My Alfa 147 GTA has a few handling 'quirks' and the wheels are very inset.. will some bolt on wheel spacers have any effect at all, or are are the manufacturer claims about spacers a lot of hot air?
Пікірлер: 392
@sportshatch3 жыл бұрын
I hope you have notified your insurance company. They consider wheel spacers a major modification. And they know it does not improve either steering geometry or handling.
@Number273 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the advice. Have since removed them for better comparison and they will be going back on ASAP. I can’t speak in general of course but this car handles much better with them on, other than more of a tendency to tramline and slightly more torque steer. The extra steering feel, stability, positive turn and better ride are well worth the trade offs for me.
@thepiedpiper542 жыл бұрын
Grass
@AMPHICARSdotCOM3 жыл бұрын
13 year old tyres are the elephant in the room.
@StevesMachines3 жыл бұрын
Money well spent changing them
@organiccold3 жыл бұрын
The 147 is a odd car, some tyres that are amazing in other cars wont be very good in the 147 chassi, best tyres for it are the Pirelli PZero Rosso Assimetrico and the Bridgestone Potenza S04 Pole Position, i tried even Michelin Sport and the 147 dont like it.
@Gofast12343 жыл бұрын
And its got a thicker anti roll bar , which will stiffen the ride
@simonorr5943 жыл бұрын
If you get the right tyres, many of the issues you describe will disappear or be mitigated. Love this series, BTW.
@StevesMachines3 жыл бұрын
Those tyres need to go
@dagnut3 жыл бұрын
been my bug bear for years..I see guys fitting coil overs, sway bars, strut braces and brakes with budget tyres..drives me mental...how can you understand how you car handles and rides on cheap rubber???
@Strike863 жыл бұрын
Goodyear F1 Asymmetric. 147s and GTs are extremely rubber-sensitive. The F1s are the best tyre I found for them, miles better than the Pirellis it had when I bought mine.
@AUDIDOIT3 жыл бұрын
Simon a better softer tyre say a michelin ps4 will help, but it will not get rid of the harshness of those bloody Eibach pro coilovers, I had them on my GT, it was awful on a B road.
@simong2007simong3 жыл бұрын
But then there would be no journey of discovery and a set of videos 😉
@ProfessorOzone3 жыл бұрын
Little safety tip. When you remove a wheel, always place it under the car. That way if the jack were to fail in any way the car doesn't come down on you. Ask me how I know.
@OrdinaryJoe123 жыл бұрын
what if you are twice the width of the wheel
@ProfessorOzone3 жыл бұрын
@@OrdinaryJoe12 LOL. Well maybe better to not crawl under it then. Mine's a bit of a story about how the car fell (not totally my fault) but the disc brake came within about an inch of cutting my toes off or at least crushing them if I had not put the wheel under the car.
@neilg33643 жыл бұрын
How do you know?
@ProfessorOzone3 жыл бұрын
@@neilg3364 Ok, you asked for it. Rhetorically? It was dark and stormy night. Literally. And when I say stormy I mean like biblical rain. It was so hard that I had to blink a lot because the rain drops hitting my eyes stung. Four of us were riding in the car of my friend's father. He was driving and saying how he didn't like to drive in the rain or the dark. I believe I even offered to drive. We came up to a detour where all three westbound lanes were shoved into the eastbound lane that was closest, only he didn't detour until it was too late. He hit the concrete curb of the median and launched the car. It hit so hard it flattened the front tire and bent the rim. He pulled over. We all got out. And as we stood getting drenched at the back of the car, all looking at the spare, I finally sprung into action since no one else was going to take action. I told the group very specifically and very emphatically to apply the hand brake. Maybe it was my fault by not singling out someone because, it didn't get done. When I removed the tire, I wasn't sure what to do with it and for the first time ever, I, for unknown reasons, decided to put it under the car. Maybe there is such a thing as a guardian angel. As I was working on the car, they were all talking at the back. Why they didn't get back in the car still puzzles me. Maybe they felt guilty that I was getting wet? Somehow during their conversation, someone leaned on the car, it came off the jack and onto the wheel I put underneath. This startled me as my foot was under the car at that instant and as I said earlier, the disc brake was about 1 inch (2.54 cm) above my toes. I don't know if say 800 lbs applied to a disk brake is enough to remove toes, but I'm certain it wouldn't have been pretty. I was very angry that no one was really doing anything useful, like applying the handbrake as I had asked. Anyway when we got to our destination, I was soaked from head to toe, even my underwear and my wallet were completely wet. But I had all my toes and the wheel always goes under the car now.
