Spacers for A5 cab with stock 19" rims

[RyanGautier]

I am trying to decide if I want spacers at all, now I have seen the way they look on some really great dropped cars, but I haven't really seen them on stock 19" rims.

Does anyone know what type and kind (hubcentric keeps coming up) I should invest in or invest in AT ALL.

Anyone have pics from the side and back with spacers on an A5 (does cab matter?) so I can see it with the stock OEM 19" Sport Wheels?

Thanks so much.

First post btw. :)

Ryan G

[Rocket Tech]

The sepang blue s5 is mine, its stock other than running 15f/20r spacers. I went with ECS spacers, high quality kit with a nice finish. These are hub centric rings and ensure the wheel is properly centered while tightening your wheel bolts. I believe my wheel specs are 19x9 et33.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...6-shots-inside!

[GeauxA5]

I’m sitting on H&R Sport Springs with H&R 20(front)/25(rear) spacers

[RVJ]

I'm on 19" stock rotors, H&R coils, and H&R spacers (15f / 20r). Love the stance and no issues.










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[Rocket Tech]

RVJ - do you know what your FTG measurement is?

[RVJ]

Sure. 26" all around.


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[Crusader105]

Ditto on the 15/20mm spacers on my S-Line with a 20mm factory drop. Stance looks great.

[ryangphoto]

Ditto on the 15/20mm spacers on my S-Line with a 20mm factory drop. Stance looks great.

Mind taking and showing a pic form the TOP of the wheel DOWN to the ground as well as FAR enough back behind the car from the center of the rear of the car to show BOTH wheels in the pic?

Anything from the front center would be awesome too. :)

Thanks. I have a couple friends telling me I would want the 20f/25r spacers, but I don't want to overdo it.

Thanks
Ryan G.

[Rocket Tech]

Mind taking and showing a pic form the TOP of the wheel DOWN to the ground as well as FAR enough back behind the car from the center of the rear of the car to show BOTH wheels in the pic?

Anything from the front center would be awesome too. :)

Thanks. I have a couple friends telling me I would want the 20f/25r spacers, but I don't want to overdo it.

Thanks
Ryan G.

Results may vary based on camera operator and equipment ;)

Here's a shot of my car with 15/20, stock height (pro photographer/camera):


Here's a shot of my car with 15/20, 26" FTG, about 1" drop (me + iPhone):


I have a few more photos in this other thread, the closeup shots may be of more interest and representative of what it would look like in person. You could probably get away with another 5mm but I feel the current setup is pretty ideal. Not sure I want the rubber part of the tire poking out past the edge of the fender much more, a slight tuck looks right to me.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...recommendation

[ryangphoto]

Results may vary based on camera operator and equipment ;)

Here's a shot of my car with 15/20, stock height (pro photographer/camera):


Here's a shot of my car with 15/20, 26" FTG, about 1" drop (me + iPhone):


I have a few more photos in this other thread, the closeup shots may be of more interest and representative of what it would look like in person. You could probably get away with another 5mm but I feel the current setup is pretty ideal. Not sure I want the rubber part of the tire poking out past the edge of the fender much more, a slight tuck looks right to me.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...recommendation

Thanks I appreciate the pics and the link to the other thread so I can see what you have. I am NOT dropping the car at all. I kinda like it the way it is and I dislike having to get an alignment. I actually like your look at 15/20, but I like a couple at 20/25 also. The 20/25 makes the TOP of the wheel more flush with the fender, but the bottom looks a bit wider out of the fender. 18mm would be perfect. Ha.

I appreciate the help though.

One more ask: Mind taking it from the back and front so I can see the wheels in the shot as well? Pretty please.

Thank much for the help.

Ryan G

[Rocket Tech]

These are all taken after my car was lowered so not sure how much this will help you:









There are more photos of my car with the spacers/before lowering at this link:

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...6-shots-inside!

One more thing to note - I have not taken my car in for alignment yet. So with a proper alignment I'm guessing I may lose some negative camber and the tops will poke out a bit more. You said you're not planning to lower but making this statement in case someone else sees this in the future.

