ok so ive already searched and havent found what i needed. my question is, im going to be running c6 17x9.5 rims with 54 offset, and 7.38 backspace, im going to use 2 inch spacers all the way around with 255/45r17 tires. my question is, will these rims be a problem with 2 inch drop spindles? if anyone has any insight on this i'd really appreciate the help

 

yes they will be a problem. With the drop spindle, the steering arm/tie rod will contact the rim. You would have to use a larger than 2'' spacer, and by the time you space it out far enough to not contact the steering arm, the rim and tire will be outside of the fender. Been there done that. Plenty of others have had that same problem on here.

 

how much spacing would i need to make it work? would 2.25" be enough in your experience to clear? because i think it could handle another 1/4 before it was outside the fender. that would make the backspace of this particular rim 5.13" does that sound shallow enough to clear? this is the first time i've tried to put anything over a 15" rim on a third gen so i've never had to worry this much about rim specs...

 

I still don't think that will be enough. But you can easily measure it with a couple of rulers.

 

It's been a couple years since I tried this so I don't remember the measurements exactly. But I think I was using a 2.25 bolt on spacer and then using some thinner slip on ones to bring it out the rest of the way (on top of having a big break kit that spaces the wheel out an additional .25). All in all it didn't work even with my rolled fenders. Sorry I don't have the exact numbers, but I can say for sure it did not work in my case. I had to re-sell the wheels.

 

The reason they don't fit is because they are 17" and 17" is too small for the tie rod ends to fit inside a rim that is this wide. I think only an 18" or larger wheel might fit the tie rod end inside the 9.5" wide rim.

 

You will need 2.25" spacers to get the wheels on the car - and you may still contact the tie rod ends and/or flange on the top of the struts (easy to grind the flange down).

Tires may help with the tire to fender issues of a 2" drop, but it's the wheel that hits the suspension, not the tires...

 

i understand this. however, after having the car on the rack at work wit the rim and doing some measuring... it would fit with 56mm (2.2 inch) spacers and very, very, slight grinding of the tie rod.. it would be a very, tight fit even with modification to the tie rod end... but the drop spindles would require (for me to feel safe) something around 60-61mm (2.36 inch) or better which makes the rim sit to far out. after grabbing a c6 rim off the show room at work (18 inch) i have decided that i feel much more comfortable with the 18 inch rim. the drop is still going to be an issue but should be much more manageable.. im going to wait till i get the replica 18 inch rim here before i say anything for certain on that though.. as i dont have specs for the one off the floor and i dont know if they are perfectly identical other than the 18x9.5.. and they cost about 4 times what the replicas do.. so the oems arent an option

 

Did you ever find a set up that worked?