NEED HELP!! HAVING MAJOR ISSUES WITH TIRE RUB (UPDATE 9/21)

[LIVE4RDO]

Hello everyone. Once again, I need to fall back on your knowledge and experience.

Here is what I have: 1978 Malibu 2 door. Previous owner upgraded the suspension with the following:

B body (1978-1987 Caprice-Impala) spindles
F body rotors (199x 9C1 Camaro)

he istalled the 15x8 Aero wheels with 4" backspacing all around with 235-60-15 in the front and 255-60-15 in the rear.

Front tires hit front part of the fenderwell. I was told to switch to 15x7 wheels with 3.75" bs, but Aero has these wheels only with 3.5" backspacing. I don't want to spend a ton of money on new wheels right now, so I got the two wheels with 3.5" backspacing. Same problem!!!

I'm attaching three pictures: both front wheels with 15x8, 4"bs rims and passenger side wheel with 15x7, 3.5" bs.


PLEASE HELP!! WHAT SHOULD I DO?

DRIVER SIDE WITH 15X8, 4" BS

PASSENGER SIDE WITH 15X8, 4" BS

PASSENGER SIDE WITH 15X7, 3.5" BS

09/21/11

16x7 TTII 4" BS with 235x55x16

THANK YOU.

 

[appsk8r]

Re: NEED HELP!! HAVING MAJOR ISSUES WITH TIRE RUB.

Hm... The first thing that strikes me is why your front tires are so far forward in the wheel wells. I've never seen them like that on any other bu. The thing about switching from 4" of bs on a 8" wheel to 3.5" on a 7" wheel is you're only moving the outside face of the wheel in by 1/2" and it looks like you need more than that. The other thing is the Camaro rotors are 1/4" wider than stock Malibu ones. I know because I also have them. Also, backspace doesn't look like your problem, it's more that your wheel/tire is too far forward. You could try switching to 225/60/r15s.

 

[TURNA]

Re: NEED HELP!! HAVING MAJOR ISSUES WITH TIRE RUB.

235-60-15

Too big of a tire IMO

 

[LIVE4RDO]

Re: NEED HELP!! HAVING MAJOR ISSUES WITH TIRE RUB.

Turna, my buddy has that same tire on 15x7 rim on his 78 Bu with stock suspension. What tire do you will clear the fender?

Somebody on Gbody forum told me that my wheels are too far up. How is it possible?

 

[z28krazy]

Re: NEED HELP!! HAVING MAJOR ISSUES WITH TIRE RUB.

Somebody on Gbody forum told me that my wheels are too far up. How is it possible?

Is it possible that B-body spindles are that much further forward?

 

[Killerdave8813]

Re: NEED HELP!! HAVING MAJOR ISSUES WITH TIRE RUB.

When you did the spindle and brake conversion what make A-arms did you use? I'd like to see some pics a bit further away from the car so we can see if the wheel is centered in the wheel well,I think not and I also think it has something to do with your spindle
conversion,I have a 78 sitting out in the driveway right now that has 235/60-15 TA's on 15x7 Ralley rims that I think are 3.5 BS,
probably off a Camaro or something,sitting at stock height the only thing that rubs is the tire against the 1 1/4" anti-sway bar and only when I turn it full lock real hard,I had this same set of wheels,same size but different brand tires on a 79 some years back that seems it sat a little lower but was unmodified and didn't have any issues with it either,that is a pretty big tire for the front of these cars and there will be more issues when they are lowered,I've gone to a 15x6 with 215/65-15s on my 81 and with a 2" drop spindle you can put it down on the bump stops and at full lock both ways nothing rubs,except for the crossmember against the ground! Well very close anyway,In your care I'd be looking at the spindle/brake conversion as I think that's where you'll find the problem,they say that will make the track about 3/8" wider on each side which might cause some vlearance issues with the big tire,I guess I'll find out for myself sometime soon as I have all the parts saved up to do the big brake tubular A-arm thing on the 81,good luck and let us know what you find!! KillerDave

 

[dr78442]

Re: NEED HELP!! HAVING MAJOR ISSUES WITH TIRE RUB.

This may sound very simple. Just trying to keep this simple and not trying to insult anybody . Are the upper control arms on the correct side . The left (driver) and right(passenger) are different and can be bolted to either side. Again not trying to insult you just wondering. I have the same swap on my Olds with Hotckis upper arms with no problems

 

[LIVE4RDO]

Re: NEED HELP!! HAVING MAJOR ISSUES WITH TIRE RUB.

I don't know if it helps:

 

[LIVE4RDO]

Re: NEED HELP!! HAVING MAJOR ISSUES WITH TIRE RUB.

The uppers and lowers are Global West.

 

[TURNA]

Re: NEED HELP!! HAVING MAJOR ISSUES WITH TIRE RUB.

Are those upper control arms for the tall spindles? or the stock G-body ones?