So i went with rx-7.com's Suspension Specialties Handling Suspension Kit. The price was right, tokicos got a good review form you guys and i didnt want to drop the car too low. .8 in the front and 1.4 in the rear seemed perfect. However, i am rubbing in the front when i turn and hit any bump in that turn. I am rubbing on both sides. I am running 235/45/17 on 17x8 inch wheels in the front. The wheels are fikse FM-10's i do notknow their offset, but they were made for the FD specifically so i doubt the offset is wrong. Plus the wheels arent sticking out fromt he fender. The suspension has been in the car for months but I just started driving it again since it is the summer time and i didnt notice the rubbing until a few days ago. Do you think i should go for s 225 series tire or is there some other advice you guys have?

 

well shocks and springs do settle a bit over time, so it might have lowered itself just enough for you to be rubbing.

 

i understand that, think making the shocks a bit stiffer will help

 

bump

 

go with a 235/40

 

Raise the car and/or
Roll the fenders or will look like so many FD with damaged wheel arches.

 

Stiffening the shocks won't really do much. It'll just stiffen your ride. Your tires hit the fenders on turns not on bumps right? You'll probably have to consider what fla94fd said or go to a skinnier or thinner profile tire.

Jeremy

 

if you are rubbing your fender liners, then you need stiffer shocks, period. Trust me, I know from experience. I had Eibach's on Koni Yellows, and I ruined my fenderliners, and dinged up my passenger side fender. I've since gone to Tien Ha's. If I remember the Eibach spring rates were in the 250-300 lb range. My Ha's are a few hunderd pounds more, something like 375 fronts, and 565 rears. Ride qualtiy is adjustable through the Teins from almost stock, to back breaking hard.

 

hey, i have eibach spring w/ koni shocks also and it rubs like crazy. did stiffen up the shocks help at all?

 

Stiffening the shocks won't help. This is the problem with most lowering springs...they are not stiff enough for the amount of drop. Also, the rubber upper spring mounts are worn out by now, they should have been replaced when installing the lowering springs. 235/45 17 is also taller than stock....try 245/40 17...(235/40 is too short).

 

Get used to it, it's pretty much a fact of life w/ lowered FD's with aftermarket wheels (that typically don't have the +50 offset of the stock wheels, and usually cary slightly taller diameter tires).

 

The springs were the solution, not the shocks. Koni's are great shocks and can be pretty stiff themselves. A good combo with Koni Yellows would be a set of Ground Controls added to them.

 

Where does it rub?

If it is just the screw head on the inside/top of the fender, remove the screw. The liner will stay in place without it.

If it is something else, perhaps someone will have a targeted solution.

-Max

 

Yeah, is it the fender lip you're hitting, or the plastic liner?

 

I just installed 235 45 17 Nito 555 and I am am rubbing like crazy. The first bump I hit while turning bent my wheel arch. I was thinking about rolling the fender out, but I am not sure how to do it (or should I go to a body shop).

 

The whole bump-with-the-wheel-turned thing is deadly w/ these cars... the wheels wells up front are just tight, and that's it.

To roll, if you try it yourself, make sure you use a hair dryer or heat gun to soften the paint up a little (not too much!)... some people have used a baseball bat between the lip and tire to work it under. I think we used a pair of channel-lock pliers with rubber hose over the jaws. There's also a special tool for it that is hard to find.

I'd find a body shop that has done it before.

 

Thanks.

 

Channel-locks? That sounds absolutely insane, even with hose - but then again I really dont know crap about bodywork....

 

sorry, i have been out of the country, thanks for the great ideas, i am rubbing on the liner i guess since my fenders are already rolled all the way up