Wheel spacers

[GREG]

Has anyone fitted these to a 411 ?

(4) 1.25" Wheel Spacers Jaguar XJ (91-03) Adapters - eBay (item 330481932998 end time Mar-06-11 07:21:29 PST)

[Janne]

I have only fitted spacers of almost this thicknes (1 inch) on a 993. As the drive characteristics changed, I removed them.

A thought, Greg: The spacers are made from aluminium. If you look closely on the photograph, at the holes where the hub bolts go, imho there is a serious weakness, there is not much aluminium left.
Risk for failure? 411 are quite heavy cars.
Be aware that the load on the components of the steering and suspension will increase quite a bit. Also be aware that the steering geometry will change, as you are changing the width of the track by 2,5 inches ( 6.35 cm - sounds more in centimeters! )

[GREG]

The six series alloy of aluminium at that temper is about the same strength as mild steel.

I was actually only thinking of adding them to the rear. As you say, the front may cause problems with steering and fouling. Bristol Cars actually fit a wider rear axle as an upgrade, so hopefully it will improve the ride ! I will let you know :-)

[GREG]

Wider Track Rear Axle

Eliminates narrow-tracked appearance at rear making the car look far better proportioned and elegant as well as sporty. Widens track by more than 2 inches improving stability, adhesion and ride comfort.

[GREG]

Maybe just these at the front ?

4 x 3mm ALLOY WHEEL SPACERS FITS JAGUAR XJ SERIES on eBay (end time 06-Mar-11 14:33:19 GMT)

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by GREG

Maybe just these at the front ?

4 x 3mm ALLOY WHEEL SPACERS FITS JAGUAR XJ SERIES on eBay (end time 06-Mar-11 14:33:19 GMT)

I wouldn't make any changes at the front. Bristol supposedly did an enormous amount of work to perfect the front suspension, steering geometry and ride. By making this change you risk spoiling that.

Also, you would effectively reduce the wheel stud thread by 3mm. Given that Bristol specify wheel nut torque of about 90 lb/ft, shortening the studs may not be wise.

Which wheels do you have on your 411? (steel or Avons?) and what tyre size and pressure? - these can make a big difference

[Janne]

If you want a slight increae in the width (3-5mm sounds good) in the rear, you can allways fit longer studs.

The load on the suspention and hub parts will increase, but propably not much.

Of course, I do not know if your car has a newly restored suspention etc etc.
still, I would be careful as our cars are 30+ years old.

Your 411, which year and series?

(I am a newbie here, so I do not know your cars)

[GREG]

The car I am experimenting with is a series one that has been uprated to series two , 6 J steel Bristol wheels that are shod with 215 Pirelli tyres. Speedo has been adjusted.

I have tried it with 3mm spacers at the front without any issues. The rear spacers I propose do not effect stud / wheel nut length due to the design !

And of course the suspension and other components have been maintained since the car was built !!

[Kevin H]

215 tyres seem a bit wide to go on a 6 inch rim, but that's another conversation.

You may find you go through rear wheel bearings more quickly using the spacers because you will increase the thrust load on the bearings by moving the wheels out.

If the PCD of the studs on the S1 411 is the same as the later 411 a better solution maybe to fit Avon safety wheels, which are 7" wide, and also significantly lighter than the steel wheels.

When I changed from 6J steel wheels with 205 Pirelli tyres to 7J Avon wheels with 215 Avon tyres I noticed a significant improvement in ride and handling. Experimenting with tyre pressure can also yield some improvements.

[GREG]

I wish that I liked the look of Avon wheels more than I do!. I think they look "okay" on 411 S3 onward Bristols and I do have one set that are being powder coated silver. I noticed silver ones on another car and thought they looked better than the black and silver.

I just like the look of the steel wheels best on the earlier cars.

The car has ran on 215 tyres for years without issue or handling problems.

Maybe I am trying to fix things that aren't broken :-) again.

[Janne]

If you do not like the design of the Avon wheels (took me a long time to like them) maybe you could fit Jaguar wheels? Minilites?

3mm is good, I would think even 5mm should be OK, but then the studs become too short (can be eplaced).

Maybe somedy knows the difference in track between the Steel wheel and the Avon? It must have increased.

If you check out Minilite USA there are some pics, the one on the Volvo P1800in particular will give you an idea of the look.

[GREG]

I do like the Avon's on the S3 onward cars.

I like these better - Maybe Jag ? I think Avon's will always add more value to a Bristol, as they are part of the history.

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by GREG

I just like the look of the steel wheels best on the earlier cars.

I agree, the Avon wheels just wouldn't look right on a 411 S1.

I thought I would do a bit of research on tyre widths vs rim size and came across this very useful resource Car Bibles : The Wheel and Tyre Bible Page 3 of 4

According to the calculator 215 tyres should be okay on 6" rims.

Originally Posted by GREG

I like these better - Maybe Jag ?

I believe they are Britannia/Brigand/Blenheim 1 wheels.

Brian Marelli suggested I buy those instead of the tatty secondhand Avons I bought from him and then had to have restored. With hindsight I wish I had.

However, the big problem with all of these wheels is the wheel nuts. The chrome flakes off the mild steel ones and they go rusty and the stainless ones that Bristol used on the B cars were £20 each when I last checked over 10 years ago. So back then it was £100 for each wheel for the wheel nuts!

[GREG]

I buy the Jag wheel nuts that are 1/2" UNF and tap them out to 9/16 BSF !


You can buy 20 polished stainless steel nuts on ebay brand new for £9 and if you can't tap them out yourself a local engineer would charge no more than £20 for the lot -- £20 each is ridiculous !!

Any Bristol owner can borrow the tap and die nut if they need it :-)

So no big problem :-) But happy to sell 20 for £19 each

The steel ones are the same as Land Rover S1 -- I think

[Janne]

Compared to the fuel cost a set of OE S/s nuts is not so bad.....
I would not be able to do the tapping. Would lose a wheel or two the first time I took the car on a spin!

The Minilite EV 2000 would fit nicely on a 411.

Something most Aluminium alloy whells have, is the assymetrical driling of the holes against the spokes.
Not the way Bristol does it, or approves of.

Landrover S1?
Yep, Bristol has a way of finding quality components. They did not make bad components in those days.
They sold me some brakepads which had the French sounding name of Peugeot on the box. So I guess they must be good.

Btw, anybody know which brakepads fit on a S5 ??

[GREG]

S5 brakes same as S 1 ,2, 3 and 4 :-) Bristol and ebay

[Janne]

Thanks! But is Ebay to be trusted? I would hate to receive something that does not fit. Expensive shipping to Cayman!

[GREG]

Bristol and ACCS will send the right ones but even if you got the wrong ones through ebay, you are protected with PAYPAL.

If you pay for a cheap flight I will make sure I bring you the right ones :-)

And even fit them !