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Fitting an 18" x 9.5” Apex ARC-8 on the front of a Coupe.

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  • Fitting an 18" x 9.5” Apex ARC-8 on the front of a Coupe.

    Ever Since I bought my Coupe, 2 months ago, I have been trying to decide what aftermarket rims to get for her; I eventually opted for Apex ARC- 8s in Hyper Black. Normally one would go for either an 8.5” or 9” for the front, but these are only available with a relatively flat face, not the lovely deep dish that you get with the 9.5”, 10” or 10.5” versions.

    My car is fitted with KW V3 coilovers which, due to the position of the spring and lower spring perch, require the use of a 5mm spacer on the front, even with the standard wheels & tyres. After a bit of investigative work, I decided that it would be possible to modify the upper spring seat/top mounts/springs in order that the lower spring perch be raised enough to get the 9.5”, deep dish, rim to fit on the car with either a 245 or 255 35 series tyre.

    I have started this thread to keep you all abreast of progress as it develops!

    This is the situation with the standard wheel and tyre, fitted with a 5mm spacer, so effectively ET36:



    The ARC-8 is ET35, here it is fitted with a 5mm spacer, so effectively ET30 - I have raised the spring perch 25mm higher that where it was, to get it above the rim:

    [IMG]http://www.z3mcoupe.com/photopost/data//500/5313P1020012.JPG
    [/IMG]









    There is actually very slightly more that a 5mm gap & I have had it fitted with no spacer, but the clearance is too small to be of practical use, but I am hopefull that I could make some 2mm spacers! Next step is to fit a secondhand 255/35 to see how much futher I need to raise the spring perch - I hope to do that this weekend.
    2000 Cosmos Black S50, Kyalami/Black interior, KW V3s, H&R ARBs, Supersprint exhausts, Apex ARC8s.
    1996 Dark Aubergine Escort Cosworth Lux with leather, GGR 305 chipped, GGR/Koni suspension, Black Diamond discs.
    2008 Orange/Black Westfield Megabusa, FW rear, Widetrack/Nitron Suspension, AP/Westfield 4 pots.
    Lots of Land Rovers!
    No wife or kids!!

  • #2
    Looks like a PITA, my RS2s were 8.5j ET22 fronts and I had spacers until I put the rim on the car there was definitely no chance of a spacer going on and having major poke! I had 225/40 tyres.
    Looks like you have alot of poke in one of those pictures.

    Comment


    • #3
      I was waiting for someone to mention the poke in that photo! Yes, there is quite a bit of poke, but it looks greater than it is because the suspension is on full droop - if you look at the rear that seems to have a fair amount of poke too, but that's the standard wheel/tyre without a spacer.

      If I can get mine to run at ET35, the bare rim will have exactly the same amount of poke as yours had!! (35-22=13mm= approx 1/2"(1/2" extra rim each side))

      Did you run more negative camber than standard and did you have any rubbing issues or trim the arch liner?
      2000 Cosmos Black S50, Kyalami/Black interior, KW V3s, H&R ARBs, Supersprint exhausts, Apex ARC8s.
      1996 Dark Aubergine Escort Cosworth Lux with leather, GGR 305 chipped, GGR/Koni suspension, Black Diamond discs.
      2008 Orange/Black Westfield Megabusa, FW rear, Widetrack/Nitron Suspension, AP/Westfield 4 pots.
      Lots of Land Rovers!
      No wife or kids!!

      Comment


      • #4
        Actually looks like the rim & tyre poke on mine at ET35, with a 255/35 tyre will be very much the same as yours was: http://www.willtheyfit.com/index.php...&Submit=Submit
        2000 Cosmos Black S50, Kyalami/Black interior, KW V3s, H&R ARBs, Supersprint exhausts, Apex ARC8s.
        1996 Dark Aubergine Escort Cosworth Lux with leather, GGR 305 chipped, GGR/Koni suspension, Black Diamond discs.
        2008 Orange/Black Westfield Megabusa, FW rear, Widetrack/Nitron Suspension, AP/Westfield 4 pots.
        Lots of Land Rovers!
        No wife or kids!!