[RyanGautier]

Thanks so much. That is exactly what I was looking for. I appreciate it.

What did you use to lower it? I really like that look. I didn't plan on lowering it, but well that's a maybe now. Who knows. I just don't want to have to deal with the issues after lowering it : Shocks, extra wear on the car, warranty issues, anything.

Mind telling me the exact spacers you used for that setup?

Thanks again for the pics.

Ryan G


Lastly: yes I know I am being a PITA.. Any shots of the car

[RyanGautier]

I'm on 19" stock rotors, H&R coils, and H&R spacers (15f / 20r). Love the stance and no issues.










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Mind pointing me to the exact spacers you bought please. There are several different ones on their site.

Thanks
RYan G

[4RingRook]

Recommend H&R DRA Trak+ 20 front and 25 rear. DRA Trak's bolt to the hub and you use stock bolts to attach to the spacer itself.

[Rocket Tech]

Thanks so much. That is exactly what I was looking for. I appreciate it.

What did you use to lower it? I really like that look. I didn't plan on lowering it, but well that's a maybe now. Who knows. I just don't want to have to deal with the issues after lowering it : Shocks, extra wear on the car, warranty issues, anything.

Mind telling me the exact spacers you used for that setup?

Thanks again for the pics.

Ryan G


Lastly: yes I know I am being a PITA.. Any shots of the car

https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_S5...ers/ES2748286/

https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_S5...ers/ES2748291/

You want ball seat fasteners for oem wheels. Available with black or silver fasteners (links above are for black).

What other angles are you looking for?

I went with the Bilstein b16 ride control with IRC module setup. It's middle of the road in terms of cost but I think offers the highest performance/cost ratio. Going aftermarket springs would likely void any suspension related warranty; if you're going to do it, do it right by going with a paired spring/shock upgrade and not just springs alone (imho). It definitely looks much better with the spacers, why not go that route first then re-evaluate lowering once you get them on there for a bit. I had friends notice right away that the car looked different/better but they couldn't put their finger on it till I told them it was spacers.

[Rocket Tech]

Recommend H&R DRA Trak+ 20 front and 25 rear. DRA Trak's bolt to the hub and you use stock bolts to attach to the spacer itself.

+1 if I had to do it again I probably would have gone this route (didn't know about them at the time). With spacers that big I think it's more stable for the wheel to go with intermediate/shorter bolts to avoid long cantilevered bolts. That said, I think there's enough preload in the bolts and they're hub centric that there's likely very little stability concerns and I haven't found a loss in wheel bolt preload/torque to suggest they were being over stressed.

[ryangphoto]

https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_S5...ers/ES2748286/

https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_S5...ers/ES2748291/

You want ball seat fasteners for oem wheels. Available with black or silver fasteners (links above are for black).

What other angles are you looking for?

I went with the Bilstein b16 ride control with IRC module setup. It's middle of the road in terms of cost but I think offers the highest performance/cost ratio. Going aftermarket springs would likely void any suspension related warranty; if you're going to do it, do it right by going with a paired spring/shock upgrade and not just springs alone (imho). It definitely looks much better with the spacers, why not go that route first then re-evaluate lowering once you get them on there for a bit. I had friends notice right away that the car looked different/better but they couldn't put their finger on it till I told them it was spacers.

Are you saying to just do the spacers FIRST, then see? I think I might go that route actually. I just don't have the coin right now to do the full setup. Hence why I THOUGHT just to do the springs, but thinking against that route for now. Spacers first might be an option.

What the heck are Ball Seat fasteners? ha

[ryangphoto]

Recommend H&R DRA Trak+ 20 front and 25 rear. DRA Trak's bolt to the hub and you use stock bolts to attach to the spacer itself.

Not sure I wanted to do 20/25 though. I think it would stick out a little too far for my liking. I was hoping they had these in the 15/20 config. I don't see the DRA Trak+ as an option for 15/20 though.

Thoughts?

[ryangphoto]

https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_S5...ers/ES2748286/

https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_S5...ers/ES2748291/

You want ball seat fasteners for oem wheels. Available with black or silver fasteners (links above are for black).

