Advice please - 16" front wheels rubbing

[notax]

Recently changed my front wheels to standard 16" rears and have found that the inside edge of the wheel (not tyre) rubs on the wishbone on full lock. I believe it is possible to restrict steering lock by fitting some kind of bush. Does anyone know any more? Any idea where I can get part from? Is this my best solution? Thanks.

[brummiewedge]

You could space the wheel?

[notax]

Hi Paul! Yes, it is your wheels I am currently grinding down...

Don't think spacers will work as wheels will then foul arches - unless anyone can advise differently?

[Chauch]

Due to the differing offsets and wheel width, you will have 14mm less inner clearance with the rears on the front and you can certainly get away with spacing them a bit to try and help clear this.

Check how much thread you have got to work out to see if you can get away with a standard spacer on the fronts, the pitch should be 1.25 mm so 8 full turns will give you the 9 mm of thread which is normally accepted as the minimum needed.

I put 7mm spacers on the rear of mine with no problems at all.

[markh]

I had spacr made for my steering rack, cuts the lock down a bit but does stop the rubbing

Mark

[that daddy]

yep i have same problem i reckon if the rack travel is set central i wont need spacers,is only very slight on left lock,fingers crossed,mine are 7.5x16 front with 205/50s i will post results if this can be done,i want to carry out a 4 wheel geometry check during the winter lay/up anyway.

[notax]

Chauch and Markh, please can you let me know where you found your respective cures and give me an idea of cost? Thanks. Also, has anyone heard of the rubber doughnut solution? I'm sure someone mentioned some time ago that TVR fitted these on cars with 16" front wheels.

[Ribol]

You need to fit rack stops(main dealers sell them).
I have 16" Estorils F&R, front tyres are 225/45ZR16 with no problems other than a larger turning circle.

(I would not fit wheel spacers on a shopping trolley, let alone a 150mph sportscar.)

[brummiewedge]

Rally teams often use spacers to obtain the right offset for differant terrain tyres, cant see that as a problem.

[that daddy]

as long as the wheel nuts have enough bite,and the spacers are not to wide 5 to 8mm approx i cant see the problem,i would view this method as a last resort though.lock stops i agree are the better option,stuff the limited lock.

[jonnyb]

So to fit the 16" rears that I have sitting in the garage to the front of my chim all I need are a set of lock stops from a main dealer?

How much are they and how do you fit them? I feel a set of tyers coming on!

[markh]

jonnyb said:

So to fit the 16" rears that I have sitting in the garage to the front of my chim all I need are a set of lock stops from a main dealer?

How much are they and how do you fit them? I feel a set of tyers coming on!

Had 16's all around on my last Chimaera, big difference, drives so much bettter, and the stance of the car much better.

Just do it you won't regret it

[notax]

Tried TVR car parts and they say TVR are out of these parts at the moment - they have other customers waiting. I asked them to describe the part and they are basically just nylon washers about 3mm thick with a slot in them so they fit over the steering rack with no dismantling required. I have asked my garage to see if they can bodge summat until parts arrive! BTW car does look much better with 16" front wheels (but now would look even better with 17" rears...)

[that daddy]

Notax what tyre size are you going for i used 205/50 16s very similar rolling radius to stock,if thats any use looks right as well.

[notax]

I'm pretty sure I'm running 225/45/16 Toyo T1-rs all round. Seem good (only driven on them for a couple of days) but possibly a bit too grippy for my sideways preferences )