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targis58 Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2006 Posts: 539 Location: sunnyvale,ca
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:28 am Post subject: tire rub against upper control arm |
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Hi, all
I have BFG 215 75 15 AT tires with gowesty's progressive lift springs for 2wd on my van. I 've been running on these tires for about 2000 miles and just noticed some squeaking noise when turning ONLY.
I looked and found that inner tire wall was touching the upper control arm when the wheel is turned.
There is about 3mm space when the wheel is positioned straight .
Is this still the alignment problem or something else?
driver side front wheel turned to right
Passenger side wheel does the same thing _________________ 90 westy 2wd w/ TBD |
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r39o Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 9800 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:37 am Post subject: |
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Can't have that!
What wheels do you have? ET?
In any case you gonna have to move the tire out.
No question about that in my little mind..... _________________ "Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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presslab Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2008 Posts: 1730 Location: Sonoma County
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:53 am Post subject: |
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My 15x6 ET45 tires have about the same clearance, with those same size tires. I ran small spacers until I did my Audi disc conversion and now the rotor hat serves as the spacer. _________________ 1986 Vanagon Westfalia EJ25
1988 Subaru GL-10 EJ20G --- 2000 Honda XR650L
2010 Titus El Guapo --- 2011 On-One 456 Ti |
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targis58 Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2006 Posts: 539 Location: sunnyvale,ca
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:57 am Post subject: |
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I have SA rhein wheels _________________ 90 westy 2wd w/ TBD |
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Zero419 Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2008 Posts: 2160 Location: PA
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r39o Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 9800 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 11:50 am Post subject: |
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I think the spacers may make it worse....but ask the alignment person.
The Rheins are fitting, it is the tire rubbing.....
The Rheins have what spec, just for fun? _________________ "Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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targis58 Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2006 Posts: 539 Location: sunnyvale,ca
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 11:52 am Post subject: |
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I have that on _________________ 90 westy 2wd w/ TBD |
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PDXWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006 Posts: 6242 Location: Portland OR
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r39o Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 9800 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 11:57 am Post subject: |
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WOW.
That "should" be a safe setup, from what I recall. But, I can be wrong, too.
It is then either different tires or spacers. Or liive with it? Which I do not think is aafe.
Unless the alignment guy can get it to align with out the spacer, maybe????
You may need to go to a pro for this one. _________________ "Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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Zero419 Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2008 Posts: 2160 Location: PA
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 11:58 am Post subject: |
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I have the same wheels and springs.
diffrence must be tires.
nokian, eyntire, not sure size... _________________ 1987 Westy Auto Bostig 2.0 Ztec |
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targis58 Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2006 Posts: 539 Location: sunnyvale,ca
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:27 pm Post subject: Re: tire rub against upper control arm |
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targis58 wrote: |
Hi, all
I have BFG 215 75 15 AT tires with gowesty's progressive lift springs for 2wd on my van. I 've been running on these tires for about 2000 miles and just noticed some squeaking noise when turning ONLY.
I looked and found that inner tire wall was touching the upper control arm when the wheel is turned.
There is about 3mm space when the wheel is positioned straight .
Is this still the alignment problem or something else?
driver side front wheel turned to right
Passenger side wheel does the same thing |
Is the rubber thingy on the ball joint squashed too much? _________________ 90 westy 2wd w/ TBD |
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Christopher Schimke Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2005 Posts: 5390 Location: PNW
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:50 pm Post subject: |
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The problem is definitely caused by the upper balljoint spacer. They raise the upper control arm upward towards the wider area of the tire's sidewall. The only real cures (assuming that all of the current wheels, tires and suspension are kept) are a set of thin spacers or modifications to the upper control arms. _________________ "Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)
*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
T3Technique.com or contact me at [email protected] |
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levi Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2005 Posts: 5522 Location: Las Vegas
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 2:16 pm Post subject: |
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Pulling the ball joint spacers off is only a 10min or so job, put chalk or something on there and take it for a quick spin with a couple sharp turns involved.
If it's no longer rubbing, take it in for an alignment and see if you can get it dialed in w'out those spacers.
They're only meant for adding to the van's alignment range anyway. _________________ One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way
https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40 |
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syncrodoka Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 12005 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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Last I talked to Burley that rubbing is the reason that he no longer makes/sells the spacer. |
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targis58 Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2006 Posts: 539 Location: sunnyvale,ca
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 9:07 pm Post subject: |
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So...which is better? take out spacers and get a new alignment done or just add spacers to the wheels?
thanks _________________ 90 westy 2wd w/ TBD |
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r39o Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 9800 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 9:38 pm Post subject: |
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targis58 wrote: |
So...which is better? take out spacers and get a new alignment done or just add spacers to the wheels?
thanks |
Depends!
Because the ball joint spacers are
levi wrote: |
meant for adding to the van's alignment range anyway. |
If the alignment shop can not get the van dialed in with out the ball joint spacers then you need to add them.
Better only means you get the van in alignment and nothing rubbing.
No simple one size fits all answer because it depends on your particular combination. Everybody seems to have a somewhat different set up.
Just be prepared to change something, though. _________________ "Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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timbo Samba Member
Joined: April 20, 2006 Posts: 194 Location: Port Moody BC Canada
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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I had similar issues running 235/75/16's. I put longer wheel studs in with 10mm spacer cured the problem. Like it's been said, I found the problem worse with the BJ spacers since it moved the CA up more towards the wider part of the tire. Initially I trimmed that part of the UCA off, worked great, but I went with more lift and now run Burley's lifted UCA's, 12mm wheel spacers w/ longer studs, no BJ spacer.....it's aaaaall good.
LOOGY: the new bushings have been fine for the past week or so.
cheers!
tim _________________ 1988 Vanagon GL/ 1991 2.2 Subie power
"Never tell a lie and you'll never have to play dumb" Anthony Kiedis |
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VWhead Samba Member
Joined: September 27, 2009 Posts: 337 Location: Pacific Grove,CA
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syncrodoka Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 12005 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 11:04 pm Post subject: |
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targis58 wrote: |
So...which is better? take out spacers and get a new alignment done or just add spacers to the wheels?
thanks |
If they can get the alignment into spec. without the spacers then run without them. If you need more adjustment I would go with the BMS upper control arms before using the spacers. You can get rid of the squeaky UCA bushings and get the alignment back into spec with one product.
I got my truck aligned a few months ago and they could barely get it into spec. It will get the Burley upper control arms to match the other syncro soon. |
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davevickery Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2005 Posts: 2887 Location: Fort Collins, CO
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 8:15 am Post subject: |
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A 3mm spacer would be the cheapest and easist. So long as you can get 5-6 full rotations of the lug nut. Check how many rotations you get now to see if the 3mm would work or not. They cost $15/pr or less on line.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-WHEEL-SPACERS-5-LUG-3MM-...%26ps%3D54
If you can't get enough rotations you can buy longer 14x1.5 lug bolts with the same seat on line or from T3 maybe. Just adds another $30 or so to the total cost. |
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