Offset affect caliper clearance on "off the shelf" wheels?

[Mr Nick]

I'm currently running MB motoring Old School wheels 17x8 & 17x9.5", they fit perfect with stock brakes, but needed spacers to work with C5/C6 brakes. I'd like to move up to 18's and get a set that won't require spacers.

I'd like to know if offset affects caliper clearance for non-custom wheels? Do they just change the mounting pad, or is the wheel center in a different position within the outer hoop?

I'm looking at these two wheels, but need to confirm brake fitment first.

American Racing Daytona
18x9; 0 or 24 offset
56407



BG Rod Works Gasser
18x9; 0, 13 or 33 offset
56408

Current:
56409

[Classic442]

Nick how is it going. I am considering the same wheels for the Turbo T as I sold the AR TT2s. I spoke to a dealer I use in Ohio and he said those Daytona wheels will clear my Baer T4s on the 442. The Buick has 12" LS1 brakes and should also clear depending on the wheel pad and the abundant bracket.

Are those Old School wheels hitting the abundant bracket or the caliber?

Are you going to do sell the Old School wheels?

Lance

[Mr Nick]

Lance - The MB Old School wheels hit the face of the caliper before they seated on the rotor. Technically, the fronts cleared, but the room between the spoke and caliper face was literally about the thickness of a credit card. I used 1/4" spacer up front, and in the rear a spacer was required so I went with a 3/8". Using a 1/4" spacer in the rear would have been really close!

I would definitely sell the front wheels and tires, and possibly the rear as well. I may keep the rears for the drag strip, as they are drag radials.

[Apogee]

Nick, as far as I know you can't generalize between the various wheel manufacturers, models, sizes, etc to the point that you can say exactly how one wheel compares to the next with respect to offset and brake clearance. There is no universal pad thickness, so some manufactures will cast thick pads and machine them to where they want them, welding the center in the hoop in the same place every time. Others, will leave the pad thickness alone and move the center in the hoop, making the caliper clearance consistent...which may not be a good thing.

Your best bet would be to contact the wheel manufacturer or a good distributor and let them know what you're running for brakes and what backspacing you want. Since the wheels mount to the hat of the rotor and the calipers are justified off of the rotor as well, the vehicle behind the rotors is somewhat inconsequential, at least with respect to brake fitment, because you'll still need to specify the backspacing such that it will work with your application.

Tobin
KORE3