( stupid ? ) Wheel Spacers Question

[Mat@1975]

Hello Folks,

For the moment, i run with H&R 10 mm spacers front and 12 mm spacers rear. (no rubbing at all)

But, i noticed that for the rear end, it looks like the 2 wheels do not visually flush the same relatively to the fender.
Roughly, the right side flushes 3-4 mm more than the left side.
Of Course, I checked the spacers thickness and they are the same. I have also strictly identical alignment values for the rear end (-2° camber and 0,8° toe in )

From an aesthetic point of view, it hurts me a lot (may be i am a bit maniac but it's like this..). But i am sure it's in the torerances specs from manufacturer. No serious problems here.

==> So my question is: what could be the consequenses if i run a 12 mm spacer right and a 15 mm spacer left ? My eyes will be happy, but what about the chassis/mechanic components?

I really think it would be OK because we speek of 3 mm and it's quite negligible towards the vehicle dimensions, but i would like your opinion guys .

Thanks in advance and merry Christmas !!


Best regards

Mathieu

[SteveYem]

I have noticed the same thing on my car, but spacers were not involved. My rear passenger side wheel appears to sit out closer to the fender than the rear driver side, without spacers. Camber and is the same on both sides. In fact at my ride height, when running my S5 wheels and 255/35 tires, the passenger side rubs while the driver side does not. I had the same exact problem on my B8. I always suspected that the rear subframe was not properly aligned with the chassis. It is annoying for sure, but I do not think it is a good idea to use different thickness spacers from one side to the other.

[Mops@Nemesis]

My A5 was the same, and mk7 is currently. I was running 5mm rear spacers with my CH-R's, and now running 5/7 to correct.

[UnstableOS]

I noticed the same after my suspension was installed.. Found that tech dropped the rear subframe to perform install, not sure why... Anyway, if you've had suspension work done, take the car in without spacers and have alignment checked.

[SteveYem]

I noticed the same after my suspension was installed.. Found that tech dropped the rear subframe to perform install, not sure why... Anyway, if you've had suspension work done, take the car in without spacers and have alignment checked.

Misaligned subframe is my suspicion as well, except I think they may come from the factory like that. My car has aftermarket coilovers installed but I was present during the installation and can confirm that the subframe was not moved, yet my car exhibits the same symptom.

[Mops@Nemesis]

Subframe yes, and extremely common.

Lol at the 100s of AZers that will inspect their vehicles for this today :P


Mops on the move

[Jflow23]

You can probably re-align the rear subframe...this was easy reasonably simple on the b5 and b6.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...-rear-subframe

[SteveYem]

Here is mine, both rear wheels at the same ride height and camber angle (-1.6 deg). The rear passenger tire rubs all the time, but no rubbing on the driver side. It's pretty clear to see from the photos that the passenger side wheel+tire sits closer to the fender than the driver side.






I have a friend who is an Audi tech so I just sent him a message to see if there is a known issue and/or method for rectifying this issue. Of course since I am lowered on coilovers the service department would likely tell me to go pound sand, but I'd be curious to know the limits of adjustability so I could ask my indy shop to look into it.

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

Wouldn't it just make more sense to adjust your camber so it "looks" the same? I'm sure the effects of slightly different camber on one side wont really hurt much. I mean if these vehicles are coming with misaligned subframes from the factory and they are aligned to track straight something is going to be lopsided one way or another.

Jason

[Mops@Nemesis]

Wouldn't it just make more sense to adjust your camber so it "looks" the same? I'm sure the effects of slightly different camber on one side wont really hurt much. I mean if these vehicles are coming with misaligned subframes from the factory and they are aligned to track straight something is going to be lopsided one way or another.

Jason

Yep, my mk7 has about -1.4 on the side that sits in, and around -0.6 on the side that pokes, which does not help the situation. I'm gonna snap.

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

Is that how it came from the factory?

Jason

[SteveYem]

Wouldn't it just make more sense to adjust your camber so it "looks" the same? I'm sure the effects of slightly different camber on one side wont really hurt much. I mean if these vehicles are coming with misaligned subframes from the factory and they are aligned to track straight something is going to be lopsided one way or another.

Jason

I can't say I agree with that approach but it's probably what I will end up doing.

[Mops@Nemesis]

Is that how it came from the factory?

Jason

Nope, has been lowered on VWR, and rolled over two sets of park stops at 10+ mph That is when I started looking for it. Post repairs and align.

[Mat@1975]

THanks guys,

I think i would rather prefer different spacers size than different camber settings...
Don't know..

BR

Mat

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

I can't say I agree with that approach but it's probably what I will end up doing.

In a perfect world I'd want the subframe re-aligned then camber/toe adjusted appropriately. I'm not sure how involved aligning the rear sub frame is but if it's anything like older models you probably need special dowels.

Nope, has been lowered on VWR, and rolled over two sets of park stops at 10+ mph That is when I started looking for it. Post repairs and align.

Ouch.

Jason

[Mat@1975]

Personnallly, my camber is a compromise between track and street wear and tire behaviour (-2.0°)
I don't really want to change that setting.
From a mechanical point of view, different spacers route looks more near to a subframe realignment, isn't it ?

BR,

Mat

[UnstableOS]

Do not run different spacers sizes left/right.. Get a proper alignment

[SteveYem]

Do not run different spacers sizes left/right.. Get a proper alignment

But that's the entire issue. I could get both rear wheels aligned to the same exact camber and toe angles, like it should be for a street-driven car, and my passenger side wheel will be sitting ~5mm closer to the fender than the driver side. Not only is it an aesthetic issue, but it limits wheel and tire fitment to avoid rubbing on the passenger side. If I keep the driver side camber angle where it is and have the passenger side adjusted 0.1-0.2 degrees more negative, it might take care of the rubbing but then I end up with different camber side to side which doesn't seem correct either.

[UnstableOS]

But that's the entire issue. I could get both rear wheels aligned to the same exact camber and toe angles, like it should be for a street-driven car, and my passenger side wheel will be sitting ~5mm closer to the fender than the driver side. Not only is it an aesthetic issue, but it limits wheel and tire fitment to avoid rubbing on the passenger side. If I keep the driver side camber angle where it is and have the passenger side adjusted 0.1-0.2 degrees more negative, it might take care of the rubbing but then I end up with different camber side to side which doesn't seem correct either.

Am I missing something..? Take it to the nearest speakership and tell them to align the thing. Don't bother taking it in with spacers or they will complain about calibrations on the rack lasers.. Show the SA your misaligned rear end and they will remedy it.

[UnstableOS]

You need to specifically mention your rear subframe is off centered. -- do you feel the car pull at all to the left or right? If so, and if it is the subframe it should be, have the SA go for a drive.