        Comment


        • #5
          Due to the semi trailing arm the rears do sit out a lot when on droop. You're right though the front will go in as it goes up a bit, but beyond wishbone horizontal it will become less so (downsides of macpherson). I assume you've not yet messed with the top mounts yet though!?

          Comment


          • #6
            No, haven't played with the top mounts yet, need to establish how much higher the lower spring perch needs to go first, as then I will know how many other changes I need to make!

            Very interesting that S50Missile had the same amount of poke (which looks great in his signature photo) on his though - would be very interested to know if he had to change top mounts (i.e. camber)!!
            2000 Cosmos Black S50, Kyalami/Black interior, KW V3s, H&R ARBs, Supersprint exhausts, Apex ARC8s.
            1996 Dark Aubergine Escort Cosworth Lux with leather, GGR 305 chipped, GGR/Koni suspension, Black Diamond discs.
            2008 Orange/Black Westfield Megabusa, FW rear, Widetrack/Nitron Suspension, AP/Westfield 4 pots.
            Lots of Land Rovers!
            No wife or kids!!

            Comment


            • #7
              I was running 225/40 on the fronts. Did not change anything camber wise but needed raising about 2 turns on the drivers side due to the tyre catching on arch liner over some speed bumps/corners (well the new owner is going to anyway).
              Had to add spacers on the rear to match the poke up front! lol

              I think with 255 tyre its going to look like a balloon, but 235 would be ok but 225 imo was spot on.

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by S50Missile View Post
                I was running 225/40 on the fronts. Did not change anything camber wise but needed raising about 2 turns on the drivers side due to the tyre catching on arch liner over some speed bumps/corners .
                Cheers!! How high was yours anyway? Mine is 45mm on the front when measured from the botton of the thread to the bottom of the lower perch (as outlined in the KW instructions)
                2000 Cosmos Black S50, Kyalami/Black interior, KW V3s, H&R ARBs, Supersprint exhausts, Apex ARC8s.
                1996 Dark Aubergine Escort Cosworth Lux with leather, GGR 305 chipped, GGR/Koni suspension, Black Diamond discs.
                2008 Orange/Black Westfield Megabusa, FW rear, Widetrack/Nitron Suspension, AP/Westfield 4 pots.
                Lots of Land Rovers!
                No wife or kids!!

                Comment


                • #9
                  If you count the threads on the coilover from the bottom up it was about 12-13. I just had it the lowest it would go on the front without any major scrubbing. The rears where down all the way.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Thanks mate, that must be about 25mm then - the lowest recommended height, this can only be 10 or 15mm off the bump stops!!

                    BTW the 255 won't look too much like a balloon as it will be a 35 series!
                    2000 Cosmos Black S50, Kyalami/Black interior, KW V3s, H&R ARBs, Supersprint exhausts, Apex ARC8s.
                    1996 Dark Aubergine Escort Cosworth Lux with leather, GGR 305 chipped, GGR/Koni suspension, Black Diamond discs.
                    2008 Orange/Black Westfield Megabusa, FW rear, Widetrack/Nitron Suspension, AP/Westfield 4 pots.
                    Lots of Land Rovers!
                    No wife or kids!!

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      limbs, i have been wanting to do the same to my 2002 coupe. i called Apex direct, spoke to eddy (really helpful). his answer to the question was the following:

                      "It was great talking to you earlier about your Z3 M coupe.
                      The recommended wheel sizes for your application are:


                      18x9" ET42 front
                      18x10.5" ET27 rear
                      12mm spacer set for front with extended lugs


                      The tires you will want for now are the Yokohama Advan AD08. The tire size I would recommend is:


                      255/35/18 front
                      285/30/18 rear or 295/30/18 rear


                      Vorshlag camber plates will be a must to get enough negative camber in the front.


