Wheel Spacers (to fit ET45's vs ET38's)

5743 Views 15 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Vee Dubb, Feb 11, 2002

Vee Dubb

Discussion Starter · Feb 7, 2002

Ok, I just picked up an awsome set of '99 Jetta Wolfsburg Edition 14" 5-star mags, perfect condition with new 195/60-14 BFG's. Problem is, the offset on the wheels are ET45. The stock Fox wheels are ET38 offset. What does that mean? The ET45 wheels are TOO offset, and rub (barely but noticeably) on the rear axle.
I know that some folks out there have put ET45 wheels on their foxes, I've seen pics of them with teardrops, cabby 7-spokes, and stock A2 Jetta steelies with cap&rings (all ET45 wheels). Did they have to use spacers? If so, what spacers and were there any problems associated with using them? The ET45 wheels fit great on the front, make no contact with body/suspension while turning, etc, and basically they look great! So spacers would only be used on the rear to allow the tire to clear the axle, and will not be used on the front.
Along with the wheels, I also got the A3 Jetta springs (stock) because the guy I got them from just bought eibach lowering springs. I wonder if the springs will fit the wagon? hmm... need more rear springage

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1 - 16 of 16 Posts

kennyg

· #2 · Feb 7, 2002

Re: Wheel Spacers (Vee Dubb)

Vee Dubb,
I'm pretty sure you have your offsets backwards. Bentley lists the stock offset for the Fox as 45mm and the imprinted offset on my Audi wheels is ET45. My GTI has a ET38.
That said, are you sure they're rubbing the axle? I've tried Snowflakes, Tear-drops, 14" Steelies and a handful of aftermarket wheels on my Fox. I've yet to find a set that rubbed any of the suspension. The only rubbing I ever had (pre-lowering) was on the rear 1/3 of the fender lip. I'd be afraid if you used a spacer this fender rub would become even worse.
But...
Come to think of it, this is the first time I've heard of rubbing in wagons, so I maybe way offbase here.

92foxrox

· #3 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: Wheel Spacers (Vee Dubb)

195/60-14 BFG's.
Offset, smoffset. And K is right. 45MM offset is Audi-esque, which includes the VW Fox.
All the popular VW's run 38.
The problem is in the tire, not the rim. 14- tire size, 60 profile, 195 is the width. To make sure, the tire is rubbing right, not the rim...... I have heard of 185/60/14's rubbing some, and 195 is wider, like by 10MM, on a heavy side of 3/8 of an inch.
Now, if the rim is rubbing, we have a TOTALLY different problem!!!
Louis P

LilBlkCL

· #4 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: Wheel Spacers (92foxrox)

so am I to assume that snowflakes can fit on a Fox wagon?

92foxrox

· #5 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: Wheel Spacers (LilBlkCL)

Alot of wheels will fit. Any 4 X 100 bolt pattern, as a matter of fact. But have a saggy/lowering spring, it affects. Weak shocks/struts? It affects. Wrong offset? It affects.
Yes, you can put snowflakes on a VW Fox. And they will fit. But they probably will rub. I have heard of anywhere from the body rubbing that Kenny talked about to the axle rubbing that Vee Dub is talking about.
Here is another interesting fact: I had Pirelli P4's (175-70-13) on the car when I bought it new. I switched over to a different Pirelli, a 400 or 4000, I think, same size on the sidewall, 175/70/13. But the tire was quite noticeably different in the size (looked like a thinner sidewall). Now this was before I got into my long lasting relationship with the repair of my Fox, so I just looked at it, and went on my business.
But I will never trust the size on the side of the tire again.
And Tony in Columbus ran 195/60/14's on a 40MM offset I think, with Tokicos, and had no problems. Of course, Tokicos are a premium shock/strut.
In conclusion, I have noting worthwhile to add.
LP

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Vee Dubb

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 8, 2002

5

Re: Wheel Spacers (92foxrox)

DOH!
I just went out to check, and sure enough, I had the offsets swapped. The fox/audi wheels ARE ET45, the Jetta wheels are ET38. Now that I think of exactly what the offset is (how it is calculated) I don't see how I could have mixed them up. The wheels ARE rubbing the axles, I checked. The 'klunking' noise was the balancing weights that were are the wheels. The tires were also rubbing. Evidence both on the axle of metal to metal and rubber to metal and on the wheels/tires prove it. I had my "alignment" buddy take a quick look at things under there and he said that nothing is bent in his opinion, w/o putting it on the machine, but if it is bent, he has never seen BOTH sides of the drag axle be bent at the exact same place, the exact same amount.
The suspension is nice and firm and sets up where it should (as best as I can tell) and with my tools, a full tank of gas, and 5, countem FIVE, wheels and tires in the back, and a set of 4 jetta springs, the back end isn't weighted enough to bring the top of the tire to the level of the outermost wheel well lip. So when spacers are on, I don't think I would run into a clearance problem.
But anyways, yes, the Fox stockers are ET45. I have gone out and purchased 1/4" spacers for the rear, gonna try them this weekend. 1/4" = 6.5mm, so that will correct all but .5mm, and shouldn't rub anymore. I will watch closely to see if the tire has clearance under the wheel well and report my findings. I'll post pics, too, the car DOES look sweet with these nice VW wheels. Hope for the best, and thanks for the replies!
(can't wait for Zarrir to have his sight online so we can buy the dark turns and tails and all the other Brazil Fox goodies outright vs. bidding on them) http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif

http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif

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LilBlkCL

· #7 · Feb 10, 2002

Re: Wheel Spacers (Vee Dubb)

Has anyone put snowflakes on thier Fox?