@neilg33643 жыл бұрын
@@ProfessorOzone thanks for sharing. I hate working under cars, I'm paranoid. Had four axle stands just up front the other day when doing ball joints.
@CherylCold3 жыл бұрын
3 of my cars have 20mm spacers. Integrale (14 years), Elise (7 years), Syncro Country 2 years. I have never replaced any wheel bearings and all cars have decent miles on them. Never noticed any difference with the handling. Look way better. I have no problem slapping on wheel spacers to give a more stealthy look and keeping the wheels stock- Well apart from the country which has silly big Ronals. The GTA looks way better with the spacers!
@shieldaigbencher3 жыл бұрын
So a manufacturer spends billions on car development and yet people think £20-200 spent in Halfords is an improvement. Just stay standard or use the manufactures upgrade options.
@las3k913 жыл бұрын
Manufacturers leave room for snow chains.
@lucasvonheiz13103 жыл бұрын
Jack, 2 points: Dunlop sp sport maxx rt2 Left side light bulb. Other than that, you are the one that makes me like the busso. Coming from m52/n52 owner
@22fret3 жыл бұрын
Wheel bearings do not appreciate wheel spacers too much...
@pedrom59193 жыл бұрын
Exactly
@g0fvt3 жыл бұрын
It depends on the offset, the offset can also affect torque steer...
@pedrom59193 жыл бұрын
And in this case, using the original wheels with spacers the offset is of...
@pedrom59193 жыл бұрын
@Antonio Farina Antonio, it will depend of how many miles you made in 5 years and the road conditions. I live in Brasil and my experience here where the distances are very large and the road conditions are not so good the bearings have a too short life when the wheels are positioned out of the original place. In São Paulo city is not uncommon to made 200 km in one day...
@DRILLBABYDRIL3 жыл бұрын
Spacers are for teenagers
@grayfool3 жыл бұрын
I have to agree with many of the other comments regarding the tyres. New rubber will have a very noticeable effect which will probably negate the use of the spacers. I would start with the tyres.
@hoonaticbloggs54023 жыл бұрын
He’s not still on those ancient tyres 🙄? Spacers? Just buy some wheels that fit.
@mattbettany11743 жыл бұрын
When you consider that engine was designed in the 70s it really is a gem even in 2020 . Glad to see there’s some new rubber on the way too 👍🏻
@mattbettany11743 жыл бұрын
@Lassi Kinnunen yes of course I fully understand the transition the Busso has taken over the years I worked for Alfa Romeo for 12 years and owned several , my point being that through continual development it has stood the test of time
@HappyDaysNI3 жыл бұрын
60s design.
@mattbettany11743 жыл бұрын
@@HappyDaysNI ah no it was designed early 70s then was put in the Alfa 6 in 1979
@kasimirdenhertog35163 жыл бұрын
There’s much sort of archaic tech even in the ‘newest’ Bussos. What I like is there’s no variable valve timing on it. In a BMW you can notice the impact of Vanos and on a Honda of course the ‘VTEC kicks in yo’, but no such thing with the Busso - which adds to the pureness IMO.
@terryturner41163 жыл бұрын
@@kasimirdenhertog3516 Alfa was the first to use variable valve timing.
@KS453 жыл бұрын
The only way to enjoy him is stock. I’d get rid of the rear shocks/springs, they’re just not designed specifically for the car,forget the spacers, to much stress on associated parts, and like everyone says, tires. Doesn’t matter what mods you the only thing connecting you to the road is an inch or so of rubber. Great content and you seem a genuinely nice guy.
@simonmckenna30753 жыл бұрын
Have spacers on my 3.0GTV - primarily so I can fit GTA teledials to the car, but the combination of these - decent tyres and the Q2 make the car feel like it's on rails. I remember my orignal 156GTA (RE02ELC - sadly no longer with us) I had from nearly new was an understeery beast without the Q2, but you can't beat a busso for engine noise and feel, love them to bits,
@themessenger58683 жыл бұрын
I'm not a fan of wheel spacers...the track was engineered that way for a reason. It will only put more stress on other areas, over time giving you more grief...Tyres man...Tyres ! Tyres are one of the "most" important aspects of a cars handling and performance. You could have the most powerful engine on the planet, but if your tyres are rubbish it means nothing. Cheers !
