Hey guys, I went w/ some 17x9.5 torque thrust II's w/ 275/45/17 in the rear. Everytime I hit a swell it rubs the outside of the tire! This is not making me very happy, what's the deal? I am getting new shocks all the way around, and a adjustable panhard rod! The panhard rod is on, now does this adjust the rear and how it sits from left to right? Is it adjustable to center the rear? I asked the guy how installed it in my car and he thought it just made the rear more stuff. I would think that it's adjustable for some reason! Please help me save my precious tires!!!

 

everyone i see runs a 40 series tires on 17s, so maybe that part of the prob...

 

Woops! Edit......275/40/17 Sorry, and thanx!!!!

 

the panhard bar does center the rear. so try playing with that and see where it gets you

 

panhard bar sets the axle left and right.

so if you want the axle to move to the passenger side, you shorten it.

if you want it to move to the drivers side, you lengthen it.


so if only ONE side is rubbing this COULD solve your problem.

if BOTH sides are rubbing, then it wont solve anything.

what you can do is bend the inner lip of the fenderwell up.
this will keep it from cutting your tires, and possibly give you the little bit more clearance you need.

to do this just take off your tires... you can try tapping it up with a hammer.. (i used a 5lb sledge.) if you find that too difficult, you can cut slots in the lip with a hacksaw or tin snips.... then bend the pieces... much easier that way. but a lil more work.

 

First, how do you adjust this once it is on? Also, how do you know when it's centered? Please help, I already need a new tire!

 

depends on how it adjusts. if its threaded in the center, you just back off the jam nuts, then turn the threaded center part. then tighten the jam nuts to keep it from loosening.

if its threaded at both ends, loosen the jam nuts, spin the bar, then tighten the nuts.


if its only threaded at one end, loosen the jam nut, take the bolt holding the bar out at that end, spin it, put the bar back on, then tighten the jam nut.


this isnt critical. just move it until theres about equal space between the tire and fender on each side... WITH THE CAR ON THE TIRES.

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH, I WILL TRY THIS!!!! i BOUGHT THE LAKEWOOD ADJUSTABLE PANHARD ROD!!!!

 

so is it rubbing on all 4 tires?
Is your car lowered?
if so, did you get quality lowering springs or did you cut your stockers?
are you still running normal stock springs? if so, they may just be sagging and old, or hell, i even collapsed one of my stockers.

john

 

It only rubs on the passenger rear, and my car is of stock riding height!!! Once we installed the panhard rod I guess we went too short cause it's even worse now!!! Nothing ever goes right for me

 

relax.

if its too far to the passenger side, just re adjust the bar so its closer to the drivers side... it just takes some time to adjust and fiddle with it...

its just part of the tinkering that comes from when you dont use exact OEM replacement parts.

 

Yes there are give and takes from upgrading, but now that you have an adjustable pan hard bar, that is just a tick more of fine tuning you will be able to do to your ride, something else to appreciate it even more for.

john

 

I'M JUST PISSED BECAUSE I JUST GOT THESE TIRES AND NOW I NEED A NEW ONE! THE JUNKS OUT OF THE TIRE ARE BIGGER SINCE WE PUT THE PANHARD ROD ON, I'LL TRY TO GET SOME PIC'S EVENTUALLY!!!

 

where did you get your tires? they might still be under warranty. check it out, save yourself some dough. I work for a tire place part time and we warranty tires from time to time.

john

 

what is the backspacing on those rims, i wanna get boyd smoothies and that size tire with a 5.5 bs on a 9.5 inch rim. Whats your bs?

 

if the panhard rod doesnt fix it, bend the inner edge of the fenderwells up so that it doesnt cut them... this is also called "rolling the lip"


im not physically THERE, so i cant do anything else besides give you ideas. you just have to go out to the car. figure out whats going on, and solve it.

 

MrDude1 I really appreciate all of your help. Today after work I'll be going home to mess w/ the panhard rod. You wouldn't happen to know the length of the stock panhard rod from the center of the bushings? I already got rid of mine Like I said before, I think we went too short! Question..when I go to play w/ the adjustment, I wont know until I take it off, adjust it, put it on, and drive? If that's no good, try again? I just may have to time it according to rain in my area? Thanx again everyone......
NOLAN, my backspacing is 5.5!!!!!

 

no i dont know the stock length off the top of my head.

when you goto adjust it, look at the bar when the car is still on the ground.. you'll see its almost flat.
because its almost flat, one inch longer ALMOST equals one inch over... so you can get it close to where you need it.
after you adjust it and put it back on, you dont need to drive the car... id roll it forward and back a foot or two so the suspension settles normally from the jack, but other then that, you should be able to see the wheel clearance easily.
and if you have to move it, then just try again.. its a lil annoying to do if you have a single ended bar... but it needs to be done... atleast its not a total pain like some other things.

 

Thank you, I'll keep you posted!! I'm going take some pic's while I'm down there to show you my setup, and I'll throw one in of the tire too!!!

 

MrDude, do you know where I can find Polyurethane "Bumpstops"? My boss seems to think that would be the problem? We looked, and they are pretty beat!!!

 

All this info......Just went outside, touched the rear bump stop and it fell off! I couldn't stop laughing. So I ordered 2 from my local chevy dealer in hopes that this will solve all of my suspension nightmares!!! I'll keep ya's posted!!!