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Rear 275/40/17's Rub With Strutmaster"s 1.5" Lowered Kit

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Posted by: CFD Drifter

Hi all, long time reader first time poster. I have a 93 Mark VIII and have had trouble with the suspension. So my first replacement was with Arrnot Industries, 2 replaced bags up front 2 years ago. So now I went with strutmasters 1.5" lowered kit and get rubbing a little up front with a 245/45/17 not major. But in the rear I run a 275/40/17 and it rubs alot. I contacted strutmaster and asked them if it would be ok to use coil adjusters/extenders so my tires wouldn't rub. Well the tech new about as much as I did, so that didn't help. I also heard about a fender roller but would that give me enough clearance? I just got new tires yesterday, love the width in the rear but don't want to destroy the new tires. I didn't rub with this tire set up before the lowered kit should i go back to bags? What would you all advise because I'm disappointed.
DAMN YOU MURPHY"S LAW, DAMN YOU.

Posted by: MonsterMark

Get the rear fenders rolled if you want to keep the 275's. Don't know how you take of the rubbing on the inside rear with coil-overs. I drive a Lincoln, not a T-Bird.

Posted by: unity

Would a roll job even help in the rears? Cant you still rub on the inside (against the trunk area) ?

I thought rolling was more for front fender to give room for a tire in a turn. Heck, I rub now against my rear shock absorbers with stock - odd, I know.

Posted by: mespock

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFD Drifter

I contacted strutmaster and asked them if it would be ok to use coil adjusters/extenders so my tires wouldn't rub. Well the tech new about as much as I did, so that didn't help.

There's your first problem should have called Eddie at American Air Suspension.

Send a PM to 94m5 as he is running the same set up and has no problems.

Posted by: Scorpio1118_2000

Fender rolling is the norm when you put large wheels on the rearend of our cars(FN10s/MN12s), and with tires that wide it is a must. Now I have never heard of rolling the front fenders but why not it could'nt hurt could it?

Posted by: 94m5

I'm running a 1.5" lowering spring kit, 275/40/17 Hankook ventus HRII's on all 4 corners. The rear 1/4 panels are 100% stock, other than the new paint.

I have no rubbing issues, grinding or otherwise odd noises. This may be attributed to the after market sway bar, but I'm not sure.

Posted by: Nitrobasher

just get a mini tub, that way if u ever feel like making 5-600 rwhp you'll be set, lol

only jokin, but Mayb some wheel spacers?? I hve no idea

Posted by: Stack

It may not be your suspension at all...

Whats your offset for your wheels?

Cause if its hitting the suspension, that could be the problem

Posted by: Frogman

Why are they all "long time reader, first time poster"s and registered within hours of their post?

Posted by: baggedtaco

As already mentioned...The spec of the wheels is kinda important here. Need width & offset to really get an idea of the issue & solution asside from just the fact that it rubs.

Brad

Posted by: Stack

Listen to brad... he knows his stuff!

Posted by: CFD Drifter

Well its been along week and found some info. First the rim is a 17x 9 on all for corners. There is no rubbing on the inside wheel well, the off set is correct, i believe 36mm. I bought the bullitt wheels from http://customwheelsmarket.com
I found some spring strengtheners at advanced auto that fit in the rear springs, it raised the car up about an inch but you cant really tell and the wheel doesn't rub that much, only on big dips on the highway. They only cost about $6 too.
Sorry Froggman, just needed some info

Anyway Car works good, I'm going to invest in a 1 3/8" sway bar and new links for extra support. Does anyone know if you need shorter end links with the lowered system?
Also i went to get an alignment today at the ford stealership and they said i have a broken left upper control arm and it needs replaced before i could get realigned. So i when to advanced auto and got a TRW for $67, Great deal. I'm going to attempt this tonight. Do i need a spring compressor and does anyone have some directions I'm going to have to wing it else not.

Oh and thanks everyone for your help and ideas i don't post alot because i don't know alot mechanically. I'm just a better listener and reader than a talker and writer.

Posted by: baggedtaco

So you realize that any rubbing with respect to the front will be fixed with the new control arms.

In the rear since you have the converted susp. you can either roll the rear fender LIPS or get some rear spring helper Air-Bags. I personally use and like the lil airbags myself. I dont know exactly what it is you have on your rear springs now but I would recomend scrapping them. You don't need to RAISE your car to prevent tire rub.

BTW...Why not contact Custom Wheels Market for help?? You are their customer after all right??

...These are the kinds of things I deal with for my own customers at times. Regardless feel free to PM me, email me or whatever if you need help.

Brad

Posted by: lscmkviii

No you do not need a spring compressor unless you take the spring off the strut. Left upper control arm is tricky because the brake booster is in the way.

Posted by: MonsterMark

Quote:

Originally Posted by baggedtaco

So you realize that any rubbing with respect to the front will be fixed with the new control arms....Brad

Brad, can you expand on that? What do new control arms have to do with allowing a wider wheel/tire combo on the front? Are the new control arms sized differently than stock?

Posted by: baggedtaco

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonsterMark

Brad, can you expand on that? What do new control arms have to do with allowing a wider wheel/tire combo on the front? Are the new control arms sized differently than stock?

Control arms that are failing allow the whole wheel assembly from the hubs out to move. This is suppose to be a rigid assembly but if it is allowed to move THEN you can experience rubbing. Imagine jacking up the car and being able to move the wheel & tire in & out by grabbing the top & bottom of the assembly. Its hard to explain the exact movement...heh NOT GOOD regardless.

Brad

Posted by: Scorpio1118_2000

So a mark with a healthy suspension should not need the fenders rolled for a new set of wheels?

Dale

Posted by: baggedtaco

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scorpio1118_2000

So a mark with a healthy suspension should not need the fenders rolled for a new set of wheels?

Dale

Dale unfortunatley there is no single clear answer. Every setup can possibly reveal its own issues. It depends on sooo many variables because everyone has done something differant to their car and everyone wants to do something a lil differant in the way of wheel sizes, specs, along with tires sizes, etc, etc...

Really the best thing to do is consult a shop with a list of what you have done to your car and what you want to do with it in the future as well. With this information I can help pretty much anyone choose a setup that will work or one that CAN work with some modifications and determination...haha

Most of what I have available will work with your MarkVIII regardless of what you have done with the car so long as susp. parts are in working order.

Cheers,

Brad

Posted by: tolincoln

I had the same problem with that exact size tire on that rim.
When I swaped the 03/04 bilstiens from the svt cobra the rubbing stopped

Posted by: thaywood

It is probably the offset of the rim. If it is offset too much to the inside, it could contact the control arms or shocks. Too much outside offset and you have rubbing with the fender. I lowered my 96 Mark VIII by adjusting the factory height sensors. I set it down about an inch. It looks a lot better and handles much better. I also went up from the factory P225/60R16 tires to a set of P245/50HR16 tires on the factory wheels. This is about the biggest tire that will safely fit on the 16x7 factory rims. The tires look great and the handling is greatly improved over stock. Not as much "sidewall deflection" with the lower profile. And the speedometer is almost unaffected.

Posted by: 94m5

Quote:

Originally Posted by tolincoln

I had the same problem with that exact size tire on that rim.
When I swaped the 03/04 bilstiens from the svt cobra the rubbing stopped

I have the same shocks........ Trend anyone?