What other angles are you looking for?

Preferably something like a LONG shot from the front and back showing both sides of the wheels in the shot. Maybe from like 200mm or so so I can see both sides of the wheels and how far they stick out, but still show the rear and front of the vehicle. So you would probably have to be 40ft from the car and zoomed in pretty far.

Anything from 10ft+ away from the side as well showing the WHOLE car. I know I am being picky. :)

Thanks so much

Ryan G

[Rocket Tech]

I don't think my wimpy iPhone can take the front/rear shots you're asking for. The head on above was taken when I had the spacers and no lowering so that should be what you're looking for. It was taken by IBroightACamera on this board and is about as pro as you're going to get!

Here's a few from the side. First one is after lowering second one is before lowering.





I would recommend you do the spacers first before anything else since it seems you're pretty set on doing this at the least. It's also the lowest cost mod before stepping into the more serious stuff.

I highly recommend you get a ride in someone else's car if you're thinking about doing springs alone, I feel you will ruin the ride of the car unless you go with well matched shocks. I'm more handling focused than some so my opinion may be biased.

Do the spacers, save up, then do the suspension when you can do it right.

Ball seat fasteners just describe the shape at the bottom of the bolt, where it touches the wheel. There are 2 styles, oem wheels use a rounded (ball) shape and the aftermarket wheels tend to go with conical (straight) seats.

[ryangphoto]

Thanks I appreciate the insight and knowledge. I am, sadly, not mechanical at all. So all this technical mumbo jumbo is foreign to me. :) I am learning though.

Thanks for the pics again. I actually like the way it looks with just the spacers. That IS the route I am going to go then first and see.


Does it matter if they are black or silver for the spacers? Will I actually SEE THEM? Forgive my naivety. I have never seen the actual spacers ON the car.

Ryan G

[Rocket Tech]

Thanks I appreciate the insight and knowledge. I am, sadly, not mechanical at all. So all this technical mumbo jumbo is foreign to me. :) I am learning though.

Thanks for the pics again. I actually like the way it looks with just the spacers. That IS the route I am going to go then first and see.


Does it matter if they are black or silver for the spacers? Will I actually SEE THEM? Forgive my naivety. I have never seen the actual spacers ON the car.

Ryan G

The spacers are visible. Your choice on whether you want to see silver or black.

[RVJ]

Since you've got stock wheels you may want to go silver. It blends pretty well with the wheel and you really don't notice them.

Also, when you have your tires rotated make sure to tell the mechanic that you've got spacers. Sometime they stick to the wheel when you pull it and you don't want them to end up with one or all of them getting swapped front to rear. That has happened to a few people here.


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[4RingRook]

Not sure I wanted to do 20/25 though. I think it would stick out a little too far for my liking. I was hoping they had these in the 15/20 config. I don't see the DRA Trak+ as an option for 15/20 though.

Thoughts?

They have DRA for 20 but not 15 so you would need extended bolts to go with the 15s. (42mm)

I ran 20/25 on the stock rotor wheels fwiw but it's personal preference.

[RyanGautier]

Thanks 4Ring.. I appreciate the heads up. I guess I need to see if the other brands offer a better alternative.. I don't think I want to do 20/25 though.

[Jreod]

Ditto on the 15/20mm spacers on my S-Line with a 20mm factory drop. Stance looks great.

Hey sorry. What is a "factory" drop?

And I'm stock also on my S5 other than my winters on, and am also looking at spacer recommendations - I'm initially thinking 15/20. And worse case I will grab a pair of 25s if it's not aggressive enough and bump the 20s towards the fronts.

Also I've been curious: What CB (centEr bore) do I need to look for? I don't want to over look any details especially if it'll compromise the security of the wheels.

Pics of my stock 19s and now the winter setup:

[RyanGautier]

The factory drop, I BELIEVE, is if you have the sports suspension. I don't know anything about the rest.

I am currently going to go with the 15/20 setup and Mops is going to help me source what would be the best.