Fitted my new wheels on the 3dr that have been sitting in the garage for 6 months over winter. Cant stop the front from rubbing the arches
Even with wheels straight go over a small/medium bump and it rubs The wheels are 7.5x17" et35 but they need a 3mm spacer on the front to clear the calipers so effectively making them et32.
They have 215/40 tyres on.
Suspension is almost new Konis with Avo standard height uprated springs.
The arches have also been trimmed back a bit from previously trying to fit 18s which was a none starter.

Now et32 is obviosly moving away a bit from the ideal offset but its not that far and im 99.9% sure that they would still rub just as much with out the spacers but isnt et35 a common offset for 17s on the front of a 3dr.
There must be loads of 3drs running this kind of setup with no problems. To top it off the wheels came from a 3dr and a mates 500 with exactly the same suspension setup is running 8" wide RL7s with no probs.

All this is making me think its something to do with my car. Im going to polybush inner and outer arm bushes to see if this helps but I cant see it doing a lot to be honest. I can also change front tyres for 205s but theres loads of 3drs running 215s so why cant mine

Anyone offer any opions or advice on this, things to check, change etc...
Its doin my head in especially with the shows starting soon and the standard wheels being a bit of a mess

 

Are you sure the springs are standard ride height? They don't look it in your sig Are the springs new as well as the shockers?
I have had 215/35/18's on 8j et33 rims on one of my 3 doors and they havn't rubbed! I was on coilovers but i had it fairly low but not ott.

 

Just another thought!
Does your car have a 3 door front arb fitted? If someone has changed it in the past to a 2wd Saff one then that would have pushed the front wheels forward and could be your problem!

 

Different springs on in that sig. They had the correct part no. on them for standrd height and yes they were brand spanking new.
I dont know about the arb, anyway of telling them apart?
Its also been mentioned that Saph hubs are different to 3dr ones, any idea how they differ so I can check them also?

 

pm sent Ben

 

Cheers matey
and bttt

 

when the wheels where on my 3dr i put uprated front spring but standard ride hight are you useing 3mm thick spacers ?

 

Yeh using 3mm spacers to clear calipers. I have new Avo Chasiss Dynamics standard height uprated springs on still looks fairly low to me though

 

this is them on my old car

 

I have ET35 wheels in 17 inch and no probs at all. Car has been lowered too.

Initially when I bought the car it had some spacers on the front. THen last year I put the standard wheels back on and ditched the spacers. Then a few months back I put another set of 17s on but cant remember if i put the spacers on havent driven it in months

 

ran, sell me the 500 front bumper you wont notice its gone if you havent driven it in ages

 

just before i sold mine i put 18s on

 

Ryan - funnily enough the car is all washed, waxed and covered up. The only bit I see is a silhouette (?) in the night when going into my house

 

Looks sweet
That looks higher than what mine is at the front. What make were the springs?

 

Must be loads of 3drs like this with no probs.
Arrghh Why me

 

i have 17 by 8 with a 30 offset ,no rubing with uprated ,standard ride height springs, is 35 the correct off set for a 3 door??

 

righthooker
Original wheels are et40, et35 is commonly recommended for after market rims.
How do peeps like yourself run an 8" wide wheel on a low offset for a 3dr with no probs and I cant even run a narrower wheel further under the arch without it rubbing like a bitch! Fookin Cosworths

What make are your springs?

 

i think my springs where avo ??

 

I still think your car is fitted with a Saff front arb!
Where exactly does it rub?

 

spadge could be right

as i have fitted a saff anti roll bar to get a bit more castor mine is 10 mm more forward than a normal 3dr

there is another topic about clearance on a 3dr

here is the link

https://passionford.com/forum/viewto...155&highlight=

marco

 

i have AVO too

 

Its realy close to the bumper on the drivers side when turning in so it probably rubs there. Its hard to tell to be honest as there are loads of rub marks on it from having 18s on. It rubs with the wheels straight so Im guessing somewhere round the top of the arch. Its had the arches cut back to the screw holes as well!

 

Cheers Marco.
Is there any difference visually? Going to compare mine to my mates Saph.

 

they have different part numbers stamped on the ends

 

love that

 

hi mate

too be honest i haven't got a clue , you would be better off in checking yours aginst a saff one and if it's the same ,well you know the answer

 

Hopefully worked out whats wrong with it.......


Its got the wrong fookin track control arms on!

After poly bushing the arms, noted the part numbers and checked them against my mates mint 500 and an old one off a mates Saph which all had the same numbers on but were different to the ones on my car. Also measured the distance fron inner bush to outer bush and mine are 15-20mm longer.
Got 2 arms on order should be here tomorrow

On another note couldnt find any part numbers on the roll bar, only thing i could see was H13 next to a small Ford badge stamped in it. Compared to my mates Saph and 500 they are all the same thickness and all the same length from from where they mount on the chassis to where they go into the arm so dont know how they differ.

I'll update when the new arms are on. Better bloody cure it

 

early 3drs are different ot the other 2WDs.

you may find they wont fit, as the bit that bolts onto the hub is different.

 

got 9" x 17" allround no problem on mine

 

yes Martin & no inner arches

 

Yes I know. 3drs have a threaded ball joint with a castle nut on, Saphs are a pinch bolt the rest of the arm is the same.


martinrs500labatts
Your car is a little more advanced than the average road going 3dr though ist it!

 

Hi Ben,

Hope you get it sorted m8,should have kept those dodgy 18's on it!!!!!!!

 

Any fookin excuse for a pic
Go on Martin you know you are itching to post some more of your garage

Ben i knew it would be those or the ARB itself
How are the old ones mounted to the hubs?

 

Hi mate

don't quote me on this and i am not 100% sure .....i think the Rs500 uses a saff anti roll bar

marco

 

Ha ha, alright mate
Maybe so, at least ive got some nice marks on my arches to remind me of them LOL.
Car sits realy well on them mate, better than on my 3dr


SPADGE
The old ones are threaded with a castle nut and split pin. Be interesting to find out what they are off.

 

Interesting. To be honest im not fussed what anti roll bar is on it if the new arms stop the rubbing. If they dont I will look into that some more.
Cheers mate

 

Regards Matt

 

Whats wrong Martin? just the ONE picture!???






** Edit.. spadge you ginger bastard! beat me to the quip!

 

you sure they ain't off of a granada?
some had a longer tca by about 14mm or something than the sierra ones

 

i thought this pic was a little over the top








just got another ex btcc sierra rs500 to restore

pics to follow