Driver's Side Tire Rubbing Control Arm On Full Turn

[Ant85]

I went out looking under my car because I suspected I had another coolant leak. I happened to glance at the sidewall of the tire and you could see it was shiny like it was rubbing on something. I looked a little more and on one side of the control arm(if the wheels were pointed all the way to the left) there was a shiny spot on the control arm. The tire size is correct, car is not lowered, nothing is bent(drives true, alignment is good). Any ideas?

 

[mikestang63]

what year car, what size tires.

Sometimes when you put oversie tires on, especially in the earlier year foxes, you get tire rub. If you are certain nothing is bent, worn or tweaked, a simple fix could be a set of rack limiters. You simply loosen the boot on the inner tie rod to the rack. You will see the factory rack limiters. Just add one or two more until the tire stops rubbing.

 

[Ant85]

The car is a '92, but I don't have the 16" SSP wheels. I have 15" 10 hole wheels from an earlier year Mustang. 225/60/15 are what's on there. I didn't think that would make a difference on a later model year would it?

 

[mikestang63]

nah, you shouldn't be having any rubbing issues with stock tires on 10 holes. Best is to jack it up and turn the wheel all the way in an out and see where and why it's rubbing. Something aint right.

 

[Ant85]

I'll do that tomorrow and post an update. Thanks

 

[Ant85]

Got a chance to jack it up. I don't see any weird reason why this is doing it. I also heard that Ford had a recall back in the day for rubbing issues like I am describing? I could not find any information about this on the internet. It came from someone who worked at a Ford dealer in the early 90s and remember this being an issue.

 

[Shakerhood]

Got a chance to jack it up. I don't see any weird reason why this is doing it. I also heard that Ford had a recall back in the day for rubbing issues like I am describing? I could not find any information about this on the internet. It came from someone who worked at a Ford dealer in the early 90s and remember this being an issue.

I know Ford started adding Rack Limiters and also changed the fenders and fender extensions around 1991.

 

[MFE92]

If your car is a 92 and it's rubbing at full lock, I suspect it's had an '87-89 steering rack installed at some point, OR the correct rack's steering limiters are chewed up. If the car is straight and everything's centered, get some steering rack travel limiters for a few bucks, remove the retaining strap on the inboard edge of the rack boot, pop the boot off, and snap another limiter over the inboard end of the tie rod. Reattach the boot and clamp and call it a day.

 

[Ant85]

I will have to take a look at that. Thanks.