GR86 Pros and Cons of 10mm spacers

Andyoz

Andyoz

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I've a GR86 that's lowered circa 25mm on KW v3's.

Planning on fitting Eibach 10mm spacers.
Unlike screw on 15mm or 20mm spacers, the wheel studs need replaced with 10mm spacers so not as easy to 'reverse'. Not sure if rear hub needs loosened (along with caliper/disc removal) to get the Eibach studs in as I can't find info on the stud length that comes with the kit

The stock studs are not known to be very strong so changing them for 'good' Eibach ones may be a nice side benefit?

I'm not looking for the flush wheel to arch fit lads using 20mm are... more trying to counteract the exaggerated wheel sunken into arches look that lowering generates.

Rims I'm running are 17" BBS RF504 for weight reduction and ride on our now crap roads.. but also have stock rims and may try others as they come along used...

Anyone have experience like my situation?
 
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Whats the offset of the BBS? I assume they are the same as stock as BBS tend to have similar offsets.

The fact you are on 17s and lowered 25mm I'd be inclined to go for 20mm spacers, 10mm will be subtle, the rear would have picked up some natural negative camber when you lowered it and the smaller arch gap tends to cast more shadow on the wheels exaggerating the sunken look. It does mean you could go for the bolt on option which will be less faff than changing studs.
 
ZN8 said:
Whats the offset of the BBS? I assume they are the same as stock as BBS tend to have similar offsets.

The fact you are on 17s and lowered 25mm I'd be inclined to go for 20mm spacers, 10mm will be subtle, the rear would have picked up some natural negative camber when you lowered it and the smaller arch gap tends to cast more shadow on the wheels exaggerating the sunken look. It does mean you could go for the bolt on option which will be less faff than changing studs.
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Yes, the BBS are ET48 so same as stock 18's.

I have a set of rear camber arms going on and it's getting setup next week.
From my understanding, the recommended setups tend to have greater camber at the front than rear but I know what you mean about that rear arch shadow (I purchased the car 45mm lowered and boy it's looks weird without spacers and the -2.7 rear camber)

Car actually came with 20mm bolt on Eibachs (taken off when I fitted the BBS) but I just don't feel comfortable going that far with spacers so I'm probably answering m own Question here...
It's more to offset the effect of dropping it 25mm rather than making it look "wide stanced"
 
There are several videos showing how to replace the studs. I did it and that means anyone can, it took me quite a lot of time though. Front one are easier, rear ones are a PITA as you have to loosen the hub.

Yes, no way I am returning to stock ever. Also the studs are known to break easily.

Just one of the many
 
Grblue86 said:
There are several videos showing how to replace the studs. I did it and that means anyone can, it took me quite a lot of time though. Front one are easier, rear ones are a PITA as you have to loosen the hub.

Yes, no way I am returning to stock ever. Also the studs are known to break easily.

Just one of the many
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Hi, are you running 10mm spacers?

I just don't want to stray too far from stock track width as I love the way she steers. 10mm seems a decent compromise
 
I fitted 10mm spacers on the front only to give clearance to AP calipers with an old set of 17" wheels I use on track.
Don't whack them with a lump hammer like Kevin Vo! The impact is all going into the wheel bearings. A ball joint splitter will remove and refit them without abuse.
No negative impacts from using the 10mm spacers but you'll notice the longer studs require a much larger angle to get them up to torque which is disconcerting at first - feels like a stud that's about to break but it's just due to the extra length being stretched.
Balljoint splitter.webp
 
Just an update.
Got the 10mm spacers fitted all round with 17 x 7.5 BBS RF504.
My suspension guy did it whilst he was doing the setup....No hammering of hubs etc. they did it properly.
Drop height is around 25mm on the KW v3 with about 6mm front to back rake.
Camber is -1.9° front and -1.8° rear with slight toe out at front.
Picked her up Friday morning and went across Ireland on varied A/B roads to our place in Donegal.
Have spent the weekend here throwing every road type I can find at it and the cars sublime (some are Donegal Rally sections like Atlantic Drive). The KW's with the light 17" rims suit our roads so well.
I'd go as far to say the only other car I've had with such a nice front end is my old 1999 GT3 on Cup 2's that I sold two years ago.
Best thing is, this costs a fraction to run!!

IMG-20260827-WA0035.webp


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IMG-20260827-WA0034.webp


IMG-20260827-WA0032.webp
 
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Conscript said:
Car sits nicely there, and those wheels look fantastic.
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Yes, I actually bought them off this very forum and took seller ages to sell.
I guess everyone wants 18's now hey?
It;s still amazing the performance you can get from 215 tyres on road....Most sports cars are over tyred now.

The 10mm spacers match the disc hub diameter perfectly and then a small few mm step down to the BBS hub diameter so they look 'stock'

Next job is for me to underseal her with Bilt Hamber Dynax UC while cars nice and fresh underneath.
Not a job I enjoy but the car sure will in say 5 years time!
 

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