Help, new wheels scraping on '85 Coupe GT

[Don Muirhead]

Mon, 27 Nov 2000 21:31:20 -0700 Jeremiah Curry curryjer at home.com wrote:

>I just installed my new Borbet Type T 16*7.5 wheels wrapped in Yokahama 
A520
205-45-16's.  I love the combination, but when I go through gutters the 
back
wheels scrape the edge of the rear fenders, probably due to the ABT 
lowering
springs.
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That and the 205/45/16's.
--------
>So hear is the question, How can I stop this?  I seem to recall
someone saying Bilstein shocks would raise the car a bit.  Is that true, if
not Maybe I will have to re-install the original rear springs, or those 
from
my '84 Coupe GT.
-------
May help but every time you hit a half decent bump/pot hole or make a hard 
turn they'll rub.
They'll be also rubbing on the inner lip just inside the wheel well so you 
might consider getting the fenders rolled to give some added clearance.
I would also be hesitant about carrying anything close to an adult 
passenger back there.
-------
>also the car seems to alternately pull left or right now, is that just the
better tires showing a bad alignment, or something more serious?
-------
520's track a lot differently especially if you had the stock wheels and 
will exaggerate every flaw/defect as well as the ruts in the road.
You will wear the rubber off quicker so check bushings, arms, tie rods, 
etc. and replace/fix as needed.  If you don't have good sway bars then 
consider the investment...I think Huw has some info at his site on this. 
 You want to first get the coupe as tight as possible then a good 
alignment.

Although it looks great you're pushing the envelope with 205/45/16 and the 
lowering springs.
I have 205/50/15 (15x7) on two of my coupes with stock suspension and they 
even rub from time-to-time.  Depends on how much weight/people you squeeze 
in the back.  My other coupe does have 16x7.5 but the fenders/wells were 
cut out, extended then reshaped which is something you don't want to do 
unless you're planning on extensive body work.

Don