Stupid wheel shimmy

Post Sun Feb 13, 2005 10:02 am

I've just tried fitting some wheels to the front of my machine, only to to find I needed spacers!
Fit some 5mm spacers but now it seems they're causing wobble in the front wheels. has anyone ever had this problem??? And if you have... how'd you sort it???
Any recommendations on brand for the spacers???
HELP!!!!!!!

Post Sun Feb 13, 2005 10:21 am

Hello mate, try jacking the car up with the wheel nuts just undone
spin the wheel the spacer should be able to move aboutnip the bolts up to hold it inplace should be better i have no problems with mine and there 10mm just a bit fiddly.

Post Sun Feb 13, 2005 10:23 am

hi

sounds like the spacers need to be hub centric, if the wobble comes at high speed 50mph+ then im sure it the spacers then, i had this then was told i need hubcentric spacers (hubcentric spacers center the wheel on hub, so sitts flush and tight).

some other sugestion what it might be buckle/balancing/suspension components i.e. ball joints, track control arms?

spacers i can think of are FK, Eibach, H&R.

Post Sun Feb 13, 2005 11:55 am

sounds like the spacers

if itÃƒ”šÃ‚´s not centrics, then at higer speeds , the ofset spacer causes inertia wobbles (like unballanced wheels)

iÃƒ”šÃ‚´m not sure the diam. of the hole it goes over , but get it and ask at the shop

Post Mon Feb 14, 2005 6:38 pm

Thanks for the ideas!!
I was suspecting the spacers but I didn't know bout hub centrics.... I don't think it'd be my ball joints or bushings cos I had those changed fairly recently. Would the shock absorbers have anything to do with it???
You guys hit the nail on the head with the speed tho' it shimmies like a bowl of jelly on a misfiring six pot when it hits 50!!

Guest · Post Mon Feb 14, 2005 8:46 pm

Hi

I had this problem and the only answer was hub centric spacers. Halfords can do them in pairs for aroung Ãƒ”šÃ‚£35. You need to check the et off your wheels. My after market wheels were et40 and I needed 20mm hub centric spacers to make them work. Just remember that if you do put spacers on then you might need longer threads and lockers.

Gary

Post Mon Feb 14, 2005 9:26 pm

Cheers, Gary.
I'll be orderin me a set 2 morra!!

Post Wed Feb 16, 2005 4:48 am

johnono wrote:iÃƒ”šÃ‚´m not sure the diam. of the hole it goes over , but get it and ask at the shop

center hole must be 57,1mm for E30 (same like VW early Golf)

Here's a link to FK products:
http://www.fk-automotive.de/en/

Post Wed Feb 16, 2005 5:48 am

You will probably have trouble finding a 5mm hubcentric spacer

I believe 10mm is the thinnest you can get the hubcentric variety. There's just not enough metal on a 5mm spacer.

Ian.

Post Wed Feb 16, 2005 4:51 pm

Ian, what are the size of your spacers?

(mine are a bit large: front 20mm, back 25mm)

Post Wed Feb 16, 2005 7:20 pm

radback wrote:Ian, what are the size of your spacers?

(mine are a bit large: front 20mm, back 25mm)

I have 10mm on the back, and 15mm on the front (for caliper clearance). The wheels have a 35mm offset (VW fitment).

Ian.

Post Wed Feb 16, 2005 10:37 pm

I've just ordered a pair of H&R DR spacers... they say they're 10mm... cost Ãƒ”šÃ‚£59 from performancealloys.com
I'm REALLY hoping this fixes the problem

Does anyone have the Toora Canonica Alloys on? I've got a set of 17x 7.5 's
with 205/40's on the front and 215/45's on back.
I'd really like to know if you've had any probs fitting 'em and what you did to fix it.
thanks.

Post Wed Feb 16, 2005 10:43 pm

I bought some 5mm hubcentric spacers from performancedriven.co.uk.

Guest · Post Wed Feb 16, 2005 11:18 pm

hi

You need to check the off set of your alloys. The e30 need to be between et20 and et25. Mine are et40 so i use 20mm spacers to make them et20.

Post Wed Feb 16, 2005 11:23 pm

by 20mm spacers... do you mean 20mm EACH side, or 20mm OVERALL??
My wheels are ET35...

Guest · Post Wed Feb 16, 2005 11:33 pm

Hi

20mm each side. If your alloys are et35 then you will be fine getting
15mm spacers each side. You will need longer bolts and lockers if you use them. Make sure the hub centric spacers fit the spigot ring on your alloy. Mine were 57.1mm. Once you have these on then all your problems like mine should go. Good luck. I got momo spacrs and they cost me Ãƒ”šÃ‚£20.
per pair in a sale. Usual price is Ãƒ”šÃ‚£35 per pair.

Post Fri Feb 18, 2005 3:39 pm

Riiiight..... I know I'm about to sound dumb as a doorknob but... what's the spigot ring??
I got the spacer kit this morn... has anyone fitted these before??? H&R DR kit that is... do I need to have a centre ring kit??
I mean, do I now need to buy something else to extend the centre of the hub so's I can put the little plastic shim- that fits inside the centre of the rim (read wheel)- over in order to properly fit the wheel and not have anymore shimmying ever again until I lose a weight off the wheel ever ??????
... my brain hurts.

Post Fri Feb 18, 2005 4:56 pm

scintaar wrote: I mean, do I now need to buy something else to extend the centre of the hub so's I can put the little plastic shim- that fits inside the centre of the rim (read wheel)- over in order to properly fit the wheel and not have anymore shimmying ever again until I lose a weight off the wheel ever ??????
... my brain hurts.

Well, if you ordered the correct kit for BMW, the centerhub of your spacers should be 57.1mm.
So you need the same size rings for your wheels (try to find some in alloy as they're better than plastic)

Post Sat Feb 19, 2005 9:28 am

Once again the collective knowledge has saved me a nervous breakdown and kept my 320i mistress and me together!!!!

Thanks to everyone who replied to my post... problem now solved!!! I fit the spacers last night and took her out for run... not even so much as a shudder!!!!
I LOVE this forum!!! :lol: