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Tires rubbing rear quarters

joedls

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 12, 2005
Messages
1,980
Location
Lake Forest, CA
When I'm in my car alone, I can drive and not have any problems with the tires rubbing. But when I have a passenger of any size in the car, my tires hit the lip whenever I go over a dip or a bump. I can probably remedy this by rolling the lip. Is there something else I can do? Stiffer leaf springs? Shocks? Don't really want to go with the old airshock trick. Any help is appreciated.
 

tworings

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Joined
Mar 19, 2006
Messages
210
Location
So Cal
We're having the same issue since we got the bigger 10-spoke rims (16") & tires. Got new air shocks & leaf springs and tried to roll the lip and still didn't totally fix the problem, but made it better. May have to get smaller rims and tires or have the axle shortened.
 

Mosesatm

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 18, 2005
Messages
9,011
Joe, NPD offers 1" extenders. Do you think another inch will take care of the problem?
 
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rvrtrash

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Joined
Apr 25, 2003
Messages
3,649
The shocks are only to dampen motion. If you run air shocks or something real "stiff" to keep the ride height higher you will eventually fatigue the mounting plate where the top of the shock mounts. It's a single layer of sheet metal and not meant for that kind of stress. The best bet is new springs with a higher spring rate. Helper springs, shackles, etc. just seem to wear out the factory spring. In fact, the Fairlane I'm working on had helper springs and now 2 of the original 4 leafs are broken! Depending on tire width you can also buy rims with a different offset, that moves the tire in about 1/2" or so. Hope this helps.

Steve---I mean "Dad" :grin:
 
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joedls

joedls

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Joined
Mar 12, 2005
Messages
1,980
Location
Lake Forest, CA
I think wheels with different backspacing is the probably the solution for me. I don't know what backspacing these have, but 235/60R15 tires shouldn't be rubbing. I'll take a look at how much room I have between the tire and the inside of the wheelhouse.
 

Diesel Donna

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 22, 2004
Messages
2,005
When I'm in my car alone, I can drive and not have any problems with the tires rubbing. But when I have a passenger of any size in the car, my tires hit the lip whenever I go over a dip or a bump. I can probably remedy this by rolling the lip. Is there something else I can do? Stiffer leaf springs? Shocks? Don't really want to go with the old airshock trick. Any help is appreciated.


Joe...don't take any passengers!! :rofl:
 

2007GTCS

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Joined
Feb 9, 2007
Messages
74
Location
NW Washington State
I ran 235/16's on Magnum 500's when I had my '69 with no problems. I had to change to the Magnums because of an offset problem with the first set of rims I had on the car. I think the only way to go is to change your rims (or go back to a smaller tire). I wouldn't alter the wheelhousings at all, but that's just me.
 

Mark Puls

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 2, 2006
Messages
51
Location
Maumee, Ohio
For what its worth I have the 15 inch Shelby 10 spokes with 235 60 r15 's and have no problems ......original rear suspension

Mark
 

davidathans

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Joined
Jul 25, 2004
Messages
703
Location
San Fernando Valley, California
i replaced my stock leafsprings with new leafsprings (stock ride height)...i have ranchoRS9000 rear shocks...and im running a 17x9" rim with a 275 tire...im only rubbing if i hit a dip too fast...if your wheels are rubbing with just a single passenger in the car, i would take some accurate measurements and put a rim that is at least 8" wide back there that has the correct backspacing...my 17x9 has a 5.95" backspacing....my 15x8's that i have my slicks mounted to have 5" backspacing...my rear end width is 60 7/16" end to end which is 1" wider than the stock 8" was....so my tires are pushed out toward the fenders an extra 1/2"...my fenders are tucked. I also have Caltracs traction bars back there

i posted some pictures to show the difference between a 205/70R14 stock looking wheel on my car...to the 275/40R17 before the 9" pushed out the tires and then after the 9"
 

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joedls

joedls

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Joined
Mar 12, 2005
Messages
1,980
Location
Lake Forest, CA
figured out my tire rubbing problem is definitely worn leaf springs. The tires are rubbing inside the wheelhouse above the lip. I also figured out that I can stuff about 2 more inches of tire in there so I can get more traction.
 

davidathans

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Joined
Jul 25, 2004
Messages
703
Location
San Fernando Valley, California
told you so...i got 275s on my CS...235s look like nothing next to 275s...with a 347, especially with a supercharged one...235s wont cut it, even if they are drag radials...you need traction bars too....check out www.calvertracing.com ....their caltracs traction bars are the best on the market and the man to speak with is Travis...they will take care of you, worth the $$
 
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joedls

joedls

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Joined
Mar 12, 2005
Messages
1,980
Location
Lake Forest, CA
told you so...i got 275s on my CS...235s look like nothing next to 275s...with a 347, especially with a supercharged one...235s wont cut it, even if they are drag radials...you need traction bars too....check out www.calvertracing.com ....their caltracs traction bars are the best on the market and the man to speak with is Travis...they will take care of you, worth the $$

OK, David. Here's what I did. I installed new leaf springs, ordered some 15" wheels with 5.25" backspacing, and installed 275/60 drag radials. I already had installed Traction Masters traction bars. No rubbing problems. Here are some pics.
 

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