Wheel Spacers Needed? 1987 Weekender-2WD

[Westy46]

I have a 1.5" lift and Big Braes from Go Westy. I had 15" BFG KO2's and switched to 16" wheels and Falken Wildpeak AT Trails - 215 65R16's and looks like I need spacers.

See photo that shows the control arm bracket near the side wall. My local Subaru dealership works on my van and does a nice job and are recommending spacers all around to correct.

Checking the forum to see if you all agree.

Thanks

[Sodo]

What is your wheel offset?
How much stud length do you have to accommodate spacers?
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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[Westy46]

At the risk of sounding stupid, can you explain wheel offset for me? I would most certainly need the correct stud length if using spacers. I will need to confirm with Subaru on Monday.

[do.dah]

On the inside hub of the wheel, should be moulded numbers/letters, giving wheel specs. Should be an "ET XX" where "XX" is 2 numbers.

Judging by your pics, I kinda think you may have an acceptable ET.

If the ET is something over 35, you may benefit from some thin spacers.

T3 techniques will be the website you'll go to to get spacers and maybe studs/bolts and nuts.

[hdenter]

It looks close, but I don't think it's touching. Looks like maybe 1/2"... Who's wheels? Is the offset stamped on the wheel somewhere?

Hans
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'79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender

[Westy46]

Go Westy 16" wheel set. Subaru recommending 15mm spacer on all wheels.

[Gnarlodious]

https://t3technique.com/products/custom-t3-wheel-spacers

I recommend putting them on before you do any hard cornering or off-road driving.
_________________
Vanagon ’83 diesel AAZ w/Giles injection, 5spd 4.57R&P+TBD and a '78 diesel Rabbit

[do.dah]

Since they're gowesty, you should be ok. Wouldn't hurt to contact T3 and get Chris' confirmation. T3 is the answer to all things wheels.

[hdenter]

Which GoWesty 16" wheels? They sell ET 38 wheels for syncro and EV and ET 23 for 2wd.

Hans
_________________
'79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender

[Sodo]

What happens when you put ET23 on a Syncro?

ET23 would put the tires 15 mm outboard of ET38 right? (total 30mm wider).
It seems like 30mm wider is better..... if it 'fits'.
_________________


'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[DuncanS]

T3 is the only guy to ask. Don't listen to anyone else. This is what Christopher does for a living. A great guy to deal with and immediate on delivery.

Duncan

[Westy46]

The Go Westy wheel set is for 2WD and ET23.

[do.dah]

Oh man,, I don't wanna go down this rabbit hole. GoWesty sells 2 different et's? I'm pretty sure Chris had said the Goldilocks zone was somewhere between et 30-37. 23 sure seems like a low et.

[campism]

It's hard to see the detail in your photo. Here is a pic of the trial fit of a Mercedes CLK wheel on my 2WD '87. No contact yet in thousands of miles.

_________________
'87 Westy in Wolfram Grey Metallic

[jimf909]

I'm interested in the fact that a Subie dealer works on your van. I assume you have a subie conversion. How did you go about getting them to work on a 30 year old VW? Helpful service manager? Helpful Tech? You own the dealership?

In a day when VW dealers won't work on Vanagons, a subie shop working on a Vanagon appears to reflect a good relationship with a helpful shop.
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- Jim

[crazyvwvanman]

No way, don't add thick spacers when you are starting with ET23 wheels.
Those are already past the desired offset range and 15mm spacers would make that worse.

It is a shame that our vendors don't source more wheels with a fit better suited to our vans.

Whether 15 or 16, having 6" and 6.5" width wheels would be better for most of us.

Mark

[Crankey]

[Crankey]

[Westy46]

Subaru story... great shop and relationship!

So I purchased a Subaru Outback a couple years ago and at that time noticed all kinds of unique vehicles in the parking lot. I asked an employee and they gave me a tour of the shop, which included a frame off restoration section as well and said they will work on any vehicle. I came back thru the parking lot a couple weeks later and notice a 74' bus and of course a middle to late 80's Vanagon. I asked the shop if they worked on Vanagons much and that was when I heard the best news yet. Subaru has a couple technicians that are very good with the Vanagon repairs and that was the start of my relationship.

The local Volkswagen dealership will not work on the van as they claim they do not make enough money.

[Sodo]