Spacers for 18" Carrera Lights - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

dchutinaton · 12-08-2017, 03:01 AM

Hi,

I have a 2004 Boxster with 18" Carrera Lights with what look like 5mm spacers both front and back. What size spacers can I put without rubbing? My mechanic says my car is slightly lowered with Porsche's lowering springs which I believe is only about 10mm, but I'm not exactly sure.

I was thinking of doing 15mm front and 25mm rear. Anyone have experience with this?

FRONT: 7.5x18 (ET 50) 225/40ZR18 +5mm spacers
REAR: 9x18 (ET52) 265/35ZR18 +5mm spacers

Starter986 · 12-08-2017, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dchutinaton

Hi,

I have a 2004 Boxster with 18" Carrera Lights with what look like 5mm spacers both front and back. What size spacers can I put without rubbing? My mechanic says my car is slightly lowered with Porsche's lowering springs which I believe is only about 10mm, but I'm not exactly sure.

I was thinking of doing 15mm front and 25mm rear. Anyone have experience with this?

FRONT: 7.5x18 (ET 50) 225/40ZR18 +5mm spacers
REAR: 9x18 (ET52) 265/35ZR18 +5mm spacers

I think 25 and 15 would be too much. Maybe 20 rear... 10 front? Too far out and it looks ricer.

NewArt · 12-08-2017, 04:04 AM

You can use the calculator at wheel-size.com to try out various scenarios.

dchutinaton · 12-08-2017, 06:50 AM

Thanks for the replies. I'm kinda new to this whole spacer for aesthetics thing. Not sure how far out looks good on a Boxster and also not sure if I go too far out and it would cause the wheel to rub. I've also heard of people going with 7mm in front and 15mm in the rear. Anyone tried adding spacers using these same wheels?

achillies · 12-08-2017, 08:48 AM

I have 9" rears with stock offset of 50 and use 12mm spacers and I only think I can go 2-3mm more and be inside the well.

A 25mm spacer will move them out 15mm more than stock

Stroked & Blown · 12-08-2017, 10:19 AM

FWIW I did the 23mm spacers in the rear, but I have the 18x10 carrera lights which are ET65

deathsled986 · 12-08-2017, 11:55 AM

I think you'll find that 15mm all the way around will work well and really fill out the wheel wells.

dchutinaton · 12-09-2017, 04:19 AM

Thanks for the responses. I think I'll try 15mm front and rear and see how that goes.

Starter986 · 12-09-2017, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dchutinaton

Thanks for the responses. I think I'll try 15mm front and rear and see how that goes.

I went with 20 rear 10 front (98 Boxster) after reading a lot of posts. The profile from the rear is subtle, but noticeable. Maybe do some measuring to see exactly how far out would align with the look you're trying to achieve. Best wishes!

JBauer · 01-25-2018, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dchutinaton

Thanks for the responses. I think I'll try 15mm front and rear and see how that goes.

15s front and rear.

eicheldp · 01-25-2018, 07:08 PM

Don't forget to get the extended length wheel studs.

dchutinaton · 01-24-2018, 09:47 AM

So I picked up a set of 15mm Eibach spacers for both the front and rear of my Boxster. About to get them installed when I noticed there's an "extra" hole on each spacer in addition to the dual 5 bolt pattern. What is this "extra" hole for?

The Radium King · 01-24-2018, 10:15 AM

does it line up with the rotor fastener?

dchutinaton · 01-24-2018, 05:15 PM

I haven't tried yet to see if it lines up with the rotor fastener. If it does line up should I try to find an appropriate length bolt and fasten it to the rotor? Will using it make a significant enough difference in balance to cause vibrations?

If I recall correctly there are two rotor fasteners on my current 5mm spacers.

husker boxster · 01-24-2018, 06:41 PM

Doesn't everybody need extra hoes? (In case one is busy.)

The Radium King · 01-24-2018, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by husker boxster

Doesn't everybody need extra hoes? (In case one is busy.)

my understanding is that four hoes is best. one is not enough, and two will fight. if you have three then two will gang up on the third, and not many folks can afford five, so four is appropriate.

The Radium King · 01-24-2018, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dchutinaton

I haven't tried yet to see if it lines up with the rotor fastener. If it does line up should I try to find an appropriate length bolt and fasten it to the rotor? Will using it make a significant enough difference in balance to cause vibrations?

If I recall correctly there are two rotor fasteners on my current 5mm spacers.

rotors have two fasteners as well. don't think balance is an issue. the fasteners are not a strength thing, they are just there to keep the openings aligned for the wheel bolts.

dchutinaton · 02-03-2018, 06:25 AM

Got the 15mm spacers installed on the front and back. Looks and drives great. Not sure if I'm imagining it or not, but it feels to me like the steering wheel is a tad lighter and the springs a tad softer. Took it up to highway speeds and didn't feel any weird vibrations. The car still feels very stable at high speed in a straight line. Haven't had a chance to take it onto twisty roads so I don't know if there's a difference there.

That extra hole I was asking about on the Eibach spacers didn't line up with anything on the rotors.

I took off the 5mm spacers that were on the car. It had two tapered bolts to fasten it to the rotor. Once the 5mm spacer was removed I saw two tapered holes on the rotor that looked like they were designed just for keeping those tapered bolts. The mechanic at the tire shop suggested I put the tapered bolts there. Is that a good/bad idea? Is that what its for? Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of the rotor with the wheels and spacers off.