@TassieLorenzo3 жыл бұрын
"the track was engineered that way for a reason" There is sometimes a little bit of variation in wheel offset that is still within tolerance. For example, old Subaru Imprezas were +55 offset on the factory wheels but aftermarket Speedline or Rays wheels made specifically for the Impreza WRX would tend to run a +49 offset. It's not uncommon for manufacturer special editions with widebody kits to accomplish the wider track **purely** through wheel offset, rather than through different hubs/control arms/steering: the Subaru 22B is an example of this. The wider track is done only via wheel offset, and the scrub radius on the steering and stresses on the wheel bearings is still within tolerance. :)
@themessenger58683 жыл бұрын
@@TassieLorenzo Point taken, however, if simple spacers made that much difference to the overall handling of a car, then why not engineer the car that way in the first place. Wheel offset, is not wheel spacers. Would the load be distributed differently from engineered wheels compared to add on spacers ?
@JJHurst3 жыл бұрын
We are on such similar trajectories....I’ve just fitted a spacer kit to the spider , 16mm at the front , and 20mm at the rear , looks a whole load better , “ seems “ a bit more compliant , got mine from Italy , hub centric and bolts included. Jury is out but I won’t be taking them off just yet, I need a few more miles to know for sure , but initial impressions were much the same as yours , the spider seems to be very sensitive to road camber and the spacers seem to accentuate this , more planted in corners and more direct and weighted steering. I’ve also a front strut brace . You seem to be starting to “ get “ the Busso , it’s not really about straight out power, the delivery is just so smooth and creamy , and that noise ...😍 A very special engine indeed , it elevates any car it’s in really . I look forward to the tyres , I think that’ll make quite a difference ...👍🏻
@Number273 жыл бұрын
Thanks buddy... am loving the Busso!!!
@Boris-xx7dw3 жыл бұрын
Try throwing a bucket of water over it lol, my ocd is kicking in , oh and don't lean the wheel up against the paintwork .
@simonlloyd75573 жыл бұрын
if you had OCD you wouldnt throw a bucket of water over it..You'd take a tooth brush to the tyre tread like i do.
@Youzx-rj8tq3 жыл бұрын
@@simonlloyd7557 that’s not how ocd works my guy different forms and different triggers
@adrianhurley39093 жыл бұрын
Are some of those roads featured in Harry's Garage as well?? 🤔
@nigelbullock90393 жыл бұрын
Yes. Great road to drive. Burford to Charlbury.
@twood743 жыл бұрын
Thought I recognised that downhill right-hander!!
@jehl19633 жыл бұрын
I was going to guess an overlap with the roads that Jayemm uses, but I don't know much about the geography of the UK.
@simes2053 жыл бұрын
I was thinking the same
@jasongammon27673 жыл бұрын
That was the Harry Metcalf S’s you drove through wasn’t it Jack? Great vid as usual 👏🏻👍🏼. FYI have spacers on my 996, fills out the arches but can’t say it drives any different
@2702simmo3 жыл бұрын
I have them on mine too snd it’s fine
@beauchamphuberville13553 жыл бұрын
I had a heavily modded RPM Technik 996 and on that it definitely made a difference in the tip over when entering a corner.
@joshuamoninger27923 жыл бұрын
I can't speak highly enough for the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S. Very quiet, comfortable, and grippy even in cold, wet temperatures!
@weallfollowmanutd3 жыл бұрын
13 year old tires will harden. You're really missing a major issue here, plus those poor bearings will suffer.
@richardsmith95093 жыл бұрын
Any improvements are between your ears but the look is indeed better!!!
@TheRealSamuiWebcam3 жыл бұрын
The best thing I ever did was installing Novitec lowering sport-springs and spacers on my Ferrari California-T. The wheels fill the arches perfectly and the slightly lower stance looks awesome.
@nigelbullock90393 жыл бұрын
Jack. Took me a while to work out which roads you were on and at the very end I spotted it. That road to Charlbury with the right left and a dip and up the hill is great fun. Love the Alfa rasp on another really good video. Thanks.
@steffydog3 жыл бұрын
Fab stuff, great to see you smile. Keep well.
@jamieglazier14083 жыл бұрын
I love the smile on your face when driving the GTA. I bought one 2 days ago, cant wait to take delivery:)
@Number273 жыл бұрын
Wow, you’ll love it!! By the way much better with spacers. It ok them off again and will Now put them back on. But I would maybe stick to 10mm
@rhettcorcoran28793 жыл бұрын
I'm glad that you are changing the tyres, that engine sound is glorious, well worth whatever issues turn up.
