Hi All,

3rd Gen newbie here. Recently purchased a '92 Camaro RS model with a 5.0L TBI motor. The car has 203K miles on it. It has what I believe to be the original stock wheels on it but I could be wrong. They are 5 spoke wheels. The rear wheels have a different offset than the front wheels. The steering knuckles may have been changed on the car. The disc brake calipers have the old allen head retaining bolts - everything I've seen indicates '89 and up had a pin/clip retaining system. The car has rear drum brakes.

Anyway, the suspension on this car was shot so I rebuilt it. New everything - struts, springs, tie-rods, LCA bushings, ball joints, etc. When I was putting the front wheels back on, I noticed that one of the wheels (on the passenger side) had "Rear" stamped/cast in it. It would not go back on the front passenger side although that's where it came from. The outer tie-rod on that side was also bent. Go figure. I found one of the wheels on the rear was supposed to be on the front. So I switched them out and now have fronts on front and rears on rear.

Now, the tire placard on the driver door states that the original tire size was 235/55/16. The current tires are 225/60/16.

And finally, the problem - both the driver and passenger side tires rub on the sway bar and the frame rail. The rub is actually preventing me from doing what I would call "normal" turning. I cannot turn the steering wheel even one full revolution in either direction. The car has what I would call standard duty brakes (10.5 inch rotor, single piston calipers). I would think (though often when I do it's a mistake) that if everything was as it should be, the steering would hit it's limit before the tire could rub on anything.

Any ideas? I can't see the steering knuckles having anything to do with it - the tie-rod ends, ball joints, etc. are the same regardless of year.

Thanks,
David

 

Yes, for one those wheels are marked "front" & "rear" are axle specific and should only be used on those locations. Now comparing tire height.
235/55/16 stock.....26.187 dia
225/60/16 on car......26.63 dia
245/50/16 option....25.65 dia

Your tires overall are larger then stock.

 

Thanks DJP87Z28.

So, the overall height/diameter of the wheel + tire causes this? I thought it would be the width more than the height. I think those wheels are 16x8 - the width of the tire on the car is 225, which is smaller than the factory tire width of 235. I'm not having a problem with the tires rubbing the fenders or wheel wells - it's all good there.

Thanks,
David

 

Here's a dumb question:

When the wheels are off the ground (car on jack stands) there is no interference - the tires/wheels do not rub. Is that normal? I know when the car is on jack stands and the weight is off the wheels the suspension geometry is changed...

Thanks,
David

 

Oh my gosh! Never mind. I'm a dumbash. Geez Louise!