Front Wheel Rubbing

[strictlypersonl]

You'll hear from my lawyer. (Where's Jim when I need him? Lime Rock...)

I hope that's the problem. I know that the left side clearance is about 3/8" less than the right, but 1.5" is way off.

[RICK LAKE]

cobred Your wheel should not hit any part of the car when turning. If it is, either the spring is too soft or the stablizer bar is twisting too much. If you are a big man and over the 200lb range, you might want to look at a heavier load spring or shorten the links on the sway bar for a stronger resistance of body roll. I run a race setup that is 40% stiffer than the street setup in the front end. This is with an all aluminium motor and 245 lbs of driver on 17" wheels. My car tracks flat without and roll now in the turns. If you go to a parking lot and do a couple of turns, hard right and left, look at the clearance between the tire and the fender of the car. Video Pictures are worth 1,000 words. You should see about the same clearance on both sides. Rick

[cobred]

Rick, it hits without being in the car. Been like this since new. I kind of remember talking to someone at ERA about this and they said its normal, maybe not. Im going to measure the wheelbase and see if the wheel is back on the left or if its the body or fenderwell placement. Ill report back.Thanks, Ed

[Bobcat]

I`m currently building # 757 and ran into something similar . Several questions : Is your car on the ground and no engine in it ? What size are the front tires ? My car is currently on the ERA stands and my LF tire hits the back part of the fender inner lip on the driver`s side on a left turn . There is no weight on the car , so the suspension is in full droop ... I may have to trim some off the inner fender lip to clear the 245/60R-15 Avons in the front ( which Bob told me in advance I might have to do ), but I can`t really tell until the car is on the ground , suspension height set and engine etc in it .
I remember measuring the tire clearance on both sides and it was about what Bob said ....I`ll go out later today and take some measurements on tire to fender lip measurements along with reference points and center line to center line on the front shocks for my car .
Once there is weight on the front of your car, it should sit a lot lower and the problem may vanish

[MAGS427]

Back from VT, my son was nice enough to wake me up 5:00 am so with the car in mind I headed for the garage. Here are some pictures:

Driver's side upper control arm seems right?



[/IMG]


Passenger Side:




Driver Side:



Sadly I think the obvious (upside down upper arm) may not solve it. The pics were taken with the car on a lift with no engine, even on the floor there is not much of a difference. My tires are the recommended 235/60 15's. Again the passenger side is I think perfect. I understand that the engine weight should help but it will not just favor one side? A 1 1/2 inch difference seems much. I plan on talking to the Guys tommorrow to see what they suggest.

[MAGS427]

Bobcat,

What you described is exactly what my problem is. How is your passenger side clearance? Why your decision to go with 245's and is it because of the 245's that Bob told you you may need to trim? Has anyone else needed to trim using 235's?

Thanks

Frank

[Bobcat]

Frank ... just went into the garage and measured as close as I could to where you measured . Passenger side is 2 1/2 " .... maybe a 1/16" over that , measured to the center of my tire and the Driver`s side is right at 2" , also measured to the center of the tire ... wheels straight ahead. I went to the 245`s in the front because Avon doesn`t make a 235 and I really wanted to use their 15" tire . I checked with Bob before buying the tires and he went into the shop and did some checking and that`s when he told me I might have to do some trimming on a full left turn if the suspension was in full droop .
You said when you put the car on the ground it didn`t make any difference , but an engine will add about 600# or more .... talk to Doug Monday and he may have some more ideas .
I`ll try to get some pictures of both sides for you , but I just got back from my Father in Law`s funeral and aren`t back up to speed yet .
Good Luck ,
Bob