I've posted this before, but really didn't get much response. I'll try again...I have an '87 T/A with stock, worn out suspension. It had the stock cross lace wheels, with 245/50's on them...and now has 17" Eagle 077's with 245/45's on them (with 2" spacers). Same problem with either tire/wheel combo. At nearly full lock, the edge of the front tires will rub the rear of the fender opening. They rub where the body tub has a seam, kinda the firewall/inner fender meeting point. It's rubbed through the plastic splash guard, and actually pulled the bottom edge of my fenders both up a fair amount several times, too. (I've bent them back down, though.)What the heck? I have it torn apart for paint right now, and plan to get in there with a cut off tool or sawzall to open it up a little bit more. The GFX seem to be out of the way, but they are hitting the metal fender and body tub. Once I get everythign cut away, I think they'll clear, but just barely! I really want to put Sportlines on it, but I'm afraid to tear up my tires on the body. Is there anything else I can do, besides trim the metal? Anybody else having trouble with this?Thanks!

 

That seems to be a common problem around here. No one really has a set cure all, even some cars came from the factory and just rubbed a little. I have a similar problem with just the edge of the tire hitting the fender well at the lock or near lock and the inside edge the tire just barley rubs the sway bar. I rebuilt the suspension and as the springs settled the problem got better, but I had to file my GFX a little and tap the inside of the fender with a mallet to make the tire just clear without rubbing.

 

A couple things. 1st if your car didnt come stock with the 16s option, there was a different steering stop for the 15s and 16s. The stop is located on the lower control arm (a-arm) and sticks up. 16 one allows a slightly less travel. I had at one time put GTA mesh whels on my TA which orig had 15x7s. There was a slight rubbing on the sway bar (32mm) where it wraps around and some on the inner fender liner (plastic part) just in front of the TAs side vent. Lowering changed the rub point higher in the whel well. 2nd GM had a 1st design and 2nd design inner fender liner. The 2nd design was introduced I believe in '88 or '89 and had a relief indention added at the back section. Seemingly where they rubbed with the 16s. FYI mine was also using a 245-50-16 tire B4 I got the 17s and a 225-50-16 at first. The taller tire was worse in the rear, but the wider one had more swaybar rub. Either caused any damage for me. Just some rub marks. Hope this helps you solve it.

 

Thanks for the replies, guys. Mine had 16's from the get-go, so that's not it. The recessed liners might be something worth checking the JY's for, though. Anything will help. It really wouldn't bug me too badly if it were just rubbing the plastic, but it's grabbing metal back there, too. I got a deal on tires, but they still weren't THAT cheap...I'd just as soon not tear them up on the fenders! I'll get back in there with the cut off wheel before I paint it, and "clearance" a few things, and look for the newer liners, too.Thanks, again!