Wheels rubbing after lowering

[August]

I lowered my car so it has a little under and inch of wheel gap but its rubbing really badly even after a 16mm spacer. my wheels are 15 inch diameter by 8 inch width. I have also removed the fender liner but that did solve it. I've seen cars that are as low as mine so I was wondering what can be done to stop the rubbing.

Here's a link to a car that's as low as mine: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1983- ... azzurra-7/

[geospider]

I have a '79. put the AR progressive springs (1" lower) and Koni's.
Have 15" wheels with 205/50-15
not a hint of rubbing, even when driven aggressively.
FYI No fender liners (never had them on this car)

Geo

[August]

I have a '79. put the AR progressive springs (1" lower) and Koni's.
Have 15" wheels with 205/50-15
not a hint of rubbing, even when driven aggressively.
FYI No fender liners (never had them on this car)

Geo

what is the gap between the outside of the fender and tire because I think my car is much lower

[TheBender]

Guess I’d start with a lot of questions. How did you lower your car? Did you replace any bushings or other parts? If not is there much wear? Did you replace shocks? 8” is about the widest I’ve heard someone on the boards going, typically I read 6.5-7” width with either 195 55 or 205 50 (occasionally see a 225 width mentioned). What tires are you running? Is it constantly rubbing or only during certain circumstances?

[davidbruce]

I would also ask what offset your wheels are and where are they rubbing? Are you running the plastic fender liners. Did you have the car properly aligned after lowering? Do you now have too much negative camber making the problem worse? Is the 8" width bead seat to bead seat or overall width. As Bender said 8" is pretty wide for a spider.

[August]

Guess I’d start with a lot of questions. How did you lower your car? Did you replace any bushings or other parts? If not is there much wear? Did you replace shocks? 8” is about the widest I’ve heard someone on the boards going, typically I read 6.5-7” width with either 195 55 or 205 50 (occasionally see a 225 width mentioned). What tires are you running? Is it constantly rubbing or only during certain circumstances?

I lowered the car using Vick auto's linear progression lowering springs and then cutting them to get the desired height. My tires are 205/50/R15. I didn't replace bushing and I'm not certain about the wear. The shocks are stock. The steering wheel can be turned half a rotation before it starts to rub very badly on in the inside face of the fender well even without the plastic liner. The car can drive in a straight line without rubbing.

[August]

I would also ask what offset your wheels are and where are they rubbing? Are you running the plastic fender liners. Did you have the car properly aligned after lowering? Do you now have too much negative camber making the problem worse? Is the 8" width bead seat to bead seat or overall width. As Bender said 8" is pretty wide for a spider.

The car hasn't been aligned yet but I adjusted the toe so the steering is correct. It actually has a bit of positive camber and I'm not sure about the offset of the wheel because I didn't purchase them.

[August]

picture of wheel with tire
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1APfsVI ... sp=sharing

Picture of inside wheel well. note that in the picture the fender is bent in a bit from an accident but I don't think that is the cause of the rubbing because it is bad on the other side as well where the fender is fine.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Cxf6em ... sp=sharing

[Nut124]

Sounds like you lowered it to the point where it is good for show by not for go.

The tire diam is similar to what I drive, 23.0".

[davidbruce]

I believe the spider is about 2-1/2 turns lock to lock so at half a turn you are at less than half your steering travel. Those wheels have an awful lot of offset. The tires are about widest posible and you have lowered it considerably. You might get away with more spacer? Out of curiosity. Is the whel in the picture sitting on a hub? It may be the angle the photo was taken. But it looks like there are hub studs showing and they all appear to be crowding the inside of the holes. Like the wheels are 4x100 pattern not 4x98.

[ORFORD2004]

Do you still have the wheel spacer and what is the offset of that wheel?

[August]

I gave it a 30mm space and it still rubs so at this point I guess I just have to raise it back up.

[toyfiats]

Those EXIP wheels were normally offered in 15x7, not 15x8, so unless you have a custom set they are 7" wide and shouldn't have the degree of rubbing you're experiencing. As others have stated, you've probably lowered it too much.