You mentioned that you heard the rubbing at highway speeds. That means that you don't have to turn the wheel very far to have the rubbing occur.
Based on this, I'd look for something besides the tires rubbing the wheel wells.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: A.D., U.A.E
2000 (W202 C200) & 2000 (W202 C55)
UPDATE:
New 10mm spacers installed. They fit like a shoe on the hub and on the wheel, absolutely perfect, even my mechanic was surprised by the quality of those! I tried the spacers with the 17'' wheels and unfortunately it did not help to get rid of the noise.
Since, it the weather has been nice and the spacers did not help at all for my rubbing noise, I decided to put back my summer tires (18'' 225/255) with the spacers on. So, now the car looks amazing but I still have the same rubbing noise (no difference whatsoever between 17'' and 18'' with the spacers).
The investigation goes on .... Gotta love our cars !
New 10mm spacers installed. They fit like a shoe on the hub and on the wheel, absolutely perfect, even my mechanic was surprised by the quality of those! I tried the spacers with the 17'' wheels and unfortunately it did not help to get rid of the noise.
Since, it the weather has been nice and the spacers did not help at all for my rubbing noise, I decided to put back my summer tires (18'' 225/255) with the spacers on. So, now the car looks amazing but I still have the same rubbing noise (no difference whatsoever between 17'' and 18'' with the spacers).
The investigation goes on .... Gotta love our cars !
,, but i think the noise story is another subject, need to see careFULLY about everything (front & rear) related to the suspension/Steering Knuckle/Control arms/Drag link/Rods/Bearings/bushings/correct balancing........
ZAYED,,
Thread Starter
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From: Boston, MA
1999 MB C43 AMG
Thanks for the input guys. With everything I tried, I'm convinced it's not coming from the tire rubbing within the fender.
I'll drop the car at the shop to have it checked. Hopefully it's not too much of a big deal and I can get things sorted out pretty soon.
I'll drop the car at the shop to have it checked. Hopefully it's not too much of a big deal and I can get things sorted out pretty soon.
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 317
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From: Germany
C43 AMG 5.5 - 396.4HP
I recomend you to read my posts from above again.
Another possibility that could sound like rubbing is, when the wheel links (I don't know correct english translation for those parts) have too much backlash.
Another possibility that could sound like rubbing is, when the wheel links (I don't know correct english translation for those parts) have too much backlash.
Thread Starter
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From: Boston, MA
1999 MB C43 AMG
Thanks. Will check that too when the car goes back in the shop.
Thread Starter
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From: Boston, MA
1999 MB C43 AMG
I have 10mm in the front but did not install anything in the the rear yet. 10mm will rub too much in the rear so I'll go with either 8mm or 5mm. I'll try to get a pic from the front if the sky clears out a bit later today
