I'm in the process of installing a set of 14" Civic HX wheels on my 94 Integra GSR. I have a set 1/4" wheel spacers for the front, which is required to run the wheels for brake clearance. My question is, would it be smart to run the spacers on the rear also, making the width of the wheels equal in the front and rear.

It seems to me that most are just running the front spacers, are there any pros/cons to running spacers only in the front, opposed to putting them in the rear also?


Modified by 8point6 at 10:28 PM 3/19/2005

 

bump

 

i dont know if this applies to your case, but the Honda Insight has a more narrow track on the rear than the front...the reason? less drag and better fuel economy

 

I would only run the spacers where you need them. I ran 5mm spacers on the ITR to fit 225's and I didn't run any spacers in the rear because there wasn't a rubbing issue.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 91civicDXdude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i dont know if this applies to your case, but the Honda Insight has a more narrow track on the rear than the front...the reason? less drag and better fuel economy</TD></TR></TABLE>

How does this better the fuel consumption? Would a narrower rear track better the handling?

 

Agreed run spacers only as necessary. If you don't need them, then don't use them. I and several other DS racers had problems breaking wheel studs when we used spacers. I eventually quit using them altogether.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by travis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I would only run the spacers where you need them. I ran 5mm spacers on the ITR to fit 225's and I didn't run any spacers in the rear because there wasn't a rubbing issue. </TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 91civicDXdude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i dont know if this applies to your case, but the Honda Insight has a more narrow track on the rear than the front...the reason? less drag and better fuel economy</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 8point6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How does this better the fuel consumption? Would a narrower rear track better the handling?</TD></TR></TABLE>


The Honda insight has a more narrow rear track because of it's body shape. The tear drop like shape is more areodynamic, than conventional cars, and that contributes to the fuel economy.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by typer_801 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Agreed run spacers only as necessary. If you don't need them, then don't use them. I and several other DS racers had problems breaking wheel studs when we used spacers. I eventually quit using them altogether.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

What did you do as an alternative to the spacers?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 8point6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

What did you do as an alternative to the spacers?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Since typer_801 is talking about DS autocrossing I'm guessing he was doing what I was doing and trying to make room for wider tires up front. So to get around using spacers you either move to a narrower tire or put up with a lot of rubbing for a short period.

Since yours is a brake issue, rubbing for a short period isn't okay so you're either stuck with spacers or different wheels that fit. Just don't use them in the rear to "even things out" because I don't think it's necessary or a good idea.

 

i gots the same 14 inch wheels on my 04 ex cupe and i only got 1/4 spacers on the front 2. never had any problems what so ever. so i think its fine to just use where needed

 

Many people grind down their calipers, but I've heard this makes them dangerously weak. This is what I assume typer_801 has resulted to doing. Is the breaking issue common?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 8point6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Many people grind down their calipers, but I've heard this makes them dangerously weak. This is what I assume typer_801 has resulted to doing. Is the breaking issue common?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ouch, I'm hoping 801 didn't take a grinder to his ITR calipers I'm still under the assumption that he's talking about tire fit given the DS comment.

But seriously, I would have a really hard time grinding anything on the caliper unless we're talking about less than a mm and the contact was only under wheel flex. If you can't put the wheel on, don't grind that much off of the caliper. Your brakes need to function better than your wheel studs (although I personally never had a problem breaking studs while using spacers).