New rims and brakes issue

[malteser]

Hey guys,

I've been doing a bit of work to the old VR over the past few months.
This has included sourcing some new rims, finally getting some new tyres, getting the gearbox reconditioned (thanks Matt!), guard rolling and some new brakes.

I got some new rotors, pads fluid and braided brake lines and they were all fitted last week.

But, there's a problem, a pretty big one actually. The new rims fit on the car before the new pads, and with the considerably meatier pads, the caliper sticks out and the rims don't clear the calipers.
The rims won't even bolt up properly now because theres about 5-7mm gap to the mounting surface. Even the old rims needed to be spaced out with washers to fit on.

So I have quite a dilemma. The rims are 16x7 with 24mm offset and sit quite nicely in the guards with some scrapage on hard runs. So I can't really use spacers. Another option I spose is to take some material off the pads, and clean up the calipers a bit.

What can be done?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Oh, and a pic of the rims on the car (oh, no! not BBS Rs again! hahaha)

[Golf Loon]

Your car has 280mm brakes. The 288mm later ones are a different offset and the wheels may clear them.

I would try a wheel on someone elses later VR6. If they clear the brakes, then consider the 288mm brake swop.

Better option that running spacers imo.

[sdw1]

Hey mate,

I took an angle grinder to the pads when i had a simlar issue. didn't take to long to skim the pads to fit. left a bit of dust in the shed though.

Good Luck.

[KI11Z]

bro i run 17x8 +25 with a couple degree's of camber so you can definately get away with a 10mm spacer if you wanted

pic for proof

[rayray086]

bro i run 17x8 +25 with a couple degree's of camber so you can definately get away with a 10mm spacer if you wanted

QFT. -1 camber is good enough, and as long as you've got the toe aligned, tyre wear won't be suffering too hard.

I see the arches have been taken off - if you haven't done so, roll the guards a bit and you should get some much needed clearance so you can run spacers.

I can't think of any other solution that won't cost a lot...

Car looks on point though Mark

[malteser]

Thanks heaps guys for your responses...

I had some ideas of my own, but its good to get some other opinions

At least I know now that there are a lot of options that I have.

Thanks

[chris.]

not really related but wow 16's look alot smaller than 17's, not saying it looks bad etheir as i love it
but needs a bit of stretch and less profile

anyway looks awsome dude, keep us posted with it

[chris.]

bro i run 17x8 +25 with a couple degree's of camber so you can definately get away with a 10mm spacer if you wanted

pic for proof

not whoreing your car are you?

hahahahahaaaaaaa love that pic man , cant wait for the day my arches get done & hope it looks that clean

[malteser]

not really related but wow 16's look alot smaller than 17's, not saying it looks bad etheir as i love it
but needs a bit of stretch and less profile

anyway looks awsome dude, keep us posted with it

Haha, if only I could find 17's mmm

But yeah, after I got the tyres done, the sidewalls just looked too flat, and it looks too skinny from behind as well... But the 195's were like $50 more per corner. Next set of tyres - which shouldn't be too far away at the rate that I go through tyres - will definitely be 195's; that way there'll be less scrubbing as well.

And there's always something going on with my car. Soon, I'll be looking at tidying the car up by getting the trims back to black, a nice detail to get rid of the swirl marks and maybe a set of smoked indicators for the front. I like to keep things subtle...

[Mrk_Mickey]

Plans sound good dude, good to hear from you too

You can try the RS's on my car if you like, I'm never busy anymore lol, and I've upgraded to the 288's. I'm almost certain they'll fit. Hit up Manaz for some Bora brakes if you want, even better!!

why were 195's more expensive than wider tyres?? They're much more common than other sizes as well so it should be cheaper.

[VR6child]

Eh I like 16's far more than 17's on mk3. Do you have on 205's now? Definitely 195's I reckon for next time. Did those wheels come as 5x100 or did you do something to get them fit? This thread sorta makes me depressed about how I will ever get my 9" RS to fit

[rayray086]

205/45 and 205/50 are a lot more common than the smaller 205/40 and 195/45s for 16". Same deal with 195/45 being nearly double the price of 195/50s in 15".