Wheel rubbing arch

Wheel rubbing arch

Author
Discussion

rolexblue

Original Poster:

199 posts

264 months

Sunday 13th October 2002
quotequote all
I've got 18" spiders on my 98 4.5 and the rear drivers wheel rubs the arch very slightly when going over bumps 'n stuff. My dealer has put some more camber on to try and fix the problem but to no avail. They're now saying the only thing left is to "shave" the inside of the wheel arch, which I don't like the sound off - has anyone here had this done?

Reading the threads here it would appear that 4 front wheels from a Tuscan is the preferred method due to smaller wheel offsets on the rear, unfortunately I have 2 rear and 2 front spiders from a Tuscan which is probably why things are rubbing, what I'd like to know is - Can you machine the offset down on the rears so they're the same as the fronts (or will I need to buy new wheels?) I guess this means finding an engineering company who could put the wheels on a lathe and turn 5mm (or whatever) off.

Any ideas
Paul

loon

2,300 posts

276 months

Sunday 13th October 2002
quotequote all
Had the same problem with mine, I got over it by raising the rear of the car by 10mm, and yes... problem gone. It does not affect the handling either.

ro_butler

795 posts

271 months

Sunday 13th October 2002
quotequote all
I heard that some guy had fitted 19" wheels to his car but had to have both rear wheelarches shaved. I believe it was done by TVRBodyshop so give them a call to find out what 'shaving' is all about.

Rob.

gazzab

21,097 posts

282 months

Monday 14th October 2002
quotequote all
TVR supplied me with 4 tuscan fronts so am not sure why you would have been supplied with Tuscan rears. Change the wheels?!

dannylt

1,906 posts

284 months

Monday 14th October 2002
quotequote all
Shaving the inside of the wheelarch is a common solution, and totally fine IMHO - feel how thick it is there.

Raising the rear by 1cm WILL affect the handling, but perhaps not very noticeably? It certainly affects the roll at the rear.

Fitting stiffer suspension would also help


>> Edited by dannylt on Monday 14th October 09:59

torqemada

168 posts

266 months

Monday 14th October 2002
quotequote all
I've had mine shaved! - seems to be fine.

gazzab

21,097 posts

282 months

Monday 14th October 2002
quotequote all
less of the shaven talk!

ro_butler

795 posts

271 months

Monday 14th October 2002
quotequote all

torqemada said: I've had mine shaved! - seems to be fine.


Hmm, interesting.
I thought it was only the earlier cars that needed the wheel arches altering as I was told the later cars came from the factory with tuscan rears and modified rear wheelarches.

Can't remember who told me but it sounds like they were fibbing.

torqemada

168 posts

266 months

Monday 14th October 2002
quotequote all
Obvoiusly fibbing - mines got 8.5x255 18's on the rear, and its a 2002 car. As for the shaving thats all cleared up nicely!

rolexblue

Original Poster:

199 posts

264 months

Monday 14th October 2002
quotequote all
Just to be clear I'm talking about shaving the wheel arches perhaps I should have used "grinding" hm that sounds just as bad

Anyway after chatting to a couple of dealers shaving the arches is a factory recommended mod when fitting 18 inchers on. If you fit Tuscan fronts all round you have to grind (sorry) 3-4mm off the halfshafts so the wheel centres fit. Either way I'm gonna need some shaving and/or grinding on the old girl (I'll get me coat).

I guess after all this is done I'll need to make sure all the cambers and toe are back to normal after they were played with.

Cheers all
Paul

PS Martin if you're gonig to VW can I see/feel your arches? I'll mail you off line

stag

469 posts

265 months

Saturday 19th October 2002
quotequote all
stag's son,

Have you tried using bump stops.
My dad had this problem so his dealer put a bump stop on where he needed it.

No rubbing since

dannylt

1,906 posts

284 months

Saturday 19th October 2002
quotequote all
Yes, but this will obviously limit the wheel travel, and will potentially lead to rather large handling surprises!