Front wing rubbing tyre
Discussion
Hello all.
I've recently taken the plunge into Caterham ownership and loving it!
However, one of the front wings is rubbing on the tyre and I am looking for a bit of advice on how to deal with it.
I've read that it's a case of bending the mounting arms up a bit so that the wing clears the tyre and to do this the wing should be removed from the arms. My question with this is that the wings appear to be glued to the arms with some kind of mastic-like stuff, what is the best way to get the wings off without breaking them and what is this glue stuff when I need to reattach them?
Thanks
I've recently taken the plunge into Caterham ownership and loving it!
However, one of the front wings is rubbing on the tyre and I am looking for a bit of advice on how to deal with it.
I've read that it's a case of bending the mounting arms up a bit so that the wing clears the tyre and to do this the wing should be removed from the arms. My question with this is that the wings appear to be glued to the arms with some kind of mastic-like stuff, what is the best way to get the wings off without breaking them and what is this glue stuff when I need to reattach them?
Thanks
Is it the wing rubbing or the metal wing stay? It could be a matter of removing the wing (not easy if it is bonded) and repositioning it by bonding it back on in a slightly different place. Or just giving the wing stays a bit of a tweak which is quite easy but don't break the wing! Lots of stuff on Blatchat about what to use to bond wings on but you could just get a tube if whatever Caterham use. A photo of where it is rubbing would help.
The mastic is quite likely something like Sikaflex (if it is black / dark grey in colour)
To remove I would suggest a very sharp blade in a stanley knife
To refix either use the same or you could insert some small rivnuts into the brackets and use some 5mm stainless allen key bolts. If you choose the latter put some rubber washers between cycle wing and bracket and try not to overtighten and crack the wing.
To remove I would suggest a very sharp blade in a stanley knife
To refix either use the same or you could insert some small rivnuts into the brackets and use some 5mm stainless allen key bolts. If you choose the latter put some rubber washers between cycle wing and bracket and try not to overtighten and crack the wing.
Thanks for the replies.
This is a picture of where the wing is rubbing the tyre. It's at about the 1 o'clock position. On the other side the wing seems to be a few millimetres higher.
I may try to ease the stays up a bit. Having had another look they're hollow so may not be to difficult to move.
The mastic stuff does look to be dark grey/black so it probably is Sikaflex.
This is a picture of where the wing is rubbing the tyre. It's at about the 1 o'clock position. On the other side the wing seems to be a few millimetres higher.
I may try to ease the stays up a bit. Having had another look they're hollow so may not be to difficult to move.
The mastic stuff does look to be dark grey/black so it probably is Sikaflex.
How about simply taking the wheel off and trying to bend the wing stays whilst the wing is still bonded to it. You may have some success if you only need to move it a fraction.
I bent mine downwards recently by hitting it with a rubber mallet which didn't impart much force so they will move reasonably easily. Worst case scenario will be that the movement causes the currently bonded joins to break off in which case you may have to rebond it back on. It's worth a go though.
I bent mine downwards recently by hitting it with a rubber mallet which didn't impart much force so they will move reasonably easily. Worst case scenario will be that the movement causes the currently bonded joins to break off in which case you may have to rebond it back on. It's worth a go though.
tomwoodis said:
How about simply taking the wheel off and trying to bend the wing stays whilst the wing is still bonded to it. You may have some success if you only need to move it a fraction.
I bent mine downwards recently by hitting it with a rubber mallet which didn't impart much force so they will move reasonably easily. Worst case scenario will be that the movement causes the currently bonded joins to break off in which case you may have to rebond it back on. It's worth a go though.
They don't shift. Trust me I'd tried on my old seven (which was green, hence my query above OP).I bent mine downwards recently by hitting it with a rubber mallet which didn't impart much force so they will move reasonably easily. Worst case scenario will be that the movement causes the currently bonded joins to break off in which case you may have to rebond it back on. It's worth a go though.
kenno78 said:
A rather radical solution would be to get a set of staggered 13" wheels which use a 175 section tyre up front.
Depends on the power I guess?On my 140 I've bought some 13" wheels and am going for a 175 section all round. With the wider 205s at the back it might be a bit much. I already find the 195 tyres a bit wide for the 140. You don't get a nice transition between grip and slip.
The car's an ex-Academy 1.6 K series 120bhp. The service history shows it had 13" wheels in the past, but one of the previous owner's must have swapped to the 15s.
A bit of measuring shows that both the front/leading edge and rear/bottom edge of the wings are 15mm lower on the near side than the off side.
A bit of measuring shows that both the front/leading edge and rear/bottom edge of the wings are 15mm lower on the near side than the off side.
SO27 said:
The car's an ex-Academy 1.6 K series 120bhp. The service history shows it had 13" wheels in the past, but one of the previous owner's must have swapped to the 15s.
A bit of measuring shows that both the front/leading edge and rear/bottom edge of the wings are 15mm lower on the near side than the off side.
Ah HaA bit of measuring shows that both the front/leading edge and rear/bottom edge of the wings are 15mm lower on the near side than the off side.
A downgrade on the wheels
I think they do/did different stays/wings for 13" wheels....I wonder if you have those?
I'd certainly have a go at bending without removing the wing (just the wheels)....and would seriously consider changing the wheels (for 13"s) or going to 175 fronts which might save you enough space - 195s are too wide.
Not only would these options save you fannying about with wing removal and refit (not that hard though tbh) but it'd also give you better handling (and if you went for new wheels too, you sell your old ones so the net cost isn't as bad a you might think).
I'd certainly have a go at bending without removing the wing (just the wheels)....and would seriously consider changing the wheels (for 13"s) or going to 175 fronts which might save you enough space - 195s are too wide.
Not only would these options save you fannying about with wing removal and refit (not that hard though tbh) but it'd also give you better handling (and if you went for new wheels too, you sell your old ones so the net cost isn't as bad a you might think).
Just to add, not sure if they still are, but Caterham are often out of stock of the 13" superlight wheels. That and the fact that Caterham wheels tend to have a habit of loosing weight over time but the clear coat coming away!
I bought some Compomotive CXRs instead and am pretty impressed by the quality. Slightly cheaper than Caterham, but also a lighter wheel, and I hope the paint work will stay intact on them!
In regards to your wings, mine's on 15's and has more clearance than that, possibly because the wings are different. If I understand correctly, all the new cars come with the same size wings instead of having two sizes.
I bought some Compomotive CXRs instead and am pretty impressed by the quality. Slightly cheaper than Caterham, but also a lighter wheel, and I hope the paint work will stay intact on them!
In regards to your wings, mine's on 15's and has more clearance than that, possibly because the wings are different. If I understand correctly, all the new cars come with the same size wings instead of having two sizes.
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