@keyo5253 жыл бұрын
I would only buy spacers for stance or to fit some aftermarket alloys . I think you might find the other spacer with x2 bolts is actually a wheel adaptor to fit to ca rfor an alloy with a different stud diameter.i,e 114.8 pcd alloy can fit a 100.
@NaturallyAspirated3 жыл бұрын
Just picked up the 147 GTA from Autodelta, pilot sport 4 all round and new suspension and it has transformed the ride and handling! Gives the 205 GTI a run for its money now because of the front diff! I can’t contain my excitement in the pick up vid! Loving the red btw, looks amazing!
@preonmodel83543 жыл бұрын
Put it all back to factory spec, good tyres all round and enjoy..... ; )
@danielferraro593 жыл бұрын
car note sounds awesome 😎 remember a mate of mine many moons ago bought one of these brand new and we went for a blast on the motorway, still remember how quick and throaty that engine felt and sounded . brought back some old memories that did 😉👍🏻😎
@buildindian81693 жыл бұрын
Wider stance is achieved from wheel spacers which will equate to better handling...the center of gravity has changed with the offset therefore the bumps are not transferred to the shock absorber as before so usually spacers is good move.. The arguments about the ill effects of spacers on the wheels bearings could be so but same with deep offset wheels..
@1worldgaming183 жыл бұрын
not much power for the engine size u say i think a set of longtube headers and some fiddeling around with the engine management system sorts that out :)
@970357ers3 жыл бұрын
Best way to diagnose a difficult suspension issue in my experience is to strip it completely and inspect/test each component independently. BTW wheel spacers wear out bearings quicker.
@bath19683 жыл бұрын
Made a hell of a difference on my Audi S5, along with lowered adjust coil overs 👌😷 great looking stance as well 👍
@petescarport3 жыл бұрын
I haven't looked at the comments yet but I'm guessing there's a bunch of angry keyboard wizards who have never worked on a car telling you how unsafe a spacer is. Lol. I use them all the time and they are great if you need them. Love your content
@Number273 жыл бұрын
Totally agree.. and yes you’re right about the comments! 20mm spacer is perfectly safe.
@AUDIDOIT3 жыл бұрын
Also another fact with spacers to consider is you are also increasing the weight the suspension has to deal with. The extra weight of the spacers and bolts is like bolting a much heavier wheel on the car. And god knows those oem Alfa cast wheels are not light weight, never mind with spacers and longer bolts fitted to the hub. You are creating more work for your eibach pro preset factory damping. As previously mentioned, when I decreased the unsprung weight by fitting forged lightweight wheels to my Alfa's wishbone chassis, ride quality improved.
@benbuchanan6723 жыл бұрын
Fitting spacers will affect scrub radius and roll centre, so would you need a full alignment to get the best out of them?
@giovannigallo84293 жыл бұрын
Would have gone for black spacers personally like BIMMEC, to blend in with wheels. Spacers do help fill the arches 👌🏻
@nickhahn5412 Жыл бұрын
Spacers without 4 wheel alignment are a bad idea. It’s guaranteed to change the attitude of the wheel. Get a good alignment with your new tires man.
@jehl19633 жыл бұрын
Echoing the earlier warnings about spacers, especially if you are tracking the car. The thicker the spacer, the greater the stresses on the bearings. Also putting the spacers on only the front or the rear can be a tuning device. In general --+ too much understeer - add spacers to the rear wheels. Similarly, adding spacers to the front will decrease oversteer (increase understeer). This is a result of an increase of load transfer to the outside wheel with the spacer behind it.
@corruptor9113 жыл бұрын
IT'S THE POLYURETHANE BUSHES!!! AAAAARGH!!
@organiccold3 жыл бұрын
About the steering, check if all the bushs are ok in the front suspension, if everything is secure, and other thing if the steering is too light check the power steering fluid, if it is brown you need to flush ot and put new one and bleed the sistem, clean the canister very well as it has a filter inside that gets blockedm
@_Mark_H3 жыл бұрын
Aesthetically looks great but not sure I favour them based on wheel bearing stresses etc. As everyone is banging on about, get some decent rubber on all 4 corners (I know it will cost more but the rewards are worth it) something with a good wet weather rating too, and get the geometry set and I think you will find more love for the beast. But oh the sound of that engine, bloody lovely 🥰🥰
@JackTadoussac Жыл бұрын
I owned a 911 for about six years and I learned a bit about wheels and bolts. Apparently if you drive your car hard at a track day, these wheel bolts (or studs) can break. Hence I would be apprehensive about changing anything. Longer bolts. Nah. Invest your money in a case of Chianti. With my 911 I just applied a bit of silicon grease to the original studs -- so that the threads would not rust away in our cold Canadian winters.
