[b17brian]

I installed my new tires yesterday and the new tires are rubbing bad on the front fenders during turns and dips in the road. So bad I’m not sure I should even drive the car.

This is my current setup: ’67 Camaro, stock upper and lower A arms, stock drum brake spindles, Hotchkis 2” drop springs, 15 X 8 AZ rally wheels 4” backspace date coded 1977, and the new tires are BF Goodrich Radial T/A 235/60R15.

I’ve spent a month researching this site and the web to make sure I was buying something that would fit. I’ve seen several guys running this size tire on their first gen. I used all the online tire size comparators to make sure that I was buying smaller tires than the 30 year old F60X15 tires I was replacing (they also rubbed by the way). Well I still got it wrong.

So where do I go from here? Possible fixes I’ve thought of are: 1) replace the wheels with Summit 15 X 7 with 4 ¼ backspace rally wheels, 2) replace the worn out, smashed and cracked subframe body bushings with new Global West solid bushings to raise the body away from the subframe, 3) add a ½ to 1 inch solid aluminum spring seat spacer in the lower A arm. Or a combination of them all, but I can’t afford them all at once. Anyone that has a fix, opinion or suggestion I would like to hear it.

[DjD]

15x8 with 4" bs is making your tire and wheel not tuck into the wheel well enough. 15x7 with 4.25 bs is much more ideal; what you have is -12 offset and you want +6 like the 4.25" bs 7" wheel.

Here's some good info on wheel sizes. You would need 4.75" bs on an 8" wheel to center it properly. 15x7 4.25bs is the better choice.

https://www.rsracing.com/tech-wheel.html

With a 2" drop and wide tires the top fender bolt often rubs and can be replaced with a button head Allen bolt and you can have your alignment checked and add a little negative camber to help keep the tire away from the fender lip.

[b17brian]

Thanks Dennis, that’s what I was thinking, but after spending the money on new tires, I didn't want to buy new wheels and it not fix the problem. Thanks for the link, some great info there. Nice looking '69 Dennis.

[jcfcamaro]

I have the 15x7 with 4.25 or 4.50 not sure but have BfGs 215 15 65 and the same 2in drop springs and have no problems. you can see some videos on you tube 67 camaro jared freemyer

[67Carl]

Start with the button head bolts as Dennis mentioned. I have the same rubbing issue after new tires/rims and those bolts cut down on the rubbing by approx 75%. Any decent hardware store will have them for a few dollars. It still happens enough that I'm thinking of trying the spring spacers. Summit has them in many sizes and they are inexpensive:

http://www.summitracing.com/search/d...pring%20spacer

I was going to post the question about body bushings and whether new ones would potentially help but it was mentioned above. Anyone have thoughts on whether this will help or not?

BTW, I also have the 2" drop springs but different tire/wheel sizes than you (17x7 225 50ZR 17 up front).

Got any pics? I'd like to see the stance and the tire position relative to the fender.

[b17brian]

Jarod - I looked at your videos on you tube, great sounding mufflers.

Carl - I'm probably going to try the button head bolts temporarily so I can drive it. No pics with the new tires, it’s raining today.

[rojo]

You might want to try covering the bolts with chalk or some masking tape then taking the car for a ride (with some rub). The idea being to see which if any bolts are rubbing. Also if you have a belt sander or grinder you can take the bolt heads down pretty thin, off the car of course.

[rojo]

Originally Posted by 67Carl

.........BTW, I also have the 2" drop springs but different tire/wheel sizes than you (17x7 225 50ZR 17 up front)......

Carl

Do you know the back space on your front wheels?

[67Carl]

Originally Posted by rojo

Carl

Do you know the back space on your front wheels?

4 1/4". If the tire was just a little closer in, say 1/8 to 1/4, I'd be good to go. There's room on the inside between the tire and engine bay wall. Don't know how that translates into backspace numbers... This was the only BS Coy's has for the 17x7 C5 wheel.

I believe my overall diameter is 25.9" while yours is around 26.1", so fairly close.

[rojo]

Yours should be right around 26" which is about the same as my 215/65 15. My wheels are 15x7 3.75 bs and I do have some rub. I was thinking about 17's with same front setup you have but now I'm not so sure.

[jcfcamaro]

Thanks Brian

[67Carl]

Originally Posted by rojo

Yours should be right around 26" which is about the same as my 215/65 15. My wheels are 15x7 3.75 bs and I do have some rub. I was thinking about 17's with same front setup you have but now I'm not so sure.

You could go with a 225 45/17, which is approx 24.8", 225 40/17 = 24.4", or find a wheel with a BS that brings it in a little bit more. Personally I don't like the look of those really thin tires, so I'm likely going to either use a small spring spacer (cheap) or install QA1 adjustable shocks (not cheap, but I can adjust the height and ride feel). Good luck!

[b17brian]

Carl, I was hoping that someone would have an answer on the worn out body bushings. It makes sense to me that if the bushings are compressed more than originally designed there would be less space between the subframe and the body. The question in my mind is will it raise it enough to fix my problem. Either way I plan on putting solid aluminum bushing in eventually, just wasn't in the budget right now.

For now I guess I'll be ordering some 15 x 7 rally wheels. Not what I wanted to spend money on right now, because eventually I want to upgrade to 17 inch wheels also. But they rub so bad right now I don't know if I want drive it the way it is.

[b17brian]

Has anyone bought the rally wheels from Rick’s? Are these hub centric? Are these good replacement wheels? Good wheels or not?

http://www.rickscamaros.com/camaro-r...-x-7-1969.html

[jcfcamaro]

Brian , I bought my combo rim package from classic ind. Came with rims, lug nuts,center caps,trim rings. Can't remember how much they cost , but there nice. 15x8 on back 15x7 on the front .