I have a 68 barracuda with a small block I bought a while back. I noticed the tire rubbing on the right front fender and just assumed the tires were too tall. I started looking at it and put it up on a lift and this is what I see. I don't see any signs of the car ever being wrecked. Could someone have put something together wrong on the front end to cause this?
Help with front tire rub on one side only
- Thread starter char69ger
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dano
Evil Handy Man
Whats the tire size?
On my Dart there are adjustable fender braces that can push the bottom part of the fender in or out. They connect to the bumper bracket and the lower fender. Might compare side to side, if they are still there.
On my Dart there are adjustable fender braces that can push the bottom part of the fender in or out. They connect to the bumper bracket and the lower fender. Might compare side to side, if they are still there.
Yes people have lengthened that lower front fender bracket out to help clear the tires on turns.
The first thing I would is take some measurements to find out what is different from side to side. I'd measure from the door to the tire on both sides. Maybe measure the fenders on both sides.
Are your front tires bigger than 215/70s ???
Could be your caster cambe ecentrics are way off pushing that tire forward.
Check your toe in with a tape measure and see where that is at. Should be 1/8" toed in at the front of the tire compared to the back. Might give you a clue that the alignment is way off, if the toe in is way off.
Could be your caster cambe ecentrics are way off pushing that tire forward.
Check your toe in with a tape measure and see where that is at. Should be 1/8" toed in at the front of the tire compared to the back. Might give you a clue that the alignment is way off, if the toe in is way off.
Thanks for the help guys.
My tires are 215/70R 15.
I measured from my frame rail to the bottom lip of each fender. The one that's rubbing is about 3/4" closer.
I don't know what toe in is or how to measure that.
My tires are 215/70R 15.
I measured from my frame rail to the bottom lip of each fender. The one that's rubbing is about 3/4" closer.
I don't know what toe in is or how to measure that.
That’s a pretty big difference side to side, but it’s not unheard of.
Body tolerances are more likely to be the culprit than the suspension or alignment. DomDart has a good point, the first thing you should do is find some frame or chassis points to measure from to determine if the wheels are actually in a different spot side to side or if it’s the body.
If it’s the body you may be able to adjust the fender some depending on your door and hood gaps. If it’s actually the wheel, you’ll have to look for frame and K frame damage, check the alignment and suspension components. The largest culprit on the suspension side is typically the LCA and strut rod bushings. If they’re worn out, the LCA can shift forward or backward which moves the wheel.
Body tolerances are more likely to be the culprit than the suspension or alignment. DomDart has a good point, the first thing you should do is find some frame or chassis points to measure from to determine if the wheels are actually in a different spot side to side or if it’s the body.
If it’s the body you may be able to adjust the fender some depending on your door and hood gaps. If it’s actually the wheel, you’ll have to look for frame and K frame damage, check the alignment and suspension components. The largest culprit on the suspension side is typically the LCA and strut rod bushings. If they’re worn out, the LCA can shift forward or backward which moves the wheel.
When you drive down the road and let go of the steering wheel, does it pull to the right or to the left?
Should remain fairly straight for a bit, if it pulls, front is out of alignment.
Should remain fairly straight for a bit, if it pulls, front is out of alignment.
That's a good tire size that should clear just fine.
Yes should be another on at the very lower front that angles to the front bumper mounting brackets. Should be a hole in the lower front fender for it.
Pick a flat road.
I will try to install the lower brackets and move the fender out the same as the other one and see if that solves the problem.
As far as driving goes I only drove it a couple of times before yanking the drivetrain out. Can't really remember if it pulled or not. Just trying to fix a few problems before reinstalling drivetrain.
OK, great
Yeah put those lower fender braces in.
Was talking with a guy at a car show with a 67 big block dart, asked him how he kept his front tires from rubbing. He said he extended that lower front brace by 1 inch on each side. No problems after that.
Yeah put those lower fender braces in.
Was talking with a guy at a car show with a 67 big block dart, asked him how he kept his front tires from rubbing. He said he extended that lower front brace by 1 inch on each side. No problems after that.
I did the same thing with my Demon clone, I extended the braces to push the lower corner out to clear my 275/35/18's. I also trimmed the corner of the fender back.
The fact the the braces aren't installed probably is why there's such a big difference side to side, but I think it's worth mentioning that after the braces are installed you should check to see if the clearance is relatively close side to side. If they still aren't close then you should check to make sure the wheels are in the right spot and the alignment is good.
Do me a favor and check the picture of the upper and lower ball joint. It looks like the top ball joint cotter pin is falling out.
Also check height of the car. make sure both sides are at the same height before you go for an alignment. Most alignment shops dont check that anymore and just (green is go) mentality. If the height is off then it can throw the caster/ camber out.
Long shot but easy to check.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Joe
Also check height of the car. make sure both sides are at the same height before you go for an alignment. Most alignment shops dont check that anymore and just (green is go) mentality. If the height is off then it can throw the caster/ camber out.
Long shot but easy to check.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Joe
I saw a post recently that a guy had two different length lower strut rods. That's where I'm putting my money.
I measured the strut rods but they are the same length.
I measured the rims. They are both the same.
Good eye Joe!
The cotter pin was indeed falling out. I will check the ride height on both sides when I let the car down. My question is will it be accurate without the drivetrain installed since it sits up so high or do I need to wait for the drivetrain to be back before measuring?
I have to wait for the drivetrain to check alignment, right??
I am not saying the rims are 2 different offsets... I am saying a wider offset will make it rub on one side while turning.
I am not sure why it only rubs on one side but my tire did the same thing with too wide of offset.
The ride height will change when you install the drivetrain. Really it makes the whole issue kind of moot, because your tire to fender clearances will change with the ride height as well.
It rubs on one side either because of a body tolerance issue or a suspension issue. Changing the offset got the tire to clear the fender, but it didn't change the fact that either the body is different on your car from one side to the other or the wheel location is. You fixed the symptom, not the actual problem.
dano
Evil Handy Man
As in installed? Yes, you need all the weight in the car.
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