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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ inner fender well clearance

Posted by: sj914 Dec 30 2005, 01:46 AM

How much fender clearance is a safe distance for the inner fender wells and the tire.

Right now I'm measuring about 1" between tire and fender well on 25" tires. I'll have pics of it tomorrow.

I'm talking about the rear.

Posted by: McMark Dec 30 2005, 01:50 AM

QUOTE
fender well on 25" tires.

That's some monster rubber! I can't wait to see pictures.

Clearance depends on your camber.

Posted by: sj914 Dec 30 2005, 02:06 AM

well... their 295/30/18

Posted by: airsix Dec 30 2005, 02:53 AM

Put the car on jack stands, unbolt the lower shock mount, and then push the wheel/tire up (with a floor jack) and see how much clearance you have when the suspension is under compression. The inner fenderwell clearance will reduce as the compression increases.

-Ben M.

Posted by: neo914-6 Dec 30 2005, 03:15 AM

Remil,

We can meet at TC Design in Milpitas and you can check out the clearance (or lack of) on neo914-6. My rears are very close to the inner fender and flare. I will worry when I get "street" springs on it...

Posted by: sj914 Dec 30 2005, 04:15 AM

Felix,
When are you goin to TC Design next?

I unscrewed the thread collar(sp) off the threaded body and slowly let it down till the shock bout bottomed out. It looks like I've got enough spacing.

Posted by: Andyrew Dec 30 2005, 04:18 AM

I'd say 1inch is enough. I have 1/2 and it works ok.

Posted by: sj914 Dec 30 2005, 04:19 AM

Alright it's tomorrow already.

here's what it looks like at the ride height that I plan on using.

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Posted by: sj914 Dec 30 2005, 04:21 AM

Here it is with the suspension bottomed out (well the shocks anyway).

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Posted by: sj914 Dec 30 2005, 04:23 AM

Here's a shot from behind. Still seeing some light.

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Posted by: airsix Dec 30 2005, 12:07 PM

That looks okay to me. What is that, about 3/4" gap (in the shock bottomed possition)? Nice wheel/tire combo.
-Ben M.

Posted by: bondo Dec 30 2005, 12:19 PM

Won't you hit the control arm before the inner fender?

Posted by: sj914 Dec 30 2005, 12:36 PM

3/4" is what was left.

Posted by: sj914 Dec 30 2005, 12:38 PM

QUOTE (bondo @ Dec 30 2005, 10:19 AM)
Won't you hit the control arm before the inner fender?

What do you mean?

Posted by: neo914-6 Dec 30 2005, 12:47 PM

probably meant the "trailing" arm...

In Andrew's words "it'll fit?"

I will stop by TC today to drop off some bolts, give me a call...

Attached image(s)

Posted by: sj914 Dec 30 2005, 01:06 PM

QUOTE (neo914-6 @ Dec 30 2005, 10:47 AM)
probably meant the "trailing" arm...

In Andrew's words "it'll fit?"

I will stop by TC today to drop off some bolts, give me a call...

Felix I'll see if I can make. What do you plan on getting there?

Is that pic of your car?
That looks alot less clearance than mine.

Posted by: J P Stein Dec 30 2005, 01:12 PM

To check full suspension travel in the rear, ya gotta take the spring out of the equation so's you can bottom the shock....a PITA. You gain negative camber as the suspension compresses. You need more room than is obivious for side wall flex.

Having said that, 1 inch clearance at static ride height should be plenty. When you get down below 1/2 in, it gets iffy. I've got big crecent shaped marks on my inner fenderwalls to prove this

I do this routine on the front also. Full compression, lock to lock
on the steering.

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Posted by: sj914 Dec 30 2005, 01:19 PM

I haven't even got to checking the fronts yet for clearance.

Posted by: neo914-6 Dec 30 2005, 01:28 PM

QUOTE (sj914 @ Dec 30 2005, 11:06 AM)

QUOTE (neo914-6 @ Dec 30 2005, 10:47 AM)
probably meant the "trailing" arm...

In Andrew's words "it'll fit?" :lol:

I will stop by TC today to drop off some bolts, give me a call...

Felix I'll see if I can make. What do you plan on getting there?

Is that pic of your car?
That looks alot less clearance than mine.

It's my car.

Tony will fab an engine and transaxle mount, maybe other things...

My springs are easy to replace since they are short and on threaded collars.

Posted by: Andyrew Dec 30 2005, 02:30 PM

I had an 1/8th of an inch of clearance and it rubbed.. It rubbed on the fender wells on the inside. So I do not believe it will hit the trailing arm first.

Posted by: bondo Dec 30 2005, 03:33 PM

QUOTE (neo914-6 @ Dec 30 2005, 11:47 AM)
probably meant the "trailing" arm...

Indeed I did.. oops.

Posted by: bondo Dec 30 2005, 03:36 PM

QUOTE (Andyrew @ Dec 30 2005, 01:30 PM)
I had an 1/8th of an inch of clearance and it rubbed.. It rubbed on the fender wells on the inside. So I do not believe it will hit the trailing arm first.

Interesting.. with the tires/wheels/spacers I entend to use on the blue flared car I have about 1/8" of trailing arm clearance, and about 1" of inner fender clearance.. but perhaps an alignment would reduce the inner fender clearance. It also has no engine or trans, so it'd also get reduced when the ride height is normal.

Posted by: sj914 Dec 30 2005, 04:28 PM

The part I was worried about most was the section of the fender well near the trailing arm mount. The long seems to flare out in that section making the fender well smaller in that section. Right now the suspension is setup with a noticable amount of toe-in. I never really thought much of it, because my last car had the same noticeble toe-in. From what I can measure at that section I've got at least 3/4" of clearance.

JP,
QUOTE
You need more room than is obivious for side wall flex

That was actually my intention for this post, to see what you guys or gals are running with respect to fender well clearance.

I just wanted to make sure before I start on the Flares that I have enough clearnace in there, adding more wheel spacing is alot easier than having to repound flares to fit a wider wheel stance.

Posted by: smooth_eddy Dec 30 2005, 05:32 PM

I can barely slip my index finger b/t the tire and inner fender. It has never rubbed against the fender. Eddy

Posted by: J P Stein Dec 30 2005, 06:18 PM

The worst point of contact is the lower RH coner of the pic...out of the frame cause I blew it.
This is with a tight (3/8 in) finger of clearance at static height.
Camber change, side wall flex....whatever, uses up space pretty qiuck..... there it is at the top of the tiar also.

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