@terryturner41163 жыл бұрын
Fantastic car, love the 147 especially the rarer ones, there's one called a Sport TS and people don't realise it handles even better than the standard 147, mine was called Figaro and on B roads my God it handled out arse whippings to everything from MX5's to 1 series nothing ever touched us but the car had been very poorly maintained before me and I ended up selling him for £300 and he was last heard of getting away from a police car a day after I sold him. Should've kept him, hate to think he got pushed into a lake or burnt, I hope you have great life with yours
@caryknapton72333 жыл бұрын
Very envious, definitely the right choice of the pick. It sounds absolutely awesome!
@csf66143 жыл бұрын
Great video ... great commentary.... but an we ha e a video with just Fredo rasping lol ... what a great soundtrack coming out of the exhaust.
@lloydrmc3 жыл бұрын
The spacers are going to change the scrub radius, so that could explain the change in the steering feel.
@mrb60943 жыл бұрын
I put spacers on my GT86 purely to bring the wheels out more. It's lowered on coil overs and it looked really weird without them.
@cho2jzfe902 жыл бұрын
Had 1.5" wheel spacers on my 99 Toyota Avalon with its oem boaty suspensions. The cornering does feel a lot better in the back roads with the spacers on.
@Sleepymazda999 Жыл бұрын
I’ve had wheel spacers for 2 years now . They are just incredible.
@danielnightingale80853 жыл бұрын
Those spacers will have changed your scrub radius quite a bit. I guess alfa will have had to strike a balance with the geometry to keep bearing wear and such in check. Its definitely a science though.
@andrewseamaster3 жыл бұрын
10 years ago my fav tyre was the Pirelli PZero. In wet Scotland they were fantastic. The only issue was getting them, ATS was one of the only places that would get me them without trying to sell me the asymmetrical version and old stock
@Fioravanti.803 жыл бұрын
Had one for 12 months. Had uprated koni suspension, QDiff, larger wheels with sticky tires and a cross member bar to add stiffness and it still struggled... Ultimately the chassis was too soft to handle the awesome engine with FrWD. Lovely sound though.
@simodthebod42563 жыл бұрын
Easily one of the best KZfaq channels! Always click straight on when your videos go up 👌🏾
@Number273 жыл бұрын
Ah thanks Simod!!!
@redsidebiker3 жыл бұрын
Spacers induce wheel bearing failure (as many have already said). If the tyres are as old as some comments imply, then more fool you for not changing them (even for cheapest chocolate). You come across as a capable mechanic with a good understanding of what are becoming "heritage" cars. Some of your selections I like and comment on, the ones that I dislike - out of respect for choice - I stay quiet on. In short, spacers are a lot of hot air, unless you are making a show car on the cheap.
@zokusharuuku10912 жыл бұрын
I believe the other version of spacer is available because when spacers get very wide there would be too much stress on the very long studs. I have had both on my cars, and I have come to the same conclusion as you. I have a feeling they also increase the wheel weight so acceleration and braking is slightly numbed but it definitely feels more stable through the corners. I’d say as long as you don’t go crazy there isn’t any problem so long as you get wheel centric spacers.
@eskamobob86623 жыл бұрын
Wider track doesn't change body roll at all, just the tip over point (meaning you can cary more speed) Also, its completely possible for spacers to effect sterring feel. One of the biggest factors in the steering feel of a car is its scrub radius
@Number273 жыл бұрын
Wow, really interesting to hear that..
@davidw71553 жыл бұрын
Yes it does, affect roll angle. But that’s not a bad thing. Compliance = grip.
@Tom-pb6vs3 жыл бұрын
Wider track lowers the roll centre so it does affect body roll.
@eskamobob86623 жыл бұрын
@@davidw7155 not by any significant margin. We are litteralt talking 2-3mm dead max of lowering that roll center.
@SDH-g8g3 жыл бұрын
Spacers alter the distance between the centre of the tyre and the pivot point of the steering (normally the lower ball joint), so they can have quite a dramatic effect on handling and steering response, both negative or positive depending on the car. I've got 20mm spacers on my C4 VTS (the bolt on kind - I didn't want the ones with the long bolts because of the strain the extended bolts would have to take) and I'd say it's made the steering a little more nervous. Ride - I noticed no difference at all (it was cack before, and it's cack now). The one thing that is massively improved (and the sole reason I fitted them) was the looks. Vain, but true!
