Hi guys,

I'm new here and to the gp ,I bought a kw clubsport coilovers for my gp but realised it couldn't our oem rims.lowering it down will touch the inner side of the rims.

What's the right rim size and offset to clear this on 17 or 18?

Reallly really need help on this

Thanks

Raf

 

you can probably just get some 5mm spacers... seems to do the trick for most coilovers..

Rim size will not matter as much as offset. If you get a 7 or 7.5 wide, with an et of about 38, that usually does it.

BUT, ill let the other first gen's speak who have been through it..

 

Hi Adam,

Thanks for the fast reply.

I ve tried the kw on the oem rims,measured and I need a whopping 25mm spacer.

Currently I'm on another rims of 18 x 7.5 offset 42,we figure out we can clear with 5mm or 10mm.What do you think of this?

Some of the guys here running kw v3 ,with 17x 7 offset 38,while I m looking for 17x7.5.

Nicee looking mini you have there,what's the coils and rims you have there?

Thanks raf

 

The GP wheels are 18x7 et52, so very offset to the inside.
I do not have coil-overs on my GP but I would think that 15mm spacers on each OEM wheel should work because the 15mm spacers will put the equivalent offset at about 37mm which should clear the coil-overs. I am surprised that you measured your OEM wheels and think you need 25mm spacers.

With the 18x7.5 et 42 wheel you are adding 0.25" (about 6mm) offset so kind of equivalent to 48mm offset which will probably hit the coil-over. The amount of interferrence with the coil-over will depend on the tire width you use on the 7.5 wheel. If you use a 215 tire you might be apply to get away with a 5mm spacer but I am just guessing. It is hard to find a 10mm spacer due to the hubcentric design of the hub/wheel. Hopefully someone with specific knowledge of using an 7.5" wheel with coil-overs can answer the question.

 

Your exactly right id say quik.

Im not in a first gen, but i can say that mine is close with a 7.5 st 38, but clears the VMaxxs, which i think are basically KW rip-offs.

i havent seen a 10mm yet either.

we need Rally in here lol

 

Come on guys,keep it coming.

Hi Quik thanks for the enlightenment and thanks to adam for firing all these assitance.

Quik,I see you have 15mm spacers on your gp to clear the bbk,can u send me some pictures of it as I wanna see how much the wheels come out at the front end.

How's the handling with the 15mm on?I still have the oem rims and still indecisive on this.

I'm thinking of enhancing the coils and brakes on the gp.for now I will still need input on the right rims.

Guess 17x7 or 18x7 offset38 is the safest to clear ,any other inputs pleasee

Thanks

Raf

 

Here is a link to a NAM posting where I posted some pictures.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-question.html
Since the 15mm spacers only move the tire out about 1/2" it is not very obvious in the pictures. I also have about -2.0 deg of camber which tilts the top of the tires to the inside.

Here is a NAM post associated with handling improvements from less offset.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-handling.html
I cannot say that I noticed a handling improvement specific to the spacers because I was doing other mods at the same time, such as a BBK that removed about 4 lbs of unsprung weight from each front wheel.

With the OEM 18x7 wheels and my 37 offset (wheel + spacer) that I have, I get slight rubbing in the rear due to the outside of tire rubbing on wheel arch and plastic inner wheel well when the suspension is loaded. That is with the stock JCW springs. Thus, depending on how low you want to go, you have to be careful about the offset in the rear with 18" wheels. If you go with 17" wheels you can go a little lower before you rub.

 

Can use 12mm spacers for more negative camber.
There are no 10mm spacers that are hubcentric.
Italian group RaceMax?? I think makes them?

 

Guys ,

Whats the max the GP bolts can take ?15 mm or 10 mm co zi will need to hook the kw and measure with the oem rims before i can decide on my mext wheels.

Some guy was saying that 17.75 offset 41 should clear without any problems?

Is this true ?

 

max...maybe 5. usually larger spacers bolt to the hub, then the wheels bolt to the studs on the spacer if i recall.

not sure on the 12-15mm range... i would think those would simply require longer lugs

 

+1 on about 5mm without needing longer lug bolts.


The 10mm through 15mm spacers are usually designed to use longer lug bolts. The thicker spacers, sych as 25mm usually use separate bolts to mount the spacer to the hub and then you use the stock lug bolts to mount the wheel to the spacer.

You can purchase longer bolts at radusadirect.com. However, when I was looking for longer 14x1.25 lug bolts I could not find any black bolts. I purhased silver lug bolts and tried painting and powdercoating but both flaked off. Probably would need to anodize black which I did not try. Rad USA does sell black covers for the bolts.

I finally switched to studs and lug nuts instead of lug bolts. Way Motor Works sells the stud kits. I went with the 14 to 12mm conversion kit. The kit was a perfect length with 15mm spacers.

 

Hi Quik,

Ok let me check out both websites that you gave me and try it out.

Meaning if I want bolts,I ll check out radusa but if I want to change the studs,check out way work.

Betwewnn 15mm to 20mm which would you reckon honestlt?

What's the original size of our bolts now?12x12.5 ?to us spacer I need to purchase 14 x 12.5

 

The GP lug bolts are 14mm diameter, 1.25 thread pitch, and 28mm long with a 17mm hex head.
Thus if you get 15mm spacers you will need:
14mm x 1.25, 43mm Shank, Cone Seat, 17mm Hex lug bolts.

