widened rear rims problem HELP!!!

[markZ]

Just put my newly widened rims with the Nitto 305/45/18 on today and they are touching the rear shock and the shock bracket. Went to the auto part store and bought 5/16 spacers, they are not touching now but now the axel hub does not sit inside the rim:( so all of the weight is now on the studs.
Does anyone know of a way to fix my problem?

[FordNut]

Naake QA1 rear shocks.

[KillJoy]

Naake QA1 rear shocks.


+1!!!

KillJoy

[Marauderman]

Just put my newly widened rims with the Nitto 305/45/18 on today and they are touching the rear shock and the shock bracket. Went to the auto part store and bought 5/16 spacers, they are not touching now but now the axel hub does not sit inside the rim:( so all of the weight is now on the studs.
Does anyone know of a way to fix my problem?

What FordNut said is true if you want to keep those on as a daily driver---

First thing is to take them off and put on 295x45x18 till you get the thinner shocks as FordNut said or wider wheels for the track---------which I did ---- for those 305's--------they are not really good for daily driving except in dry weather with no rubing problems----as described...so what are you plans.????

post edit==Some MM's --heck--all are different---but some do not rub--some do--like yours--mine did and I got the same spacers as you---but they too made alot of noise --so what I described is what I did---

[STLR FN]

Try here and http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=25568&highlight=shock+problems

and here:

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=25416&highlight=shock+problems

[sailsmen]

Assuming they have been widened to 9.5" this is not possible. We have had numerous members widen their rims w/out this.

You must be doing somethning wrong.

Try installing the rims while upside down.

Please read the instruction manual first!

[Glenn]

markZ:

Been there, done that! IMHO the 305s are not safe for the street especially in the rain or wet pavement. The 305s on widened rims are very tight to the shock. I also had to get 5/16" spaces. Tried them - no like. Got the 295s on widened rims - work great, make the car handle and look great!! (See below sig picture with the 295s). I bought a pair of 10x18 Mustang Bullitt deep dish rims just for my 305 DRs at the track. Clearance is at least 3/4" from the shock. Rims only stick out 3/4" from fender well. Search for my old post on the subject and you will see my photos of the Mustang rims and 305s tires on the car.

Try it, you will like it!

Glenn

[Marauderman]

markZ:

Try it, you will like it!

Glenn
+1---I did^^^^^^^and He is CORRECT!!!

[markZ]

Thank you, you have all been very helpful. Sailsmen if you have read some of the other posts you would see that this is not so uncommon, also Sailsmen didnt your mother tell you if you dont have anything nice to say, then dont say anthing at all.

[magindat]

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=25568&highlight=shock+problems

This is true and will work. Understand, the BOTTOM of the shock will move inboard the amount of the changed spacer. This will translate to a lesser move toward the top. It may buy you a bit of space.

You could also try a spacer like this:
http://www.autoanything.com/suspension-systems/61A2607A0A0A2069209.aspx
that includes the lip.

Above posts are correct. Every on of these cars is a little different. Do what you need to, but stay safe!!!

[Master]

Do they contact while it is still on the jack, or when it is back on the ground? Mine touched when suspended, but not when sitting on the ground.

[Skilz10179]

After looking at the car with markZ we came to two solutions to this problem. The first, a 1/8" / 3mm wheel spacer will provide enough clearance but just barely. The second, modification of the lower shock body mounting point. On the lower mounting point of the shock there is aproximatly .25" of material on either side where the bolt passes through mounting the shock, if you were to cut off the inner side of this material and then use a few washers to shim the shock over it would free up almost an additional 1/8" of space between the shock body and tire.

[sailsmen]

Sorry you did not see my humor.

I would def measure the rims to make sure they are 9.5". Another members were 10".

Several have said they do not rub and have plenty of clearance. Others have said they only rub slightly.

Very few have said they rub enough to cause a problem.

I would look into stronger wheel studs if you use a spacer. The wheel lip and hub mating bear a sig amount of weight.

[Skilz10179]

Assuming they have been widened to 9.5" this is not possible. We have had numerous members widen their rims w/out this.

You must be doing somethning wrong.


I can see the humor in this....

[magindat]

Nice work skillz.

Due to the angular mounting of the shock, touching when suspended and not when loaded makes sense. The shock is angled outboard as it goes from top to bottom. Suspended, the tire sidewall is lower on the shock body, thereby touching due to teh body being more outboard at that point.

Another possible addition to the solution is to lower the rear slightly with the sensor arm for the air suspension, thus moving the sidewall even further up the angle.

The only time sidewall touching shock body when suspended would be an issue would be upon extreme suspension travel which would not be common on our cars, but even less common on a DR setup!