FMS lowering springs stock wheels rubbing (Aspire)

[darkdan]

Just noticed today what that bottoming out noise is when I go over a bad bump or dip.

It's my rear tires rubbing on two spots on the rear wheel wells. =(

I'm running 175 series tires.

[mechanicaldj]

have you had the rear wheels checked for alignment?

[darkdan]

It only happens when I hit a hard bump. I thought it was just the suspension hitting the stops, but instead it's the wheel hitting the upper front of the wheel well.

[nautical_lifens]

wow thats on an aspire eh, i have 205/50 on my car and i guess im going to have real problems if i use lowering springs

[festivagt]

...

If you still have the bumpstops in and they are unmodified, they are sized to keep the tires from rubbing on anything up and down realated. If you have changed the RIMS and are using 13"'s and they are off of another car, they could be dished improperly for the aspire(hence your rubbing). I have 185-60/r13's on mine with the stock rims(nitto's) and had it down on the bumpstops for about a day when I was changing the struts out(wanted to see how it looked and rode - wouldn't suggest it to ANYONE) and I didn't rub on anything even when the car got to jumping around(on bumpstops it is hard not to). Are you sure your car isn't bent in some strange way or you have different rims on there even though they look stock? The escort 13's fit and look almost identical to the aspire wheels.

[mechanicaldj]

if your tires stick out of the wheel wells in the first place, do not lower your Festiva or Aspire

if your wheel alignment is correct at all 4 wheels,
you may look into rolling in the quarter panel lips flat

or look into fender flares

[darkdan]

Should be stock wheels. I don't see why the old lady before me would swap it out.

It's not hitting on edge. It's hitting in the middle!

I'll see if I can get a picture.

Last time I got an alignment (last year) they claimed the back was in spec and unadjustable.

[mechanicaldj]

Last time I got an alignment (last year) they claimed the back was in spec and unadjustable.

that is a flat out lie, they can be adjusted with shims and a little bit of actual work :shock:

by the way, how are your struts holding out? how many miles are on them?

[darkdan]

I can't believe I can't find my print off of my alignment. I must have thrown it away since my glovebox is....well, an aspire's glovebox. According to it the alignment was fine.

Here's the picture of the rub spots. The small one on the bottom right isn't that bad in real life. The other day I hit it with some spray paint because both spots were down to bare metal.

The one on the upper left is pretty bad. But some of that is spray paint.



Are the top 4 coils supposed to be fully compressed when at rest?



Struts, KYB or whatever. Replaced 01/05. 22035 miles on them as of right now.

This problem started right after I installed the new struts and new springs at the same time.

[darkdan]

And yes, the other wheel well has two rubs in the same spots.

This usually happens when I come off of a large bump or hit a major pothole. Anything that causes the rear end to go down quickly.

[mechanicaldj]

and how much weight are you carrying, besides your ass?

[oxbrain]

On my festiva rear springs the top few coils are almost completely compressed when the car is sitting. Considering the rear is stripped and has almost no weight to it I'm not surprised that they would be compressed in an aspire.

[darkdan]

All that is back there is the spare, about 30 lbs of sound deadening material, and one 10" sub.

But, I had the problem last year when I had no rear seat, no sub, and no sound deadening material.

[nautical_lifens]

so are they just to soft then cause i carry the spare, dont know why and then my 12" and amp. If there that soft and my tires will scrub everything is it even worth lowering

[mechanicaldj]

you can put spring spacers on top of the springs

will raise the ass end a bit
but will stop the bottoming out problem you are having while retaining the handling characteristics

i will post the part numbers later and which car they came from