18" Prodrive wheels

[shooter]

I decided that my wheels didn't quite fill my arches as I wanted (17" Bug Eye Impreza) so I went out and found a nice set of 18" prodrive wheels (7.5Jx18 ET53) fitted with 225/40 x 18 tires, now these look and fill the arches really nice, however the rear tire hits the bottom of the spring cup. Being the way I am, I decided that either I change my suspension to coil overs or space the wheel (1/8" - 1/4") but risk tire rub on the arch on bounce.

I have however found that using a 2lb hammer I was able to ease the bottom edge of the spring cup away from the tire, OK I smacked it a few times, but I only needed at most to find an extra 1/4". This mod doesn't look the best there is, though a quick repaint and it'll look 100 times better but I saved spacers or coil overs :)

I'll post a pic when I get my camera back from the repair shop, but now I can fit the wheels, no rubbing on the strut, nor arch and I still haven't got round to rolling the arch lip.

[BAC5.2]

That might have been a bad idea.

A significant portion of your vehicles weight is supported solely by the struts, right? And you have now buckled a peice of metal engineered to do it's task. You may have just created a point for the strut to fail. The lower strut perch is designed like it is, to take advantage of physics and be able to fully support the weight it's designed to. When you change that, you may jeopardize your saftey.

It may never fail, but that would be enough for me to be worried.

Either space the wheel out, or sell them and get some with the correct offset.

Um, glad they fit though! It's nice to have wheels you like, fit how you want them to! If your method makes you feel comfortable with the saftey of the car, then that's really awesome!

[shooter]

I agree its not the best method, however it is a trick I and many others in the past have used, especially on those Fix Or Replace Daily (ford) auto's when slamming them to the ground and wide wheels.

[BAC5.2]

If you really believe that this is a safe fix for your situation, then that's awesome.


Just so everyone knows, do this at your own risk. There is easily a potential for catestrophic failure.

[Wiscon_Mark]

to each their own....I wouldn't do it.

Pics of the wheels? :D

[Huffer]

Did you have to do this to both sides?

Agreed with BAC - although it doesn't mean the stock suspension doesn't have a degree of leeway. Manufactured designs are always a compromise between ultimate function and money.

Anyway. Get some pics up, or I'm not sending you your Lubegard! :lol:

[shooter]

I'll post pics over the weekend as they are now in being powder coated in graphite grey, wanted a different look to the gold I had.

Had to make the small dent to the bottom cup on both sides of the car, as I said not the ideal way but one which is quite common over here in the UK. I know someone who has put over 100k on their clock since doing this and never had a single prob and he does a lot of track and strip racing.

[shooter]

Well I got the wheels back today from the re-finishers, all being well tires will be on tomorrow and then I can get the car back on the ground so I can see that my idea of the look is right (or should I say it will look right :) )

Finish is better than I really expected especially at the cost (about $50 per wheel)

http://archery1st.com/legacy/pics/prodrive1.jpg

[gil_ong81]

those ARE wicked nice.

I'd love to have my 17" OZs powder-coated that same darkish grey, but alas, the money gods are not smiling on me yet.

[BAC5.2]

Wow, those DO look great!

And that is a GREAT price!

I really like my Silver Sub-Zeros, but if I had any other wheel it would have to be that color, or gold (for my Legacy).

[Wiscon_Mark]

those are HOT :D