Free Lowering with factory setting VS. GRP lowering kit

[Porter]

Of course proper wheel installation, proper road force balance and torque applications are important but I would assume that's a given. Spacer manufacturing including material used, machine process, hubcentricity, slip-on vs bolt, install prep of said spacer have just as much impact on what you feel at wheel and seat.

You don't need hubcentric spacers to have a vibration-free install, if you use correct wheel-centering technique as you install the wheels.

 

[Rayjoedef]

You don't need hubcentric spacers to have a vibration-free install, if you use correct wheel-centering technique as you install the wheels.

If no other options, I guess, however just a matter of time before road forces impact that balance. I've had great success with future classics on both porsche and BMW. I will give GRP a try, just wish they had a 10 or 15....

 

[lynchy73]

Looks great....any vibration at the wheel above 60mph?

Hard to say for sure, but from my experience, there is definitely more chance to get a little vibration after adding the (hub centric) spacers. I don’t have the tools these days to swap wheels, so I’m typically relying on others and they ain’t gonna be dotting the i’s/crossing the t’s, as it were. However, I’ve not noticed anything more than a very slight steering wobble at 80 plus mph and that got fixed with a wheel balance.

I certainly wouldn’t dissuade anyone from running the same or similar spacers. Looks better and didn’t notice anything negative about the handling.

I’ve order a set of slightly wider, with more offset 20” wheels, so will be moving to them soon. Wider means the offset is lower than now, do should give the look, whilst keeping closer to stock suspension/wheel geometry.

 

[kitkat]

If no other options, I guess, however just a matter of time before road forces impact that balance. I've had great success with future classics on both porsche and BMW. I will give GRP a try, just wish they had a 10 or 15....

PCD Parts will get you 10 or 15mm if you order, the shipping is a little high though.

 

[Porter]

If no other options, I guess, however just a matter of time before road forces impact that balance. I've had great success with future classics on both porsche and BMW. I will give GRP a try, just wish they had a 10 or 15....

If road forces are shifting the mounting contact of your wheel/hub interface, you have much bigger problems than vibration and are likely to lose a wheel at any moment.

 

[Rayjoedef]

If road forces are shifting the mounting contact of your wheel/hub interface, you have much bigger problems than vibration and are likely to lose a wheel at any moment.

If road forces are shifting the mounting contact of your wheel/hub interface, you have much bigger problems than vibration and are likely to lose a wheel at any moment.

Whatever you say big guy, do your thing...

 

[kitkat]

Hubcentric interfaces are simply there to help correctly position and center the wheel on the wheel hub - they aren't responsible for taking road forces. Porter is indeed correct and that road forces are resisted from friction between the wheel and hub multiplied by the tension from the lug nuts or wheel bolts.

 

[Rayjoedef]

Hubcentric interfaces are simply there to help correctly position and center the wheel on the wheel hub - they aren't responsible for taking road forces. Porter is indeed correct and that road forces are resisted from friction between the wheel and hub multiplied by the tension from the lug nuts or wheel bolts.

Totally agree....isn't that the primary goal? Why use non hubcentric and be subservient to human error. Non hubcentric tend to cause vibration over time, usually at higher speeds at a higher percentage than hubcentric. By the way, road forces absolutely effect torque specs over a given period of time. If you had a choice there kk, what spacer would you run, hub or non hubcentric?

 

[Foxy87]

So I just got back from another testdrive after my 1st testdrive two years ago. I thought I post some interesting info:

My local dealer also lowers V6 by doing the following to the stock Bilstein Dampers: Another, 4th groove, is milled in, exactly like the 3 existing original grooves, so that the spring plate comes 12mm lower (compared to the middle setting). After the milling, they reinstall the suspension and adjust/ make an alignement. Looks like it works pretty well, I was testdriving one of their cars today and it felt very good/planted.

This dealer organizes a lot of trackdays a year and races a local series with the Emira. So I consider them pretty experienced in that regard. They also have some suspension guru working from them.

 

[RyanGphoto]

So I just got back from another testdrive after my 1st testdrive two years ago. I thought I post some interesting info:

My local dealer also lowers V6 by doing the following to the stock Bilstein Dampers: Another, 4th groove, is milled in, exactly like the 3 existing original grooves, so that the spring plate comes 12mm lower (compared to the middle setting). After the milling, they reinstall the suspension and adjust/ make an alignement. Looks like it works pretty well, I was testdriving one of their cars today and it felt very good/planted.

This dealer organizes a lot of trackdays a year and races a local series with the Emira. So I consider them pretty experienced in that regard. They also have some suspension guru working from them.

Is this on the sport suspension? I would imagine it would be but just checking.

 

[Foxy87]

Yes. But the same „trick“ can be done on the touring I guess.