Could be that you've got slightly smaller tires on the 17x8 rims that's adding to the gap issue? Upgrade to the larger size? If I remember right, my stocker 17x8s came with 245/45 not 245/40s. I had a wheel gap on mine with the bullitt spring setup, which is much better now that I removed both upper and lower front isolators. You might want to try removing only the upper isos, which is where most of the space comes from and leaving the lower on so you don' have metal-metal contact from the arm all the way up.
Ride didn't get diminished a bit over smallish bumps, but those rare times that I hit a major pothole or bump it crashes pretty hard. I'm just extra careful when it comes to those major holes/bumps now and keep a keen eye out to avoid hitting them at almost all cost.