If you go with a stud conversion kit you have two options:
Opt 1. Stay with 14mm diameter bolts/studs and get the 14x1.25 to 14x1.5 conversion. The converstion switches the thread pitch from 1.25 to 1.5 because 1.5 pitch is more popular and many lug nuts are available in 1.5 pitch.
Opt 2. Switch the bolt diameter from 14mm to 12mm. Some (including me) do this because they are adding wheels or brakes that have 12mm holes instead of 14mm holes.

The width of the spacers will depend on what wheels you use and how much lowered your car is, especially for the rear. With the JCW suspension and shock size 17x7 wheel you cannot have less than about 38mm offset or you will get too much rubbing in the rear when the suspension is loaded. Thus with the stock GP wheel of 17x7 et52 and 15mm spacers you will be at 37mm offset (52-15) which will rub slightly. You can have less offset in the front because the wheel arch is larger. Thus you could go with 15 in the rear and 20 in the front or just go with 15 all the way around to be simple and not have to worry about mixing up the spacers between front or rear (important when other people work on your car such as tire installers). If you do not want any chance of rubbing in the rear you could use 12 mm spacers in the rear. I use 15 and live with rubbing.

If you go with the stud conversion, then 15 or 16mm should be the maximum spacer because the studs will not be long enough for 20mm spacers.
If you go with longer lug bolts they are available in 5, 10, 15, 20mm longer sizes.

 

Hi Quik,

Thanks for the full explanattion.I ve emailed radusa and waiting for their reply for their 15 or 20 mm spacers with what bolts to go with it.

The way motor works conversion sounds great but then if I'm running other rims with proper offset,then tighten it up with the long bolts would be a problem.

So spacers and long bolts sounds perfect for my temporary application to clear those kw.

What do you think bout this?

Your conversion from 14mm-12mm,which wheel and brakers that ur using utilising these sizes?

Raf

 

For the 14mm-12mm conversion, I am using the stock GP wheels, H&R 15 mm spacers, and TCE/Wilwood rotors.

Getting spacers and plates from radusadirect is a good plan. Remember the lug bolts will be gray.

I still think 20mm will be too much in the rear.

 

Hi Quik ,

If i dont go for the 14 - 12mm , say i ll go with the normal 14mm x 1.5 , this should be able to clear 15mm all round.

Yep 20 mm rear is abit too much .Let me measure ad see how much clearance i need, who know it might just be 10mm : )

However i ithink the best way is to get proper offset rims if we can .

RadUsa has not replied me yet , maybe i ll email waywork tonight see what they can advise.

Thanks Quik

 

If you go with the 14x1.25 to 14x1.5 stud/nut conversion, the studs are long enough for 15mm spacers. Just make sure the spacers you get have 14mm holes (some of the old spacers for Minis only had 12mm holes).

Of course the best solution is to obtain proper offset wheels, such as a 17x7 et38 wheel. I want to keep my GP wheels on the car so I had to go with spacers.

The problem with 10mm is that 10mm spacers are not available other than custom made. You can find 12, 15, 16, or 20 mm spacers.

I believe radusa is a one man shop so he could be on vacation this long Labor Day weekend. He is usually very good about responding quickly.

 

Hi Quik ,

Thanks for the response , anyway what coilovers are you using now?

I ll try and get the bolts to try on the 15mm spacers.

Thanks

 

Raf can you please post some pics of fittment issue.
I am also interested in the KW Clubsports.

 

Hi 1985 ,

i was just browsing your list of mods there , nice ,how much HP are you running there and hows the drive like with the 17 % pulley yet with the high cams i guess?Can you still red line it ?


OK back to the KW , i dont have pics but i will try to post it coz i took it otu and put back the JWC shocks .

It fits nicely on the GP when the day i fixedd it but when i wanna lower it down to original GP height , thats where the adjuster/springs touching the inner part of the rims , meaning i have to push out the rims to clear the coilovers.

But some off my frens using bilstein on thier r53 doenst have this problem on their 17 x 7.5 offset 42 rims .

Any enligtenment ?

The closest i get is another fren of mine driving an r56 with KW v3 with 17x 7 offset 38 , clear the coils nicely .

 

I am not using coil-overs. I am using the JCW springs and shocks.

 

so what was the verdict? Pics?

 

Hi Guys ,

Finally i managed to fix the KW clubsport on my GP .Lower it down and adjusting few times .Now it sits 3 inchec from the ground

Changed the oem rims to 17 x 7 ,offset 42 with 3mm spacers to clear,but apparently after alignment , the rims would clear with spacers .

But then since i ve already obtained a customade set of 6mm spacers , i just fit in on all four corners to give a lil bit of the flush look .

Feel of the clubsport is alot better than the stock GP , when drive slow , its softer in rebound but push it hard and it will change the total characteristics of it .I find it more sharper and less understeer but maybe due to the RT 615 that im using now .

While fitting the coilovers , i ve also installed goodridge steel braided hoses on it ,brake feeling is more accurate and precise .


Pics will follow up soon

 

yea its time for my shocks to be replaced... wondering if I should stay stock or go KW or other aftermarket... are there any hidden issues besides spacers... I rock 17x 7 et 42 Kosei wheels... I thought I heard there was an issue with the rear suspension on the GP when it comes to aftermarket shock/coilover upgrades.... thoughts?

 

Yes Pic Please!