92foxrox

· #8 · Feb 10, 2002

Re: Wheel Spacers (LilBlkCL)

quote:[HR][/HR]Has anyone put snowflakes on thier Fox? [HR][/HR]

Yes. Tons. Why.
LP

LilBlkCL

· #9 · Feb 10, 2002

Re: Wheel Spacers (92foxrox)

quote:[HR][/HR]
Yes. Tons. Why.[HR][/HR]

The above posts have me worried about 'rubbing'. Does this mean the tire will rub the inside fender? And what are spacers? As you can see, I know nothing about wheels

edit: pics of them on wagons are welcome too

[Modified by LilBlkCL, 12:22 PM 2-10-2002]

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92foxrox

· #10 · Feb 10, 2002

5

Re: Wheel Spacers (Vee Dubb)

quote:[HR][/HR](can't wait for Zarrir to have his sight online so we can buy the dark turns and tails and all the other Brazil Fox goodies outright vs. bidding on them) http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif

http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif

[HR][/HR]

Just e-mail him, he will sell you what you want now. A1, Cabby, and I have all bought "off e-bay" stuff. You can tell him I sent you or not, doesn't matter. He knows.
Louis P

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92foxrox

· #11 · Feb 10, 2002

Re: Wheel Spacers (LilBlkCL)

OK, mean psot there. Sorry.
Some people have put on snowflakes. Some rub, some don't. I haven't figured out why yet, I think the 13 inch VW wheels are ok, and with good rubber, enough for any regular road situation. Plus, I can race stock class at a road course by just pulling up to the line.
But I do have some "P"'s off of my dad's Jetta, he gave them to me, oh, a couple of years ago. I want to try them, just looking for the ultimate setup, good tires cheap. That way, if they don't work, they won't cost me $200 in tires that I will never use. $200 will buy some really good 13 inch tires.
Or somebody that really cares could get off thier tushes and call up the Tire Rack and ask what 14's they have in a 45MM offset. And order them. That is the easiest way.
Spacers are going to move the center of the wheel out, which will move all of the wheel out, which will move the tire and the rim off of the axle, and fix the problem, hopefully.
LP

vwcabby

· #12 · Feb 10, 2002

Re: Wheel Spacers (92foxrox)

hmm, i use 14s and the only time i rub is when i am driving fast and there are either potholes or big dips in the road then the car bounces and it sucks. i hate my suspension

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LilBlkCL

· #13 · Feb 10, 2002

Re: Wheel Spacers (vwcabby)

I have a feeling I will forget all of this when spring/early summer rolls around AND I find a Fox wagon to get AND I find snowflakes at the junkyard - so get ready for a repost in a couple months!

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Vee Dubb

Discussion Starter · #14 · Feb 11, 2002

Re: Wheel Spacers (92foxrox)

MUAHAHAHAA!!
Spacers did the trick!
I went ahead and pulled the Stud kit off of my 86 Jetta GLI and put them on the fox, for the longer threads to accomodate the spacers.
The spacers I used were the 1/4" cheapies (temporary, because I want something stronger that the "unknown composition" aluminum).
The offset, with spacers, comes to a total of 38.5 , and NO rubbing! The 195-60/14's on the 6" jetta wheel looks AWESOME! It's amazing at the ride difference though, the car tracks differently down the road, big radial roll difference, and big difference in rolling resistance ( http://****************.com/smile/emthdown.gif )
But the spacers did, in fact, do what I wanted them to do.

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a1junkie

· #15 · Feb 11, 2002

Re: Wheel Spacers (Vee Dubb)

How much do "cheapies" cost, and where can they be purchased?

Vee Dubb

Discussion Starter · #16 · Feb 11, 2002

2

Re: Wheel Spacers (a1junkie)

|How much do "cheapies" cost, and where can they be purchased?|
Cheapies, aka unknown material quality aluminum, purchased at your local RYCER barn or truck accessory store. It's just a universal 4-lug spacer, 1/4" thick. I paid $10 each, but have seen them online for around $6 each.
If I am still satisfied with the performance of the wheels/tires on the fox, then I will go ahead and purchase the $20/$30 good stuff, with built in studs. That way I have no fear of loosing a wheel on the highway.
(edited: seems you can't say R I C E R here, it changes it to 'dork')

[Modified by Vee Dubb, 7:30 AM 2-11-2002]

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