Hi gang -

Followed the first GS F commandment and had the 20mm HR spacers fitted on all four corners. Rides beautifully, but I notice that now when I reverse the vehicle with about a 50%-75% of full turn lock I get rubbing/scraping noise. I hopped out of the car to inspect the front wheels and they are definitely right up against the liner. I have 2 questions then: first, all my thread reading indicated no one has rubbing issues with the 20mm spacers, even when lowered on springs. Second, why is this happening only in reverse, and not when turning at a similar angle moving forward?

Appreciate any help.

 

Hello,

I also have the +20mms all the way around and only notice very slight rubbing when in reverse and only on uneven surfaces. I don't have the issue at all on more flat surfaces. When I say it's rubbed...it's happened 2 times only in 4000 miles. How is on flat surfaces? I think the driveline shifts just a bit when the car is in reverse so that may be causing the problem.

Steve

 

Thanks for the reply, Steve. It's happening on flat surfaces with me, backing into parking spaces, etc. The tires are also completely brand new, so maybe they need to be worn just a tad?

 

I am very surprised at this.
I had 20mm all around on stock springs and had zero problems, I then lowered my car with RSR springs and had zero problems.
In fact, I swapped out my front spacers to 25mm now and had slight rubbing on full luck that went away after a while. The liner took care of the issue.

Are you on the correct tire sizes?

My guess is, it's not tire rubbing although clearance by the look of it may seem so. You may have another issue when reversing.

 

255/35/19s, correct? My front tires are pretty worn with 14K miles on them so maybe that is helping.

Steve

 

Thanks designo for chiming in. Yea I’m on stock wheel and tires, and again, it is slight rubbing only at about half lock. The strange thing is that it happens in reverse and not forward drive. I don’t see what else it could be since I’m just noticing after installing the spacers. My best guess is these are brand news tires installed two weeks ago, then I put on the spacers. Maybe just needs to be worn a bit by the liner.

I’ve learned over many modding years that cars are, of course, not identical down to the millimeter, for example. One c63 I owned had no rubbing when I added 19inch wheels and 275s , my other c63, same model, had slight rubbing on one side with same tire brand, etc.

But still, the mystery - for me at least - is why in reverse and not forward? Isn’t the clearance the same either way?

 

Clearance should be the same. If it's rubbing in reverse, it has to be rubbing in drive. And, if it's not, that means something is loose (perhaps your fender liner). Try looking again when moving forward. The tires moving in reverse will make more noise when rubbing (theoretically) than in forward. If this is true, I'd suspect your subframe needs to be adjusted. Have you had an alignment recently? If those numbers are way off, it could be because of an off kilter subframe, which may add additional caster. That's the only thing I can think of currently.

 

I would guess your fender liner is loose and is catching on your tires when you reverse.
Have you had someone else observe this?

 

Thanks everyone for ongoing feedback. I ran my hand along the liner and it did not seem loose at all, or to be bulging out anywhere. It rained the other day and I checked the liners and i seemed to see a wet area at the very top of the liner and one area on the backside of the liner basically horizontal to the wheel. Eh?

Still, as is being said, if it rubs in reverse (again, just slightly and only at certain turn angles), it should rub in drive, but it doesn't. Subframe comment seems kind of hardcore - I just bought as L/certified and have put less than 500 miles on it.

Now about alignment - do folks align their cars after putting on spacers? Dealership aligned the car after they put on the new tires, and then I put on the 20mm spacers...

 

Does it rub on both sides? For instance, does turning left make the left tire rub, or the right tire, or does turning right make the right tire rub, or the left, or both?

Also, it is always a good idea to get an alignment after you buy a car. It's always best to be reassured. Spacers don't require an alignment afterwards (unlike new shocks, springs and control arms).