Tires hit front fenders under mild turning...

[BlackFox5.0]

I don't think simply rolling the fenders will help clear the tires, because the tires are pretty much flush with the fenders. I am not going to lower my car any more than it is although I would like to, but will not because of clearance issues.

When I turn and brake, the driver side fender hits the edge of the tire. I am going to roll the fenders soon, but what if that does not solve the problem....

I have '94 Spindles, and '98 Cobra rims (NOT Cobra R's) And "C" Springs

 

[BlackFox5.0]

ttt

 

[stangonline]

In 91, ford made the fender openings a little bigger to clear the 16inch ponys. In your car, that is probably the issue. What size tire are you running up front?

I was about to pull of a pretty huge wheel tire combo because I have a 93 (and because I did a few other tricks to make it fit).

www.stangonline.com/news/10thwheels.htm

Take care
Jeff
www.stangonline.com

 

[YSRRider]

what are the "TRICKS"? i want to run 17x9's but i hear there is clearance issues up front, i also would like to drop my 90LX an inch or 2 or 3 if all else i guess i could run 9's in the rear 8's up front?

 

[stangonline]

Working on an article to explain everything, but basically, you need 91+ fenders - new/perfect condition aftermarket struts and a higher rate spring for the front, like Steeda full comp fronts. Even then, you still need rack limiter bushings. Ill let you know when the article is done.

Jeff
www.stangonline.com

 

[johnt785]

Maybe a stupid question but what exactly do you have to do to the fenders when you "roll them"?

 

[BlackFox5.0]

'90+ fenders were bigger to allow for a bigger diameter tire...not a wider tire

I don't have any inner fender rubbing issues because I'm only running a 17x8" rim. The fenders are not wide enough to allow the tire to sit fully under the fender. They are Genuine Ford '98 Cobra rims.

Maybe a stupid question but what exactly do you have to do to the fenders when you "roll them"?

You use a baseball bat or something stick it between the tire and fender at an angle, and it folds the inner lip for more clearance.....

 

[stangonline]

Yes thats why they did it, but a wider tire is typically what causes us the clearance problem - the outmost edges are farther from the center of the tire when the wheel is turned, hitting the inner apron and fender trim.

I believe they started that in 91, not 90, because that was the first year that 16inch wheels were available.

What size tire are you running??

Jeff
www.stangonline.com

'90+ fenders were bigger to allow for a bigger diameter tire...not a wider tire

I don't have any inner fender rubbing issues because I'm only running a 17x8" rim. The fenders are not wide enough to allow the tire to sit fully under the fender. They are Genuine Ford '98 Cobra rims.




You use a baseball bat or something stick it between the tire and fender at an angle, and it folds the inner lip for more clearance.....

 

[BlackFox5.0]

245/45/17

 

[johnt785]

LoL. I didn't know the term "roll the fenders" was so sophisticated. So basically you just beat in the fenders until your tires fit.

 

[Legendary]

The back inner part of my front tire rubs the A arms. I thought my rear axles where grinding because when it happens it vibrates the whole car and it feels like it comes from the rear. I still have the stock 15" rims on the car.

 

[speed1972]

there is definitely a clearance issue with the outside of the tire hitting the fender lip when running 17x9's up front. I have them on my car with a set of 255/45/17's and it rubs. I'm also on FMS B springs now (was on H&R SS springs before). I still have issues so I will be getting some 17x8's as soon as the pocket can afford it.... Larry

 

[stangonline]

245/45/17

Compared to the 225 that came stock on your car, the 245 is much larger, both width and diameter. Can you get a picture of where its rubbing? If you can, Ill try to take a picture of mine with the tire in the same position.

Jeff
www.stangonline.com

 

[90whitepony]

If you guye figure this out I will love you all.I did a cobra brake conversion on mine with 17x9 all around with 245/45 and 275/40 and all 4 rub over dips in the road.I have ford racing springs an steeda x2 ball joints but I am going to put stock ball joints back in to raise the front up a little more and I was just going to roll the fender lip in the back but if you guys now something I dont please put it up.

 

[Legendary]

Well I finally got my rims and I dug up this old thread in search of fender rolling methods. I have 17x8 up front 235/45 and 17x9 in back 275/40 and all my tires rub if I hit a dip. The fronts rub if I corner too hard and brake. Check the pic, I circled the points of contact.

Hey stangonline you get that article up yet?

 

[astronut1885]

Here's how I fixed it, and I had severe rub:
1) Roll the rear fenders
2) Roll the front fenders (not much you can do there, but it helps)
3) Buy new shocks and struts. I bought KYB GR-2 and all my problems went away. I am running 245.45.17 all around, with BBK lowering springs (progressive rate). My car sits atleast 1.5" lower than stock, and the only time I get rub now is if all 4 of my friends are in the car and I hit a dip. Shocks and struts make a huge difference.

 

[MrKwik]

I have 17x8's with 255/45's on the front with eibach prokit springs on my 90 and have never had a rubbing issue. Are you sure you have 94 spindles and not the 96+ spindles?

 

[BlackFox5.0]

My car sits too low in the front. I'm going to be ditching the C srpings for some H&R's to solve the problem with rubbing

 

[5o5speed]

If you guye figure this out I will love you all.I did a cobra brake conversion on mine with 17x9 all around with 245/45 and 275/40 and all 4 rub over dips in the road.I have ford racing springs an steeda x2 ball joints but I am going to put stock ball joints back in to raise the front up a little more and I was just going to roll the fender lip in the back but if you guys now something I dont please put it up.

This may be hard to believe, but new shocks will help (at least they did for me). I have a 91 with 17X9's 245's front and 275's rear. Was rubbing real bad everywhere. Installed Bilsteins at all four corners and Maximum Motorsports CC plates. The car never rubs now and that's all I did. My stock shocks must have really been shot in the rear because the Bil's really firmed up the rear of my car. Now when I hit large bumps the body of my car doesn't dramtically come down onto the tires like before. I think if you have really worn out, old shocks/struts it lets the car's suspension travel to much and induces rubbing. I forgot to metion that I have H&R SS springs. 1.25 drop front about 1 inch rear

 

[stangonline]

Wow, this has been a while :0 No, I never did finish the article that I was working on regarding tire fitment.

In a nutshell - 275s on the front can rub at certain times almost no matter what you do, short of rolling fenders. Do these few things and it will help:

- New shocks/struts (mentioned above). This helps SO MUCH, I went with standard tokicos on the front.

- Caster/Camber. Get that camber adjusted correctly - more of a race alignment will help, as it tips the tops of the tires in slightly inside the fender.

- Use 94-95 spindles, not 96+, which stick out more.

- Front and rear wheel selection. In my case, the 10th anniversary wheels work perfect when keeping the stock length axles. The backspacing is 6.12...if they were 5.95, they would hit, for sure. I didnt even roll the rear and mine never hits in the back...I have a lighter coupe as well.

- ride height on one corner of the car creates the opposite effect on the opposite corner. If your a little low in the front, using adjustable rear control arms the change the height of the rear slightly can help.

Hope that helps.
Jeff