Abarth wheel spacers- any advice?

[Gmlgml]

I’m thinking of fitting some wheel spacers to a 2010 Abarth.

Firstly because of the aesthetics; I’ve seen a few with them fitted and I like the look, and secondly as I understand it’s possible to dial out a bit of understeer with them.

My problem is the amount of choice.

The spacers go up in 2mm increments from 8mm to 26mm.

I understand as well it’s prudent to put different sized spacers on the front and rear axle, especially if impacting on understeer is required.

Has any one either a) done it and have a workable combination or b) an ability to translate suspension geometry into layman’s terms and suggest a suitable combination?

It’s for road use only.

[MawsleyCarValeting]

Speak to Motech Performance they have done one. #stance

[Gmlgml]

Cheers, I’ll give them a try.

[Nigel_O]

Gmlgml said:

I’m thinking of fitting some wheel spacers to a 2010 Abarth.

Firstly because of the aesthetics; I’ve seen a few with them fitted and I like the look, and secondly as I understand it’s possible to dial out a bit of understeer with them.

I can understand using spacers for aesthetics, but I've never heard of them helping with understeer.

By fitting spacers and nothing else, you're more likely to cause unwanted issues, such as tramlining or torque-steer, as you're moving the centreline of the wheel away from the steering kingpin (yes, I know its a MacPherson strut, but there's still the equivalent of a kingpin)

Simply moving wheels more outboard is never the right answer - if you want aesthetics, fit wider wheels

It you want to reduce understeer, play with damper settings or even better, anti-roll bars (increase the rear ARB stiffness to remove understeer, but don't go too far, otherwise you'll end up with oversteer)

[Gmlgml]

Thanks for the detailed reply.

I have zero mechanical knowledge and as such I’d only picked up on the understeer/oversteer aspect of it from watching a few vids on you tube. A particular poster had gone through a varying number of spacers, on both axles, and seemed to suggest he’d removed some because of the adverse effects on the handling. I’m assuming what he was describing as understeer/oversteer is just the problems you’re identifying!