                      You can order everything through the site if you would like. Here are the links:


                      18x9" wheel https://www.apexraceparts.com/ARC-8-...heel_p_53.html
                      18x10.5" wheel https://www.apexraceparts.com/ARC-8-...set_p_111.html
                      12mm spacers https://www.apexraceparts.com/12mm-B...ent_p_120.html
                      Camber Plates (OEM Z3 spring perch,double row bearing) https://www.apexraceparts.com/Vorshl...ches_p_72.html

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Yea they should be much easier to work with - Apex will never recommend the deep dish 9.5 for the front like Limbs has gone for as it's pushing what can be fitted at the front. Shame even with the 9J ET42 they couldn't have put some more dish on it as it should be possible at that width (probably to ensure good brake clearance).

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Limbs View Post
                          Thanks mate, that must be about 25mm then - the lowest recommended height, this can only be 10 or 15mm off the bump stops!!

                          BTW the 255 won't look too much like a balloon as it will be a 35 series!
                          Plus a 225 will probably not fit/look well overstretched on 9.5"!

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by c_w View Post
                            Yea they should be much easier to work with - Apex will never recommend the deep dish 9.5 for the front like Limbs has gone for as it's pushing what can be fitted at the front. Shame even with the 9J ET42 they couldn't have put some more dish on it as it should be possible at that width (probably to ensure good brake clearance).
                            Another option is to get BBS RC in 5-series sizes with 8.5" concave fronts. These are much easier to get than M3/MC size (3-series fronts, 5-series rears).

                            The front wheel in that case is 8.5" et13, which is on the edge in the opposite direction... but probably doable if the will is strong enough :)

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              It's strange that Apex recommend the 9", if I didn't want the deep dish I would have gone for an 8.5 as it would have been easier to fit. At an effective ET of 30 (ET42 +12mm spacer) the rim would still not clear a coilover's spring unless the lower perch was raised in the same way that I am doing. I will be fitting my rim at an effective ET of somewhere between 30 & 35, so the tyre will either be in the same place or slightly inboard of where Apex recommend. When using a 255 with either 9 or 9.5" rim at ET30, it's getting clearance for the tyre that's the issue, not the rim!

                              Eddy at Apex has told me that to fit these rims with coilovers, most people in the States don't use a tender/helper spring, but their roads are a bit smoother than ours!!

                              Anyway, here's mine fitted with a S/H 255/35 Dunlop Sport:



                              As you can see, there's a fair amount of poke, although there is still a 5mm spacer fitted of which I will be losing at least some. She's also sat 45mm higher that "normal", but I think it's fair to say that I will be needing some more negative camber!! I am now considering the K-Mac top mounts as, although the Vorslag ones would give me more room for a modified upper spring seat, I am nervous about the solid/spherical bearing making it too harsh for road use - especially on the roads in Somerset!!

                              I am not sure that fitting the S/H tyre helped me too much as the Dunlop has a huge rim protector lip that still protrudes even though it is stretched onto the 9.5" rim - I think I need to order the actual tyres that I will be running. My head is telling me to go for a 245 to make the installation easier and reduce the need for as much camber, but my heart is telling me to go for the 155!! Anyway, here's a pic of the installation, with the spring perch raised 45mm above my "normal" setting (the max I can go to and still have full thread engagement is 55mm):



                              Next step, get the tyres & top mounts, so I know exactly what I'm working with!!
                              Last edited by Limbs; 07-01-2012, 10:18 PM.
                              2000 Cosmos Black S50, Kyalami/Black interior, KW V3s, H&R ARBs, Supersprint exhausts, Apex ARC8s.
                              1996 Dark Aubergine Escort Cosworth Lux with leather, GGR 305 chipped, GGR/Koni suspension, Black Diamond discs.
                              2008 Orange/Black Westfield Megabusa, FW rear, Widetrack/Nitron Suspension, AP/Westfield 4 pots.
                              Lots of Land Rovers!
                              No wife or kids!!

                              Comment

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