How do spacers feel?

[Sidewaze Samm]

Having recently acquired a new E85, I'm struck by how it feels different to my previous zed. It feels a little light and the steering a little more remote. It is fitted with spacers front and rear (10mm and 12mm I think) and has had 4-wheel alignment since they were fitted, but I'm wondering whether this is contributing to the feel.

So, having never previously driven a car fitted with spacers, do they make a difference to the steering feel? Do they make a difference to anything other than filling the arches a little more? Is 4-wheel alignment reading different with spacers fitted/not fitted?

I know the obvious thing is to take them off and compare, but that's such a faff in wet weather I thought I'd ask first...

 

[brillomaster]

are the spacers the only thing thats different between the old car and new? so, same tyres and wheels, same air pressures, same wheel alignment settings?

id say of those 5 factors, the spacers will make the least difference to how a car steers.

 

[Ed Doe]

Could be a myriad things - the below are (in no particular order) normally the main culprits however;

1. Age/Make of tyres
2. Condition of EPAS (have a search on here but this can cause an odd feeling to the steering if the wormdrive isn't engaged enough.
3. Condition of RTABs, front Wishbone Lollipop bushes, TREs.

Yes Spacers will alter the scrub radius on the front axle, but I very much doubt you're feeling this on the road - it's more than likely one or a combination of the above

 

[bigwinn]

I fitted rears

No difference whatsoever driving wise just looks!!

 

[B21]

What wheels are fitted to the car?

 

[Sidewaze Samm]

So... following my OP I then got a trifecta of amber lights (though not the usual I think - DSC, brakes, tpms).
Had it scanned and it was showing a loss of communication to the DSC module and the steering angle sensor 12deg out.
After the steering angle was corrected, the DSC communication error vanished as did the trifecta... and it feels better and more connected to drive, though obviously still a bit different from my old car due largely to having 18" not 17" rims and spacers fitted. But all good