Front tire rubbing

[markiemyster]

Whenever I cut the wheel sharp to the right like when I pull into or out of a parking space my tire rubs against the passengers side front fender. It only happens on that side when I cut the wheel sharp.
When I was adding my after market power steering could I have put something back on the wrong way. I don't remember if it did it before. I've had the PS on for about a year and a half and only had the car for 3 years.
I never notice it when I take a regular right hand turn while driving.
I'm going to have my car aligned in a week or so before cruising weather starts up here and if I need to change something I want to do it now before the alignment.
Any hints would be appreciated

Thanks, Mark

 

[67HEAVEN]

Stock wheels and tires?

Do you have any undercar photos of the front end since you added power steering?

 

[markiemyster]

I'll get the tire information tomorrow.
As for pics I'll see if I can take a few and try and post them also.

Mark

 

[JohnZ]

In addition to the tire and wheel info (which is important), where exactly is the tire contacting the fender?

 

[markiemyster]

Sorry it took so long to get back to you guys.

Let's see if I can down load these pictures.
In case I can't the tires are P215/65R15 Firestone Firehawks.
The front tire rubs on the inside rear of the tire against the inside of the fender.

Sorry the pics aren't very good I don't have a lift and it's tough to get under the car on jack stands and take a good shot. Hope this helps a little

 

[67HEAVEN]

markiemyster,

Are you using rims with stock offset and width?

The 65 series tires may be your problem. If I remember correctly, the original 6.70x15 tires, in 1965, were an 80 series tire, although that designation was unused at that time. Then came the 78 series, followed by 70 series, etc.

Lower and wider was the name of the game, as time progressed. 65 series tires are quite different from what the car came with.

 

[markiemyster]

The rims are 15 x 6 Rally wheels.

 

[67HEAVEN]

Again, if memory serves, your original '65 wheels were 5.5" wide. I'm uncertain if the difference affects offset or not.

I'd bet if you put a stock wheel and tire on, there'd be no clearance problems. I'm not suggesting that as a solution, however. I just think that your tires may be a bit too much. I seem to remember JohnZ stating that he uses a 205-70 on his '67 bolt-ons (6" wide like your rallys).

Let's see if John has a comment.

 

[markiemyster]

67heaven,

Thanks for your input so far.
I think if it means changing over to smaller tires I'll live with what I have for now. It only seems to rub on a slow tight turn like when I pull in a parking space.

Next time around I'll pay closer attention to width.

Thanks again, Mark

 

[ctjackster]

Mark - real world experience from many posters here and "over there" has shown what you no doubt considered when you bought the size tires you have on there now -

(1) you will not have problems lock to lock with 205/75s (that's what JohnZ has advised HE uses, this gives a revs per mile of ~768 (fairly close to what the oem tires provided)

(2) you probably will not have problems with 215/75s other than at near full compression at near lock (as in hitting a driveway hump while at near full turn) - some folks have reported this generates a rub at the fender lip. I have Firestone Indy 500 Firehawks on my 65 in this size, drive it like the bank owns it (they do, so I do) and have never experienced such an issue, I also have Bilstein Sports all around so perhaps I am not experiencing a near full compression up front while near or at lock

(3) you really should not have problems with the 215/65 (a 26" diameter, 8.2" section width tire, vs. 26.9" diameter, 8.7" section width for the 215/70 and 27.1" diameter, 7.8" section width for JohnZ's 205/75).

Oh, I also have PS on my 65.

 

[Jeff Farrar]

Hi Mark,

I'm running a way different tire combination so I can't help you out there. But, I do have a very little rub in the same spot. For whatever reason, the back of the wheel well is closer to the wheel opening on the passener side than the drivers side. I couldn't figure out why it was hitting on just the one side. There is a few extra inches on the drivers side for whatever reason.

 

[JohnZ]

Sorry it took so long to get back to you guys.

Let's see if I can down load these pictures.
In case I can't the tires are P215/65R15 Firestone Firehawks.
The front tire rubs on the inside rear of the tire against the inside of the fender.

