I've got 215/65/15 on the front (stock size) but they rub on the frame rail (front side only)in tight turns. Is this normal? No wierd tire wear. Just rubs...Why?

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"It's not about going fast all the time; It's knowing you can, anytime"

 

What is the speed rating on the tire. You may be over stressing the side wall causing the tire to pull or push itself into the fender well. My buddy had a pair of H rated tires on his 82Z and blew one out in the front, hit a curb and toasted the front end. If you don't have a high speed rating it can be very dangerous to hammer on them.

 

There BFG radial T/A's. I haven't done any serious cornering. I mean the tires rub at very low speeds. Like getting into or out of a parking space etc... They rub on the front of the frame rail so hard it makes the car clunk and bump hard...still

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"It's not about going fast all the time; It's knowing you can, anytime"

 

Hummm, I can't think of anything unless you have the offsets mixed up on your rims. (front and back are not reversable). That is the onlything I can can think of.. I don't even know if that is it. Sorry dude, good luck.

 

That's an idea?? Do stock wheels have different offsets? I don't think so but now that you bring it up I'll start yankin tire off and check. Thanks

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"It's not about going fast all the time; It's knowing you can, anytime"

 

I have a similar problem after I lowered my car, the tires rub in the wheel wells not on the frame when doing things such as u-turns and tight low speed turns...are you sure its the frame and not the body?

 

Yep it's the frame. You can tell by the shiny metal and lack of road crud. It really hasn't affected the tires yet because since I know it rubs I try to avoid tight turns.

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"It's not about going fast all the time; It's knowing you can, anytime"

 

There is a 22mm offset in the back, so if they put the back on the front it would hit.

 

15" rims don't have different offsets, only the 16".

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Yep, GMTech is right. All four rims are identical. Still stumped.

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"It's not about going fast all the time; It's knowing you can, anytime"

 

Do they rub on both sides, or just one? Maybe the ideler arm or tierod ends are sloppy, allowing too much compliance. I expect the rubbing only takes place at low speeds in parking lots and maybe only in reverse. Many of these cars do that and it's really no big deal.

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1985 Yellow IROC-Z 5.0 HO, T-5 3.73 Posi, 4 wheel disks
PFCM pads, GTA wheels, Koni yellows, B&M Ripper, Dynomax

 

Yes, they rub on both sides. Only at low speeds, but you really couldn't turn that sharp at any high speeds. Froward or reverse; and your right primarily in parking lots.
Right now it's only a minor problem but, it definantly limits the size of tires I can use. I was looking to put some 225 or 235 tires on the front, but since I can't control the tire rubbing with 215's the wider tires seem out of the question.
I really appreciate you guys helping me with this. Like I said...I'm stumped.

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"It's not about going fast all the time; It's knowing you can, anytime"

 

If even stock tires rub, maybe something is different on the car than the way it originally came. The front A-arms should have stops rivetted to them that the steering knuckles go against at full lock. Has the steering box been changed? The only rubbing I've seen has been against the fender liners, not the subframe. I assume they are the stock 15x7 Z28 wheels, which are the same back and front.

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1985 Yellow IROC-Z 5.0 HO, T-5 3.73 Posi, 4 wheel disks
PFCM pads, GTA wheels, Koni yellows, B&M Ripper, Dynomax

 

Imark the first numbers in a tire size are the height of the tire as in 215=height/65=width/15=size
;=)
and I believe that the rubbing is a camber issue. When it comes to setting up the front end rubbing is generically considdered camber problems which is the degree/angle of the tire. Although it depends oh where exactly the tire is rubbing up high or down low in the wheel well. Or it could be the tie rod ends unajusted corectly. Of course I'm not a damn ase cert. machanic I just work on them. haha ;-) chow


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1987 Chevrolet Camaro
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225/60/R16 Mounted on 97 Firebird 16X8" Rims

 

Alignment would have to be way off to cause a problem. My 82 has always rubbed a little bit. You probably have the regular(non high performance gear box). The performance, tighter ratio gear box has internal stops to prevent wheel rub. Just don't turn so far.


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82 camaro--original steering wheel, brake/gas pedals, seats--everything else modified
82camaro

 

I think 82camaro may have it. Although I can't imagine why Chevy Engineers would design a front end with stock wheels that would rub in tight turns.
What years/model cars came with the High Performance Steering Boxes. If it's in the Junkyard I can simply swap them out. Right?
This would eliminate the rubbing and allow for a wider tire wouldn't it?

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"It's not about going fast all the time; It's knowing you can, anytime"

 

i have 90 rs came with same tire,wheel combo stock mine didnt
start rubbing till i put iroc wheels on 245 50 r16.. now it rubs
i am going to {parts}yard this weekend to get a iroc steering box
sure hope it stops the rubbing get the box from iroc or gta as long as it has 16 in wheels if it dont stop the iroc and rs must have diffrent a arms ,control arm.
see ya
rob

 

 

Check your bearings and spindles, and do it ASAP. Its probobly already to late though if they are rubbing. I had that EXACT, and I mean EXACT same problem in my car when I got it. What it turned out to me is that my bearings had exploded, and when they did, the shrapnel wore down on the Spindles, causeing a deep groove to form, and allowing the wheels to lean inward a little to much. I was SO stumped at first, and so were the mechanics, it was only after on of the mecahnics took apart my wheels we relized the bad news. Cost me like $250 for each spindle through the shop and it SUCKED. Check it though, cause it could develop some SERIOUS problems if not checked.

Adam

 

I got the same sized tire as you do, and it doesn't rub. Just in case you wondered.

Adam