@Number273 жыл бұрын
Took them off again and it highlighted how much better the GTA is with them on. Everything is better except torque steer. They’re coming back on!!
@grahamnutt89583 жыл бұрын
I don't know enough "technical" bits and bobs to advise.... but that engine and exhaust note sound awesome - yes.... from someone with a proper old school V8 under the hood 😆. I'm glad that you are replacing those tyres.... for reasons that others have already commented upon. Enjoying the series Jack 👍👍
@ScuuBdoo3 жыл бұрын
Definitely looks better with spacers. Worth it for that alone. 20mm (40 in total) is quite a jump so you will accelerate wear on your wheel bearings and of course the tyres.
@fatwalletboy23 жыл бұрын
Interesting. I wonder if things would be even better after an alignment as I am sure the extra 20mm track each side will have interferred with the geometry slightly.
@alanchappell48453 жыл бұрын
i hit a cast iron manhole cover weighing 30kg a few years ago with 15 mm long stud spacers on a BMW E46 M3, both wheels and tyres wrecked plus $1000's dollars suspension damage but spacers survived unmarked and still on car with new studs just in case! The piggy back spacers may be illegal here in Australia, if not all spacers?
@joachimkazmaier3 жыл бұрын
ah spacers. Increased torque-steer, more bushing wear and so on and so forth. Braking stability, especially when in more slippery conditions is compromised. New tyres is the best idea, actually.
@randomchannel17123 жыл бұрын
Well from an engineering standpoint spacers will: Decrease roll angle slightly. Subsequently decrease weight transfer slightly. Decrease the effective spring rate slightly. On the other hand, they will: Majorly increase the scrub radius (therefore the more steering feel but also the more torque steer). Hugely increase the thrust loading on the bearings. A good way to improve the handling on a car like this is to get adjustable bushings and get the geometry a tad more aggressive. But I cant still grasp the obsession of having a car running on normal street tires on bumpy roads without almost any downforce run very stiff anti-roll bars. All tires have a load vs coefficient of grip curves and cars like the gta which are very heavy on the front can easily overload the tires if you go very hard or very soft. In order to alter the mechanical balance of the car I would suggest to harden the front arb and soften the rear let a bit more body roll occur and let the suspension do its camber gaining magic. These car have rear suspension that aids steering by altering its geometry mid travel. In order to get travel when cornering, you need some body roll. Get the car softer and you wont be disappointed especially in the winter where tires NEED TO BE LOADED TO PERFORM
@Number273 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the advice! I have already softened the rear roll bar a tad..
@Jester-Riddle3 жыл бұрын
Extrapolating your theories, when you put 6" spacers on the car will be nearly perfect ... 🤣
@parrotraiser65413 жыл бұрын
The only real benefit of spacers is clearance, to prevent wider rims from rubbing on brake calipers and other suspension bits. They'll move the contact patch outboard, (depending on the offset), which may affect the steering geometry. They'll also change the loading on parts of the suspension, (which is why they're technically illegal where I live), though modern engineering margins of strength probably render that inconsequential. As some of the other comments point out, reducing the unsprung weight is the goal, though it conflicts with rim and tire width aimed at increasing the contact patch. (As usual, with three goals, pick any two.)
@Ducati4443 жыл бұрын
Your videos are excellent! Thank you for making them. You’re really good at this.
@Number273 жыл бұрын
Very kind thanks!!
@davidgray55833 жыл бұрын
To make mounting wheels easier with spacers your can get essentially a long wheel bolt without a head that you thread in as a guide and pull out when the wheel bolts are snug. Lot of German cars come with them in the tool kit.
@davidgray55833 жыл бұрын
Seems they are called “Wheel stud alignment pin” or “tool”. Who knew :-)
@timgosling61893 жыл бұрын
Spacers will just make it look different; whether better or worse is for you to judge. The 40mm extra track may improve outright cornering but you'll only notice when you get to the limit. On the minus side, you will have increased load on the suspension components, especially the bearings and axles, and you have actually slightly increased unsprung weight, which is never good, and you'll have increased tyre wear on the inner edges. Remember that if Alfa had thought an extra 40mm gave a worthwhile improvement they'ed have done it and adjusted the geometry to match! The best upgrade you can do is to get rid of those illegal tyres and get some new grippy ones that won't go bang and will give you the characteristics you want.
@ianstoys13mgs3 жыл бұрын
8:22 is that not the same series of bends I see Harry Metcalf drive time and time again ?
