Spacers on a 996 Turbo S

[ashway]

Unfortunately the search facility is undergoing maintenance at present so my question is.......

I run a 996 Turbo S with standard 18inch hollow spokes and normal suspension. What are the benefits of fitting spacers to the car if any, handling or purely visual/ cosmetic.

Also what size spacers for front and rear if this is a good idea.

Thanks

[mr pg]

I run my turbo with I think 7mm spacers (need longer bolts). Looks a bit better, and should reduce understeer.

[monthefish]

On another thread...

996ttalot said:

You need to check first because iirc turbo s came with spacers already i think.

[ashway]

Cheers it was that thread that got me thinking.

No factory fitted spacers on my car and still not sure whether its aesthetics or handling that will benefit.

[monthefish]

ashway said:

Cheers it was that thread that got me thinking.

No factory fitted spacers on my car and still not sure whether its aesthetics or handling that will benefit.

Aesthetics will benefit.

Handling? Bit of give and take I suppose:
Wider track...good.
Extra unsprung mass....not so good.

In reality, probably not a huge difference unless regular track use I'd imagine, (but there's probably someone on here who's done it and can tell you for sure)

[ashway]

Just done a little more research, from Adrian Streathers book 996 The essential companion I quote....

"wheel spacers are only required when a wheel with a greater negative offset than was originally designed for the model is fitted, in order to maintain adequate inside wheel arch clearance under dynamic driving conditions

For the 996 only 2 sizes of wheel spacer are approved for use:
5mm wheel spacer for both front and rear on most approved 996 wheels, these spacers must be screwed to the hub using part number900 269 106 09 and torqued to 10Nm, a longer wheel bolt 996 361 203 90 torqued to 130Nm must also be used.

17mm wheel spacer for certain rear wheels only, these spacers require longer wheel bolt part number 996 361 203 00. The spacers are attached to the wheel hub using wheel nuts part number 999 182 003 36 and torqued to 130Nm.

A 996 GT3 is delivered with 5mm spacers fitted to front and rear with bolts as above."

I'm still confused though as the front wheels on Turbo and GT3 are then same size and offset whereas the rears are 66 and 63 respectively

[Slippydiff]

ashway said:

Just done a little more research, from Adrian Streathers book 996 The essential companion I quote....

"wheel spacers are only required when a wheel with a greater negative offset than was originally designed for the model is fitted, in order to maintain adequate inside wheel arch clearance under dynamic driving conditions

For the 996 only 2 sizes of wheel spacer are approved for use:
5mm wheel spacer for both front and rear on most approved 996 wheels, these spacers must be screwed to the hub using part number900 269 106 09 and torqued to 10Nm, a longer wheel bolt 996 361 203 90 torqued to 130Nm must also be used.

17mm wheel spacer for certain rear wheels only, these spacers require longer wheel bolt part number 996 361 203 00. The spacers are attached to the wheel hub using wheel nuts part number 999 182 003 36 and torqued to 130Nm.

A 996 GT3 is delivered with 5mm spacers fitted to front and rear with bolts as above."

I'm still confused though as the front wheels on Turbo and GT3 are then same size and offset whereas the rears are 66 and 63 respectively

The front wheels may be the same size and offset*, the hubs and uprights behind them are different though (the driveshafts have to be accomodated on the Turbo)

• Edited to add : the wheels are not the same, the Turbo uses 8J rims, GT2 and GT3 use 8.5J rims with differing offsets.

996 GT3 is narrow body, 996 Turbo S widebody, the rear offsets are 63 for the GT3 and 45 for the turbo.

Edited by Slippydiff on Tuesday 28th February 14:11

[ashway]

Slippydiff said:

The front wheels may be the same size and offset*, the hubs and uprights behind them are different though (the driveshafts have to be accomodated on the Turbo)

• Edited to add : the wheels are not the same, the Turbo uses 8J rims, GT2 and GT3 use 8.5J rims with differing offsets.

996 GT3 is narrow body, 996 Turbo S widebody, the rear offsets are 63 for the GT3 and 45 for the turbo.

Edited by Slippydiff on Tuesday 28th February 14:11

Ha Ha schoolboy error on my part.

So if fitting spacers on my car should I go 5mm all round or 5mm front and 17mm rear or just leave as is???

[monthefish]

ashway said:

For the 996 only 2 sizes of wheel spacer are approved for use:
5mm wheel spacer for both front and rear on most approved 996 wheels, these spacers must be screwed to the hub using part number900 269 106 09 and torqued to 10Nm, a longer wheel bolt 996 361 203 90 torqued to 130Nm must also be used.

