Looking a bit tight

[adam quantrill]

Well I've been playing with my rear suspension this evening. Since I put the 16" split rims on the back the passenger side has been rubbibg a bit. It seems that the actual wheelarch on the passenger side is about 8mm lower than on the drivers side.

Overall the car is level at the back so I didn't particularly want to shim out the springs. Also I'd need a spring compressor on this one to get any shims in place.

As it turns out I have Koni's on the back which are adjustable, so I wound it in half a click for extra damping. For good measure I've put some shims in to increase the bump stop about 5mm or so.

This is what it looks like now fully jacked up:



there's not quite enough room to get my little finger in the gap.

[Campbell]

Thats looking realy tight up in there.

Looks like you will be needing more clearence in that arch.

[mrzigazaga]

Gees adam that looks tighter than a nuns bm...

[Number 7]

Adam, I assume that you're using 245 45 16 on the back, because if so, the overall tyre diameter would be about 20mm greater compared to the standard set-up. Adjustable platforms?

[JMF894]

I also have an issue with the rear passenger side catching on the arch now and then. I have adjustable avos on the back so i have wound the spring up a little. However i'm not happy with having one spring more compressed than the other. I think it makes the rear nervous on a bumpy road. I am considering removing a little material from inside the arch. What you guys think? I don't want to butcher it. The rear passenger wheel sticks out maybe 1/2 inch more than the drivers rear. This is why it catches.

Jimbo

[adam quantrill]

Jimbo - have you measured the height of the wheelarch on each side? I wonder if all 400SE shells have the same feature.

Yes they are 245/45/16's. I didn't realise the overall diameter was that much bigger but ho hum.

I previously had 16" Cerbie wheels on there which have a smaller offset and are a good inch nearer the centre. They didn't come anywhere near the outer arches (but did have problems with the tie rod until shimmed out).

The good news is with the bump stop shims in there it doesn't seem to be rubbibg any more.

[JMF894]

Adam. Yes the side that is catching has a smaller gap between top of tyre and arch with the dampers being set up the same. Even with me adjusting the ride height on that side it remains so. The car seems level however.................

Jimbo

[adam quantrill]

Another one for the "they all do that sir" list then...