Fat Wheel Rub
 

Hey guys I have a 93 Si Hatch that I just bought used. I replaced the shot struts with some new GR-2 KYB shocks and the front springs to Neuspeed springs and kept the back ones stock (Because the Neuspeed springs dropped it too low). Now I had a noise that would come from really bad wheel rub on the inner back portion of the rear left wheel well. It is actually burning the rubber covering the fuel lines. I feel like it might be the Rear Trailing arm bushings but it only makes it when theres someone sitting in the back and we hit a slight dip or if i have weight in the back. I don't know whats going on but i desperately need your help.

Re: Fat Wheel Rub
 

you dropped the car on stock shocks? It's a good thing KYB has lifetime warranties.

Re: Fat Wheel Rub
 

If the problem only occurred when you swapped everything and you KNOW where the rubbing is coming from then you have your answer. If the Neuspeeds dropped it too low in the rear then they are probably dropping it to low in the front as well. How do you think it's the RTA bushings?

Re: Fat Wheel Rub
 

What do you mean by that? It wasn't an intentional drop because the nuespeeds weren't supposed to drop them at all but they did. so i went back to the stock shocks in the back



It is dropped in the front but its not a big drop and I havn't been having trouble with the front that much. I've been having the same grind in the back even with the old shot stock struts. and the cover that goes over the fuel line has been burned through since i got the car. which leads me to believe its been bad for a while. Also if you look at the RTA bushing you can see it looks like it was hammered in by a gorilla and theres play in it to top it off when you raise it off the ground and move it around. I've been planning on getting an alignment but not until after i finish the RTA bushings. Its also been suggested to me to swap out all of the stock bushings with some new polyurethane ones but Thats a lot of work if I do it myself and a lot of money if i get it done by a mechanic

Re: Fat Wheel Rub
 

So because the neupseed springs dropped the car "too" much you put stock shocks back in it?
or did you swap in the stock shocks and springs?



Either way, you bought OEM replacement shocks, and they suck for a lowered car.

Re: Fat Wheel Rub
 

So where does the "fat wheel rub" come into all of this if most of these problems were already present?

Re: Fat Wheel Rub
 

Well I replaced the shocks with the KYB and then figured i might as well replace the shocks as well because it didn't look like it had stock springs in the front because the car sat with about 5 inches of wheel gap in the front which seemed like too much to be true. So i put the nuespeeds and it looks closer to stock but still a tad lower.

The shocks feel fine in the front and back but that rub on the drivers rear wheel is killing me

Re: Fat Wheel Rub
 

Its rubbing in that same spot on the fuel line cover and I really need some extra opinions and people with more experience than me so I can really pinpoint the problem. The fat wheel rub is what i'm trying to get rid off because its present no matter what I do. Is replacing the RTA bushing the best choice

Re: Fat Wheel Rub
 

How wide are the wheels? Are you running 19's or something? Replacing RTA bushings probably won't do squat to fix it.

Re: Fat Wheel Rub
 

They're 15 inch Volk 37's

Re: Fat Wheel Rub
 

How are they rubbing NOW? I'm sorry I just don't see how a 15 can be rubbing if you didn't have it slammed to the ground.

Re: Fat Wheel Rub
 

Me either! its ridiculous. there's plenty of room in between the tire and the wheel well but when there is weight in the back (which i need to carry stuff for work so its necessary) or a light person back there it will rub in that same spot if i hit a small bump or dip. Is it normal for stock hatches to rub like that when there's a person in the back let alone 2 because that doesn't seem right to me. There has to be something wrong. and its only on the drivers side

Re: Fat Wheel Rub
 

Swap out ALL the bushings. Not just the RTA's. There should be any play in them.

Re: Fat Wheel Rub
 

Thanks! I'll get on that and see if it helps

Re: Fat Wheel Rub
 

Sorry. Should NOT be any play in them.

Re: Fat Wheel Rub
 

Post a picture of the car.

what offset are the wheels? ANY wheel has the capability to rub depending on the offset, and the height of the car.

My 14's rubbed like no other when I was low.