Are those torques right or is one a typo?

[ashway]

monthefish said:

ashway said:

For the 996 only 2 sizes of wheel spacer are approved for use:
5mm wheel spacer for both front and rear on most approved 996 wheels, these spacers must be screwed to the hub using part number900 269 106 09 and torqued to 10Nm, a longer wheel bolt 996 361 203 90 torqued to 130Nm must also be used.

Are those torques right or is one a typo?

book says 130Nm for wheel bolts, its 10Nm to screw the 5mm spacer to the hub then wheel bolts would be 130Nm

[monthefish]

ashway said:

book says 130Nm for wheel bolts, its 10Nm to screw the 5mm spacer to the hub then wheel bolts would be 130Nm

Ok, thanks. (Genuinely had no idea - I've never used spacers)

[ashway]

no nor have I hence all the dumb questions

[slodge]

Hi

I'm having spacers fitted to my 996 Turbo S at the moment whilst the suspension is being overhauled (K&W v3 kit!!) by RPM Technik. Both they and OPC Reading confirmed that officially the only spacers available for this car is 17mm on the rear. They dont recommend them on the fronts. If you give me a week or so I'll post some before and after pictures.

Cheers

SL

[Podro]

slodge said:

Hi

I'm having spacers fitted to my 996 Turbo S at the moment whilst the suspension is being overhauled (K&W v3 kit!!) by RPM Technik. Both they and OPC Reading confirmed that officially the only spacers available for this car is 17mm on the rear. They dont recommend them on the fronts. If you give me a week or so I'll post some before and after pictures.

Cheers

SL

Would love to see the pics before and after. My local OPC also confirmed today that the recommended fitments are 17mm rear and 5mm front, circa £400 all in.

[ashway]

thanks guys, Podro I think you may be advised to have 5mm on the fronts as the wheels on your car are GT3s and may have a different offset.

Just a point re the 17mm rear spacers, i understand you use the original wheel bolts to secure the spacer to the hub then nuts to secure the wheel to the spacer studs. This means there is no locking nut on the rears, is that correct?

[Podro]

ashway said:

thanks guys, Podro I think you may be advised to have 5mm on the fronts as the wheels on your car are GT3s and may have a different offset.

Just a point re the 17mm rear spacers, i understand you use the original wheel bolts to secure the spacer to the hub then nuts to secure the wheel to the spacer studs. This means there is no locking nut on the rears, is that correct?

Hi, I didn't mention the GT3 wheels so he just quoted me as standard, not sure of the offset difference on the wheels so need to think through that.

You are correct on the rears. Your old bolts hold the spacer to the hub, which has studs protruding that your wheel mounts on. The 17mm spacers come with nuts which then attach your wheel to the studs on the spacer. Sounds messy, but if it's Porsche OEM must be right

[monthefish]

Are the front wheels actually the GT3 wheel, or is it the same style but in a different size/fitment/offset?

Obviously the GT2 mk2 rear wheel is the same style but different size (12J width vs 11J) and I wonder whether there is a different size again for the turbo.

Can't imagine the factory would fit a wheel designed for the narrow body straight onto a wide body, would they?

Edited by monthefish on Wednesday 29th February 15:23

[Podro]

Think you are right, they are (hopefully) correct offset for turbo. I'll be popping the wheels off in next couple days and post the details. There are certainly no spacers on there now and they look to be in a similar position to a turbo wheel from various photos I have looked at. More soon...

[monthefish]

Thanks. That'd be intersting to compare with the below.

I think (and would be happy to be corrected if not)

GT3
Front 18x8.5, offset 40mm
Rear 18x11, offset 63mm

GT2
Front: 18x8.5, offset 40mm (same wheel/part no. as GT3 front)
Rear: 18x12, offset 45mm


Turbo (standard wheels)
Front: 18x8, offset 50mm
Rear: 18x11, offset 45mm

ETA


997 GT3
front, 8.5j x 19" ET53
Rear, 12j x 19" ET68

Edited by monthefish on Monday 19th March 16:15

[maxpaul]

My 2003 turbo has 5mm front and 15mm rear spacers fitted the wheels now fill the arches nicely.
Suspension is set up as GT2 fast road and drives and looks fantastic.
Had the same spacers on previous C4s and 986 Boxster 3.2s so well tried route by me