@mike_ctid_taylor3 жыл бұрын
That smile at the end says it all, that 3.2 in my GT did the same thing to me
@pyoung1683 жыл бұрын
Another comment that might help you...have you played with the rear tire pressures at all? I have a new Guilia Q4 and I have been really surprised at how sensitive the ride quality is to rear tire pressure. If you haven't tried it already you might consider reducing the pressures a bit and see if that improves things.
@Number273 жыл бұрын
Literally did that yesterday.. minus 1 psi made a huge difference!!
@MrParmar53 жыл бұрын
Hey if the rear end of the car still feels hard look in to softer springs and when you get new tyres make sure the tyre pressure is correct it will make a difference.
@chuckmorris75533 жыл бұрын
Fitting wheel spacers will increase the positive scrub radius at the front wheels which has some unfavourable consequences. ... Any bumps in the road will also be amplified through the steering wheel, making the steering jerky and more unpredictable. During braking, , if braking effort is greater on one side of the vehicle than the other, positive scrub radius will cause the vehicle to veer towards the side with the greater effort. It therefore requires much higher driver involvement and also competence to maintain control and stop the vehicle being tugged into puddles.
@gazcolman91843 жыл бұрын
Ok, my OCD's really unhappy. It's been weeks and you still haven't fixed the front and rear N/S blown bulbs yet.... :D I do think the rear wheel position looks much better though.
@Number273 жыл бұрын
It’s not a blown bulb.. something in the headlight. Got new bulbs and still wasn’t working.. it’s on my list.. but spacers was a more fun job!!
@andrewausterfield67103 жыл бұрын
@@Number27 driving me nuts too..
@Gozar1113 жыл бұрын
That engine sound though......I like the look after the spacers. Wheel arches look more filled. A keeper mod!
@TheBaldMiddleAgedMetalHead2 жыл бұрын
Apart from track width one thing wheel spacers do is change the roll centre of the vehicle as the centre line of the tyre is the axis point where the roll centre is calculated, usually widening the track will lower the roll centre but it depends where it is in relation to the centre of gravity as to how much difference this makes to the roll moment. Not only this but it changes the scrub radius which can effect steering feel. I've always thought they were a pretty pointless modification that was aesthetically based without any real thought about how they work, but If the car handles better with them on, then fair play, that's often the case with modifications some work, some don't and testing them is the real proof in the pudding so to speak.
@johnmatthews10953 жыл бұрын
How do you avoid changing your offset if you don't also change to a wheel with an offset 20mm different?
@huwjones58795 ай бұрын
I had spacers on a Mini R53 and it totally ruined the handling. I recently bought a used Tesla Model 3 LR AWD which had spacers fitted, I removed them and straight away the car drives much better, less tyre noise, less clonking on full lock, much better turn in especially at slow speed and better ride all around.
@user-di1hh4qy6r3 жыл бұрын
The double bolt ones are adapters to use wheels with different bolt spacing pattern
@gregoryjohnson97333 жыл бұрын
Ive had H&R 15f/20r on my 370Z for at least 8 years now and my bearings are fine. Even lowered, no rubbing. 245f 295r tires.
@Number273 жыл бұрын
Yes, I don’t agree 20mm spacers will mangle bearings. They will shorten the life a little. Thanks for watching Gregory!
@hi2lenduffy8373 жыл бұрын
I see a red one of these today but it had multi spoke wheels
@ratman98023 жыл бұрын
Spacers on the front alters the Scrub Radius. Steering geometry is best left as the manufacturer intended. Spacer manufacturers probably have no idea.
@e36328isport3 жыл бұрын
That Alfa just sounds sooo great!
@organiccold3 жыл бұрын
I had in mine and does a diference, issue is that increases the front tyres wear inside. What done a massive diference om mine was rhe bar between the shock absovers tops at the front and rear. Other thing is the front suspension arms of they go bad dont change them as the aftermarket ones even OEM are not as good and the threads wear out, just change the bushs for Powerflex and keep the factory arms. Had so many issues that i bought some factory used ones from someone that had new ones put on.
@mrcapy39063 жыл бұрын
The sound of the Alfa sounds amazing! It kinda looks like the civic eg6 at the side. How much hp does it have?
@Number273 жыл бұрын
250hp standard, this car probably 270-280hp..
@mrcapy39063 жыл бұрын
@@Number27 the previous owner probably added some small upgrades like changing the exhaust or something
@manulaffon3 жыл бұрын
time for new tires, alignment and (maybe) ajustable coilovers... where is your Patreon? :)
@matthouston26223 жыл бұрын
The noise is lovely!
