scrub problems

[phillay]

hi guys

 

took my car for a test drive and I realised my left wheel is scrubbing against the panel that holds the left indicator/park light. This happens at about half lock. it pushes against the panel by about 2-3mm. The wheels I have on the front are 16 x 8.5 -6, car is not lowered. All front end suspension components is stock, tyres are 225/50 falken ziex. It seems that the left side has less clearance to the front bit of the car compared to the right, I double and triple checked the suspension arms and there looks to be no physical damage that I could see. It's really annoying, I am thinking that I might need to get the car wheel alignment done, just asking if this has happened to anyone and if so what was done to resolve the scrubbing. I was about to lower the car with springs as well.

 

thanks

 

Phil

[dat2kman]

The 16x8.5 at neg 6 can be a contributor.

What size tyres?

Get it aligned, and get the wheelbase checked on each side.

Car can be short/long, and the castor gets screwed up to compensate.

 

Tried easing the panel out a bit, gentle pulling may give you a few mm's clearance.

[phillay]

Thanks mate i think tyres are 225/50. Going to see if any shops are open today. The wheels aren't extreme so maybe awn alignment could sort things out. What adjustments are available with the standard set up?

[dat2kman]

Not often this needs to be done, but you can pull out a bit of caster by removing, if fitted, a washer or two on the compression rod, the rod that runs back from the lower control arm, and goes into the bracket under the chassis rail.

Most regular alignment shops dont like doing this, all they want to do is adjust your toe setting, and give you a report, and tell you they cant adjust anything else, That'll be $100 thanks!

 

If repirt shows car as pretty square, and even caster and wheelbase is same on each side, it's a case of a different offset on the rim ( hard) smaller diam rim ( hard), pull the front corner/lip/bottom f guard edge outwards using physical strength(easy)

Your tyre size on that rim is fine.

[Roberto]

A standard wheel alignment won't fix the problem.  I had this problem too.  One wheel slightly closer to the valence although caster identical on both sides.

 

Best way is to remove washers on both caster rods if they exist and then get a wheel alignment.  If there are no washers on the caster rods, either get new rims, smaller diameter tyres or adjustable caster rods and adjust to get the wheels further back.

 

I simply went with a new spoiler that removed that panel. 

[phillay]

thanks dat2k & roberto this is exactly what I wanted to know, my alignment guy is really good and they only charge $50 for the work that many place would charge up to $200-250 in Melbourne (crazy money if you ask me for an alignment) , I was looking for a kameari style spoiler but still contemplating as it's not a priority, looks like I've just found the reason for me to buy one now 

 

 

Before I realised I had this scrubbing problem I was banging a mallet away on the hub trying to separate it from the brake rotors cause it was a bit seized not sure if this could have made it move a few mm? I doubt it as there is no play in the wheel hubs