I fitted my wheels the other day, and quickly discovered caliper clearance issues on the front :(

I hastily popped to halfrauds for some 5mm spacers so I could at least get the old wheels off and new (too me) on, but even so clearance is tight ... maybe too tight ?

I got a cutlery knife in order to check clearance, and a set of verniers on the knife blade tells me I have 1.5mm minimum.

 

 

Am I right in thinking this is not enough ?

Technically your wheel will never get any closer to the caliper so shouldn't matter? How do the wheels sit with the arch now at the front? is it worth getting some bigger hubcentric spacers - 20mm or something?

Therein lies the rub :( (Pun unintended!)

I have been informed that with my wheels, a 20mm spacer should give me no arch clearance issues (although looking at them now, I am not so sure I can go that far)

Trouble is these wheels don't have a recess to accomodate the protruding part of the original stud with hubcentric spacers, and as the studs are 25mm, a 15 or 20mm spacer will have some sticking out :(

Edited June 4, 201114 yr by Bartflaster

Surely some expansion and flex happens ?

Am I worrying over nothing or is there a minimum clearance required ?

 

I might have known things wouldn't ever be as straight forward as they seem for me ! :crying:

Therein lies the rub :( (Pun unintended!)

I have been informed that with my wheels, a 20mm spacer should give me no arch clearance issues (although looking at them now, I am not so sure I can go that far)

 

Just to clarify, I am not doubting the spacer size info given to me by a trusted source, more whats on the wheels !

They have 8JJ with 35 offset stamped on them, but the guy who fitted the tyres measured the interior of the rim at 9" and when I put a straight edge flush on the tyres and up into the arches, the front sits around 5mm inside the edge of the arch inside edge, and the rear pretty much flush with the inside edge:

 

Front with 5mm spacer fitted:

 

 

 

Rear no spacers:

 

 

 

But can anyone tell me if the front caliper clearance is safe or not ?

It's not a sliding caliper and is bolted directly to the hub, my old wheels were that close with no running issues.

Looks pretty good to me and the caliper clearance should be fine.

 

Paul

It's not a sliding caliper and is bolted directly to the hub, my old wheels were that close with no running issues.

 

As close as 1.5mm ? It just worries me the rpm the wheel spokes will be whooshing past the calipers at when that close ! :scared:

As close as 1.5mm ? It just worries me the rpm the wheel spokes will be whooshing past the calipers at when that close ! :scared:

 

if your worried dont use them simples,

Which leaves me needing wheels and out of pocket :(

I didn't expect standard calipers to cause me any issues, one for experience :surrender:

I thought I had it all worked out, offsets, widths etc ... carp :cursing:

Edited June 4, 201114 yr by Bartflaster

Which leaves me needing wheels and out of pocket :(

I didn't expect standard calipers to cause me any issues, one for experience :surrender:

 

wrong offset will cause issues on any car. i would use them but its your car at the end of the day.

Yes should be fine, no flex there under 190 mph..lol

The offsets should be fine, (at least whats stamped on them) as its 35 on an 8" over 45 on a 7.5" stock fronts, which should give me more room.

Obviously the wheel design is the factor.

I just didn't expect caliper clearance problems with stock calipers, are the 300 calipers bulkier/wider than other jap cars of the same era ?

The offsets should be fine, (at least whats stamped on them) as its 35 on an 8" over 45 on a 7.5" stock fronts, which should give me more room.

Obviously the wheel design is the factor.

I just didn't expect caliper clearance problems with stock calipers, are the 300 calipers bulkier/wider than other jap cars of the same era ?

 

You haven'nt got clearance problems. The wheels dont touch the calipers so no problem. you've only got a problem if they are touching and as you say there is 1.5mm gap.

And yes they are bulky calipers. 4 pot instead of just 2 pot. I'm unsure about this on the 300ZX but all the GTRs of the time and I think all the 200SXs of the time had Brembo made 4 pot calipers and I think they're all interchangable? Someone want to correct me where I'm wrong there?

Someone want to correct me where I'm wrong there?

 

Seeing as you asked lol

Brembo's were only used on the GTR33/34 and possibly the V spec GTR32. 200sx's of either model didn't have Brembo's.

As for interchangeable, yep the Brembo's fit without a problem BUT using the correct sized disc.

 

A lot comes down to using quite a large disc and then a caliper to suit, ours are 280mm so a decent size really for an 80's-90's car.

 

Wheel design and incorrect offsett is the only real cause of issues with clearance.

1.5mm is very tight, however many have it without issue.

 

Smithy

Thanks for clearing that up, t'was only a rumour I heard and wanted clarification rather than telling him outright. :D

OK, Thanks guys :) I'll see how it goes, I will also see if I can get a 6mm spacer without coming off the spigot for a little more clearance ...

Ive seen simular on stock cars the Fiat coupes are just as close with Brembos. I had the same fear with my Brembos and my new wheels as i was told my calipers will expand with heat. If the Fiats work fine i dont see why ours wont :)