@RobSchofield3 жыл бұрын
The A-post footage... GREAT!
@othmanechaibi69422 жыл бұрын
Hello my friend, thank you for this information. My car is Alfa Romeo 159. Which Spicer brand do you recommend for me? Thank you
@arthurveldhoen39323 жыл бұрын
20mm is a lot. It puts a lot of stress on wheel bearings and other suspension components. Looks good though. If you dial in some negative camber front and rear during an alignment that will improve turn-in, steering feel and prevent the tires from nudging the arches. Enjoyed the vid again, cheers.
@davidw71553 жыл бұрын
And wear the tyres out quick!
@mattvang34392 жыл бұрын
The “ more stress on wheel bearings” saying is total bullshit. Then why do people put wider aftermarket wheels and tires. He would get the same wear and tear if he had fitted wheels that stuck out 20mm more than factory. But yet wider wheels or wheels with less offset is ok. 😂😂
@djlosmi3 жыл бұрын
5:25 I hope you fixed your headlight bulb by now :D Awesome car, I think you will enjoy it more the more you own it!
@ridgmont613 жыл бұрын
I would certainly consider having a full 4 wheel alignment and check all of the bushes.
@haussolutions62443 жыл бұрын
Interesting. I never got on with the 20mm spacers on my B5 S4. The tracking would ‘wander’ in time. I’ve also read that using the type of spacer you prefer puts extra bending pressure on the longer bolts as they are obviously longer with more ‘unthreaded’ bolt not inside the threads. I also felt ‘subjectively’ that the S4 was much better in the corners when I went back to the OEM fitment. That being said, the B5 isn’t known for being a handling dream! Keep the videos coming.
@Number273 жыл бұрын
Thank you buddy, interesting to hear your experience!
@stevewilliams54283 жыл бұрын
@@Number27 It's not the bolts that hold the wheel against the hub... which sounds strange at first. When the bolts are tightened to the correct torque, in the right order, it's the friction between the wheel and the hub that keeps everything together. That's why you should never put any lubricant of any kind between wheel/hub/spacer... but many do, glad to see you didn't. You have fallen in love with the GTA... doomed. :)
@davidw71553 жыл бұрын
@@stevewilliams5428 correct. Much misunderstood 👍
@martinclapton27243 жыл бұрын
Hi Jack, well you seem happy. Small outlay for small , but noticeable improvements. I get the theory, a wider stance offering more stability and less roll. However, you have increased unsprung weight and although by small amounts it's outside of the vertical axis of suspension. Possibly a penalty could be loss of traction when driven in extremis but for normal roads not so noticable. Might be even more improved with Q2 diff. Still smiles all round for now. Engine as always, sounds highly addictive!
@Number273 жыл бұрын
It has a Q2 Diff... but yes on the unsprung weight.. you’re right.
@martinclapton27243 жыл бұрын
So sorry ,I do apologise, I didn't realise it was already fitted. Enjoy anyway, watched it again for the V6 soundtrack!!
@fridonina3 жыл бұрын
Nice how the exhaust retracks when you step on the gas !
@jeffreyb.16573 жыл бұрын
1. New rubber. 2. Wheels with slight changes make perhaps more sense... 3. Spacers introduce a layer of failure points...you need to torque them a bit, etc., check them, etc. and wheel bearings can suffer.....that being said, even Porsche had them at one time as an option (5mm I think).....so mild ones are probably fine but 2cm ones....no......had them on a 996TT with a blueprinted engine....coilovers/corner balanced, etc....tracked it..5mm no issues.....but I was anal about torque (nuts....), etc. In the above case, it helped handling over 8/10ths for me. My 8/10ths might be your 2/10ths... Under 8/10ths did not notice anything. Looked better as another person noted. No longer have the car. PS: You did the most important thing in getting ones that are hubcentric (have the centering ridge). I realize that once tight the material to material is the issue, so this is moot, but I always liked having that peace of mind to get it perfectly centered. And quality goes without saying....I liked a German brand in the past...came with a nice wider-is-better decal at the time....won't say the brand but they do a lot of these and springs and I think other stuff. Love the car and great videos. jeff
@paultaylor96523 жыл бұрын
Lovely Jubbly, you do appear to be happier with the Alfa, but I do miss the 205.
@thepurepassionkiller3 жыл бұрын
Coil-overs? If so geo, and corner weighting would be a good idea. Not sure about spacers tbh (unsprung weight)