steering feels stiffer after spacers?!

[M3 Number 86]

So I've always run 5mm spacers on all four corners and steering never felt any different.

I bumped up to 10mm in the front for more clearance and left the rears at 5mm. Now the car steering feels tight and the balance just feels weird (eg. I feel more tramlining on the road now than before).

Should I throw on 10mm in the back? I'm guessing now it essentially drives like a 3 wheel bike now - two wheels (wider) in front and one wheel (narrower, relative to stock).

Anyone else notice this? Or is it just time to top my power steering reservoir again?

TIA

[JDM_CL9]

If this is the setup you actually want, an alignment would probably help you out as you've technically changed the way the car is sitting.

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by JDM_CL9

If this is the setup you actually want, an alignment would probably help you out as you've technically changed the way the car is sitting.

would 5mm additional spacer have an effect on toe that much?

I don't notice my car not swerving to one side but the steering wheel feels stiffer and tramlining is more noticeable (tires are worn out track rs3 demoted to street use).

I am taking my car in for oil change tomorrow so will see if needs adjustment.

I'm gonna slap on the the 10mm in the back (although I feel like there is already rubber on the fender from last track day) and see if steering feels a little better by balancing out the rear.

[Richbot]

Wider track means you have changed steering geometry. It's going to feel different.

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by Richbot

Wider track means you have changed steering geometry. It's going to feel different.

that's what I thought. will evening the rear out make it a little better?

[oolas3]

Did anybody experience this with the same mm size spacers all around? A lot of guys here run different size front from the rears. It always seemed to me like this could throw off the dynamics of the car but I never saw any complaints until this thread. Is it just safer to go with the same size at all 4 corners?

[Greg S]

You altered the scrub radius, google it.

[nachob]

Originally Posted by m3m3mr

Did anybody experience this with the same mm size spacers all around? A lot of guys here run different size front from the rears. It always seemed to me like this could throw off the dynamics of the car but I never saw any complaints until this thread. Is it just safer to go with the same size at all 4 corners?

I found this thread because I am experiencing the same thing. I went from a stock ZCP 19x9 et31 in the front on my 1M to a BBS 19x8.5 et 30 with no spacers and it felt exactly the same. I then tried a 19x8.5 et 32 with a 10mm spacer in front and steering is somehow a little less crisp. I'm going to go down to a 5mm and see if I can get back the same feel. The 1M has the exact same steering rack and wheels as e90 M3 in case anyone was wondering about that.

It was more noticeable than I expected. It seems a slightly vague now. I read up a little on "scrub radius" and it appears that the tires now rotate not on the middle of the tire but slightly offset due to the spacer.

[benchan78]

i have run these combos for front wheels:

8.5 et29
9 et31
9.5 et22
9 et31 with 12mm spacers

my feeling is, et29 and et31 have the most responsive steering. especially when i ran et31 with 12mm spacers (same as et19), the steering became more dull. it gives a feeling it doesn't really want to return to center as quickly. i have to help it more, if you know what i mean. so if i want a nice tight steering, i wouldn't want to go much below the stock offset. in terms of rear offset, i have tried these non stock combo:

9.5 et 22, 10.5 et24
9 et31, 10 et25, both with 12mm spacers

the first combo was fine, steering maybe slightly worse compare to stock, but it wasn't too bad. but the second combo i really didn't like. not only the steering feels dull, but the ride quality also clearly suffers, it feels as if i had lowering springs and my shocks travel was reduced by half. strange but it was very obvious to me.

[roastbeef]

you pushed your scrub radius out. tried spacers, didn't like it.

[digitalpersona]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

you pushed your scrub radius out. tried spacers, didn't like it.

interesting thread, as im about to install spacers...15f/12.5r
does lowering have a similar effect?
i would assume lowering and using spacers would offset impact on scrub radius a bit. i guess ill find out soon...since im going with eibach prokit at the same time