General Space Saver Wheel too small for front axle?

[dry]

Hi,

I've got a 1.9 2007 Bravo, 150 Dynamic.... and I've got a flat tyre on front offside (16" alloys)

Took the flat off today and went to fit the space saver from the boot, but it doesn't fit over the brake caliper.

I'm thinking a couple of things- either
a) the space saver can only be used on the rear axle
b) the space saver has been replaced at some point with the incorrect size

I'm leaning towards a) at the minute. I measured the gap between the caliper and rim earlier- the front is 1.5 fingers width whereas back is 3 fingers width.

Reason I don't think it's b) is because all the original tools are fitted perfectly in the wheel, which they wouldn't have done if the original space saver was larger.

I will try the space saver on the rear axle tomorrow but wondered whether anybody knows off the bat whether I'm along the right lines? There's no mention of using the ss on the rear axle in the user manual, and nothing comes up about it in a search of t'interwebs. Hmm

Thanks

 

[gadge]

I would suspect it's probably B as I'm not sure the bravo was fitted with a space saver as such. As standard I'm sure they weren't actually fitted with anything (as seems to be the case thses days) in my case I just had a polystyrene storage pod that fits into the spare wheel well. What manufacturers sometimes do is offer a either a space saver kit (space saver wheel plus tools) or a standard steel wheel (15" steel wheel and tools) for extra cost so I think that either your car once had a steel wheel in the boot and for some reason it's been replaced with a space saver or more likely a previous owner (assuming your not the first owner) has bought a space saver thinking it'll fit.

I had a stilo before my bravo which pretty much shares the same boot floor and I bought a standard 15" steel wheel off eBay and a tool kit which fitted perfectly in the middle of the wheel.

 

[dry]

Thanks for the reply gadge

I went to try and put the space saver on the rear axle today and sure enough it went on straight away.

A little bit frustrating that there's no mention of this anywhere in the user manual (that the spare can only go on the rear axle) and a bit scary to think if I got a flat away from home, that I'd need to swap the wheels from back to front.

Having said that, there's still the chance that the spare isn't the car's original and it is the wrong size. There's no speed restriction sticker and no Fiat part number on it, but the tool kit fits so perfectly!

Managed to split the Fiat spanner from the toolkit when taking one of the wheel nuts off though. It seems Fiat selected 'tin foil' when specifying what material to make it out of.

 

[gadge]

The toolkit will probably be a standard issue fiat item and will be used across the whole fiat range. I've never heard of a space saver being fitted on a bravo and I doubt very much fiat would provide a wheel that only fits on the rear plus the wheel well is big enough for a 15" or 16" steel wheel so I'm going for a wrongly bought spare wheel.

 

[varesecrazy]

Thanks for the reply gadge

I went to try and put the space saver on the rear axle today and sure enough it went on straight away.

A little bit frustrating that there's no mention of this anywhere in the user manual (that the spare can only go on the rear axle) and a bit scary to think if I got a flat away from home, that I'd need to swap the wheels from back to front.

Having said that, there's still the chance that the spare isn't the car's original and it is the wrong size. There's no speed restriction sticker and no Fiat part number on it, but the tool kit fits so perfectly!

Managed to split the Fiat spanner from the toolkit when taking one of the wheel nuts off though. It seems Fiat selected 'tin foil' when specifying what material to make it out of.

I suspect you could order a spare as an option when new..

cash making scheme from FIAT..
no guarantee that's what you've got though..

I sheared a 3/8 drive socket trying to remove an alloy years ago.. so splitting a "box-spanner" isn't too ridiculous

I bought a steel wheel for my GP - never had a wheel off to see if it actually works all round.. I'd want the skinny wheel on the rear anyway..

Charlie

 

[gadge]

I suspect you could order a spare as an option when new....cash making scheme from FIAT..

Not just fiat, I had to fight tooth and nail to get a spare wheel kit thrown in for nothing at ford for my wife's fiesta

 

[Matthen]

Pretty sure there is a full size spare in the boot of my Bravo. I didn't buy the car new though. I imagine the options were either full size spare or the can of foam... Although, a space saver that only fits on the back would work. Just move the back wheel to the front and put the space saver on the back. No faf at all.

 

[dry]

All sorted now. Spare went on the back no bother (apart from having to use another breaker bar because the Fiat-included one cracked) and got to my local Costco who replaced the tyre.

Chap at Costco said he'd never heard of a spare not fitting over the front brake caliper either, which supports the argument that it's a non-original spare.

The manual does mention the procedure to use the space saver (page 161) and it's got a diagram of the space saver which is literally exactly the same as the space saver that was in my boot well. Strange! Interestingly the diagram for fitting the space saver shows it going on the rear axle but this isn't mentioned anywhere in writing.

 

[aurick86]

what i can say for sure:
I've had the fist Stilo space saver wheel on the from where i have the stilo 1.9 150 hp calipers installed. No Problem.

Maybe you have a smaller space saver?

Anyway, i consider it a simple safety indication to put the space saver on the back either way. less weight, no acceleration forces, less braking force..etc.

 

[Matthen]

You should always have the best rubber on the back, so that seems unlikely.

 

[varesecrazy]

You should always have the best rubber on the back, so that seems unlikely.

with equal size wheels - YES ,

but we are not comparing equal size wheels.., remember the handbook says limited journey at restricted speed.


I'd rather have the steering wheels of equal rolling diameter - AND GRIP

and on a HEAVY diesel the handling with a space saver on the front is lousy:yuck:

 

[Matthen]

Far easier to keep the car within the limits of the grip when the worse tyres are on the front. Handling will be lousy regardless of where the space saver is, only difference is the driver will be more aware when its on the front.

 

[Matthewr1990]

Spare wheel on the Bravo is a 15 inch steel wheel. The same that comes with the active models as standard all around. It was a standard issued item on all cars before 2010. The space saver wheel you have is someone's choice. If I was you I'd grab a 15 inch steel wheel from an old breakers yard Bravo. It will fit in the well. Also the tool kit that sits in the boot fits perfectly into the back of the wheel when laying in the spare wheel well meaning all tools and wheel are stored neatly under the carpet of the boot.

 

[flisko]

i got 1.4 150 sport with original 18" and spare tire fits infont

 

[phdbelgium]

Just to let You know: a space-saver-sparewheel may never be mounted in place of the driven wheel. The tire can't handle the power in combination with the steering. Because of the smaller dimensions is the speedlimit also 50 mph and the maximum running distance around 50 mile. These are written on the spare-wheel.

 

[flisko]

Just to let You know: a space-saver-sparewheel may never be mounted in place of the driven wheel. The tire can't handle the power in combination with the steering. Because of the smaller dimensions is the speedlimit also 50 mph and the maximum running distance around 50 mile. These are written on the spare-wheel.

i drive 210kmh on highway with 4x original spare tires

 

[Eklipze3k]

i drive 210kmh on highway with 4x original spare tires