I just bought some 15x7 torq thrust II's with BFG radial t/a's, and the look AMAZING. The only problem: the fronts are rubbing the fenders. They rub pretty good on dips and quick bumps, especially when i have passengers. Has anyone had this problem and how did they solve it? I'm thinking about rolling the fenders up a bit, I am also going to buy KYB gas shocks with heavy duty coil springs. Will this solve my problems?
Tire rubbing
- Thread starter mxmattd
- Start date
mfp4073
Founding Member
You may be able to solve this by simply replacing the springs. Believe it or not, my car took a bigger tire in the front after I replaced the springs with drop springs and did a shelby upper control arm drop. My springs were original and just sagged so much that I did not get a lot of drop from the springs. Also, because they were stiffer, the car would not drop as much for dips, potholes etc. Just an idea (of course I rolled my fenders early on).
dodgestang
Active Member
What size are the tires?
205 60 15?
215 60 15?
225 60 15?
When was the last time the car was aligned?
Does it have a shelby drop currently?
How old is the suspension?
All these questions will affect the correct thing to do to fix the problem.
205 60 15?
215 60 15?
225 60 15?
When was the last time the car was aligned?
Does it have a shelby drop currently?
How old is the suspension?
All these questions will affect the correct thing to do to fix the problem.
67coupestang
Founding Member
- May 31, 2002
- 509
- 2
- 19
my 225 50 16's on 99 mustang v-6 rims were rubbing in the front but i havent noticed it after aligning it...
Thanks for all the quick responses. The tire size is 225 60 15, I do believe the alignment may be off, and it does not have a shelby drop. I'm not sure when the last time the front suspension has been replaced ( I bought the car a year ago), but I definately think the coils and shocks are worn and need replacing. It looks like there is only a couple of inches from the outside of the tire where its rubbing to the inside of the fender at rest. I believe the backspace is 3.75. I pray to God that the backspacing is not incorrect, but if it is, what are my options? will the shelby drop move the tires back into the wheel well? what parts are actually involved in a shelby drop? Is it possible the new heavy duty coils, kyb shocks, and an alignment will solve the problem?
mfp4073
Founding Member
C0V3R said:
You are right, I had not thought of that. But I did have worse sagging front springs than I would have thought. I think I got less than a total of 1 inch from the drop springs and shelby relocation. My best guess is that it should have been close to 1.25 inches.
I have been reading alot about the shelby drop procedure and i think it is something that even inexperienced me can handle. I just need someone to confirm that doing this on a 66 coupe will move the tires about 1/4" inside the wheel well and only 1" drop. I don't want the front to be lower than the back (which is at stock height), but I think the front is already a little higher, so hopefully it will level out. If someone who has done this to a 65 or 66 coupe could confirm a 1/4" inward movement of the wheels, i would greatly appreciate it. I REALLY need that 1/4".
Also, I have found a few websites outlining the procedure, but if anyone who has done it could give me any advice or a website they recommend, that would be sweet.
Thanks
Also, I have found a few websites outlining the procedure, but if anyone who has done it could give me any advice or a website they recommend, that would be sweet.
Thanks
mfp4073
Founding Member
I cannot confirm 1/4 inch inward. That would only be at the top of the travel if that. I do believe that it will drop the front of the car by about 1/4 inch. Honestly I highly recommend it even for a daily driver. The resulting suspension geometry is so much better than the normal config. You have to get it realigned to the shelby specs, but it makes all the difference in the world. It will result in the top of the tire leaning more inward durning hard cornering, so you may get what you are looking for. The great thing about it is its free! Just be sure to get a good template to work from (I used a printout on cardboard so I had a better template to work from).
dodgestang
Active Member
mxmattd said:
The only way you will get it all to work for you IMO is:
1. Do the shelby drop and get the car re-aligned to a somewhat more agressive alignment to take full advantage of the drop. Here is what I run on my car:
WEEKEND WORRIOR:
-1 deg camber
2.0 - 2.5 caster
1/8" toe in
2. Drive the car spirited and see if it rubs after this, I know it still will, but I don't mind being proven wrong. The next step would be to roll the front fender since the rub will be out close to the edge of the tire or on the side wall budlge now.
EVERYONE on my wheel chart that is running a 225 60 15 on a 3.75 rim had to roll their front fender, regardless of new springs, old springs or shelby drop. But eveyone HAD the shelby drop AND rolled springs to make it fit the car. The only person on my chart that did not, was running a global west setup with a negative wedge which is a capital investement you prob do not want to make.
Thanks for the advice dodgestang, but my car is a daily driver. Would you still recommend that alignment? Or would the wear on the tires be too much? I have decided that I am definately doing the shelby drop, since it is free and can be undone if necessary. Thanks to everyone for all the good advice. I'll let you know how it goes.
-Matt
-Matt
dodgestang
Active Member
That one is hard to answer. I have about 2k on my tires with this setup and I have not noticed any usually wear pattern
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