Sorry the pics aren't very good I don't have a lift and it's tough to get under the car on jack stands and take a good shot. Hope this helps a little

Mark, if I understand you correctly, you're getting a rub between the rear of the tire and the frame/inner fender area at full lock, like a rub at the driver's side in a full-lock left turn (not at the outer wheel opening area on the fender). If so, that's not unusual with a 215/65 tire on stock rims - both the main cross-section and the tread surface of a 215/65 are significantly wider than the original tires. If you're not getting any contact between the outer portion of the tire and the lip around the wheel opening in the outer fender, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Lucy64]

I had the exact same rubbing on my 64 with the stock wheels and 215/70 tires. I have changed to Crager wheels (6") with 215/70x15 tires and have the same minor rubbing you have and also only on the right side. But as John said, that is all I have so I just live with it.

 

[markiemyster]

Thanks all,

I feel better now. I was just concerned that I had something positioned wrong when I put the power steering setup in.
I'm going to get an alignment in a week or so and didn't want to find out afterwards that I had to change something.

Cruising weather up here is right around the corner

Save the wave, Mark

 

[WayneC]

Perhaps the passenger side had some bodywork at some point and is not exactly at original dimensional spec. I don't normally like this solution, but perhaps your car is a candidate for thin wheel spacers on the front wheels, assuming that won't cause an even more problematic interference with the outer fenders. Summit has some in 7/32, 5/16, and 7/16 inch thicknesses for about $12 a pair.

 

[I_R_DA_ONE]

Sorry it took so long to get back to you guys.

Let's see if I can down load these pictures.
In case I can't the tires are P215/65R15 Firestone Firehawks.
The front tire rubs on the inside rear of the tire against the inside of the fender.

Sorry the pics aren't very good I don't have a lift and it's tough to get under the car on jack stands and take a good shot. Hope this helps a little

IN picture #2 is that a hole rusted in the frame???? If it is,, you should look very closely at a four wheel alignment.... and check for a weak frame at that point.... If that is the only hole rotted out you may be able to have someone TIG weld it back.... I hope this does not alarm you but it does have to be addressed....
Mike

 

[markiemyster]

I R DA ONE,

In picture number 2 are you looking at the splash shield? That's the only rust I see in that picture. The car frame has no rust and is very solid, but I'll grant you it does need a good wash down and some of the steering arms etc. could use a coat of paint.
It's tough to keep clean under there because I'm one of those nuts that drive it on winter days in New England as long as there is no salt on the road or recent snow storms.
I am planning on getting all four aligned because I've done so many changes over the last two years that could have thrown the alignment off. Hopefully I'll notice a difference in the handling.

Thanks, Mark

 

[rohard]

Outside Rub

I have an outside rub. 1965 Roadster, 396. Bought the car Monday, drove it home, let my son-in-law drive it. He took a sharp right hand turn up my inclined driveway, and took a 2 inch by 1/4 hunk of fiberglass out of the right (passenger) front fender, right at the top. Heard the tire hit. Made me sick, but it would only have been a short while till I did the same thing.
What can I do? I am very NEW to this, had the car for 3 whole days. When I measure the outside of the tire to the right fender, about 1/2 to 3/4 inch less on right than left side. I am running P205-75-R15 on Repo Knockoffs. The right front clip has never been repaired, it is either orginal, or new.
Don't want to pay to fix it till I figure out how to keep it from happening again. As I understand the posts, these are the right tires (they are radials, if that makes a difference) for the car.
(Please don't flame me to bad, I am very new to this car, not sure what is germane to the problem.)

 

[JohnZ]

Those are the correct size radials to replace the original 7.75-15 tires, and if the wheels are the standard GM-design reproduction KO's, you're within the generally accepted envelope for clearance, unless the front ride height is below spec; does the car sit level, or does the front end appear lower?

 

[rohard]

Those are the correct size radials to replace the original 7.75-15 tires, and if the wheels are the standard GM-design reproduction KO's, you're within the generally accepted envelope for clearance, unless the front ride height is below spec; does the car sit level, or does the front end appear lower?

Yes, it is level, and cosideraly higher than the 2003 vette sitting next to it. Whoever rebuilt the car did a very nice job, I can find very little wrong with it, the front end and and steering are very tight, no leaks in the disk brakes, drive train has very little slack, and the car tracks good, no out of balance or wondering at 70 (as fast as I am going to drive a 40 year old car). The guy that I bought it from did not drive it much, he had a car hauler. I can find no evidence of it ever being repaired before. ?????????????????