[67rscoupe]

Hi all, Im sure this topic has come up many times however i need some help. I have have a 67 camaro with stock mono leaf springs i just purchased hotchkis real multi leafs. I have on the car now on the rear 17x9.5 rims with a 5.5 back space and I AM GETTING wheel rub. Im not sure if its because the monos i have now are just to worn and it is creating body roll. Or i just bought rims to big. Has anyone on this site with the same wheel size install hotchkis on there car? im curious about wheel rub. Can anyone help.
Thanks

[DjD]

what size tires you got on your wheels?

[67rscoupe]

They are 275x40x17

[DjD]

That's about as large as would fit on a '69 coupe and would more than likely scrub unless the suspension was perfect. In your '67 it's my understanding you don't have as deep of a wheel well so you would want less backspacing on the wheels. This would mean you don't want the wheel well lip coming down on the tire though.

The Hotchkis springs may not drop the car much if the orig monos are in bad shape, you'll loose some body roll but with that size tire you're asking for a bit of scrubbing, just depends on where it is (inside or outside of tire) and how much is acceptable to you. I carry passangers and a full trunk a lot so I ate the cost of a set of 275/40's and replaced them with 245/45's on my ragtop. Tread width is almost the same, there is an inch less overall width at the sidewall and just a bit more rubber between the rim of the wheel and the ground. Off the car the 275's looked much bigger than the 245's but mounted on the same wheel you hardly notice the difference. Check the sizes on the tire rack site or check the links provided in the stickie tire thread in wheel and tire for sizing info.

[Fred Ficarra]

Just to jump-in too; not sure of a 67 but on my 69, 4.5" backspacing is the limit regardless of tires or wheel diameter.

[DjD]

funny Fred I ran 15x8's with 5" bs and now run 17x9.5" with 5.5" back spacing... Why do you say 4.5" is the limit? my 9.5" would be into the fender lip with 4.5" bs...

[LCAC_Man]

I've got 275/50/17's on my 67 with hotchkis rear springs.
The backspacing needs to be perfect to center a tire of that size in the wheel well. You didn't say whether you were rubbing on the inside or outside, if outside than the higher rate hotchkis springs will likely help, though not completely eliminate the problem. If rubbing is on the inside than some 1/8" spacers may solve your problem.
My rear wheels are 17x8 with 5.25" backspacing, I used an 1/8" spacer on one side and a 3/16" spacer on the other to center the tires in the wells, the rear axles are rarely centered perfectly in the chassis. I measured my car 3 or 4 times before I ordered my wheels and intentionally got wheels with more backspacing than I needed to allow the flexibility I wanted.

[Fred Ficarra]

Dennis, I sure don't do this stuff every day. Bought my Centerlines back in the mid 80's. The Gatorbacks at the same time. Last year I looked for cheap wheels for a set of drag tires. My Centerlines sure look to be as close to the inner wheel well panel as possible without letting the sidewall rub. But it's only an eyeball evaluation. But I do remember reading something online (somewhere??) that said 4.5" BS was the limit. But I cheat when I can. My rear wheel well lips are long gone. And all the fenders are pushed out with a portapower. I like big rubber!
Now looking up at the inner lip, there's room. Maybe I can run bigger stuff! Ya know, those old Gatorbacks are too hard to risk the car on 'recreational speed-cornering'. Maybe it's time for a change. Thanks Dennis!

[67rscoupe]

I aprreciate all the responses. The rub is on the inside and it happens when the body is flexed when i am pulling on my driveway ramp. DJD what back spacing do you have on your fronts and what tires size is the front rims?

[Fred Ficarra]

Rudy! Is that the only time it happens? Pulling onto your driveway? I sure wouldn't condemn a set or otherwise good rolling stock just for that.

[DjD]

Originally Posted by 67rscoupe

I aprreciate all the responses. The rub is on the inside and it happens when the body is flexed when i am pulling on my driveway ramp. DJD what back spacing do you have on your fronts and what tires size is the front rims?

17x8 4.75 backspacing... It's all on the first page of this thread in the wheel and tire forum along with many other combos... http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=100853

Also check this one for some additional good info... http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=33680

[67rscoupe]

Yeah pretty much thats when the rears rub is when im pulling up the ramp on an angle.

[quickboat]

I think the 4.5 inch BS rule is with 8 inch wheels only. As the wheel gets wider the back spacing must be increased. My 8 inch wheels with the 4.5 inch back spacing just barely rub on the inside with 275/60/15 (DOTs)on the back. I have yet to start cutting the quarter lip for bigger rubber but when I do i will need to increase the back spacing to keep the tire from rubbing. Or MINI TUB!!!!

[DjD]

Originally Posted by quickboat

I think the 4.5 inch BS rule is with 8 inch wheels only. As the wheel gets wider the back spacing must be increased. My 8 inch wheels with the 4.5 inch back spacing just barely rub on the inside with 275/60/15 (DOTs)on the back. I have yet to start cutting the quarter lip for bigger rubber but when I do i will need to increase the back spacing to keep the tire from rubbing. Or MINI TUB!!!!

Jim it's the 275 tires not the back spacing being more than 4.5". I ran 245/60/15's on 15x8 5" bs with no scrubbing unless I had 4 in the car and drove into a steep driveway sideways and that was before new springs and subframe connectors. The 275 sidewall buldges the same on either bs it's just a 1/2" further away from the inner fender with the 4.5" bs.

[davidpozzi]

Rudy,
Do you have the Hotchkis front and rear anti-roll bars on the car?