My car is a UK MY99, with standard suspension, and ScoobySport/MIM alloy wheels covered in Bridgestone SO2PP's 215/40R17

I'm running 33 psi upfront, and 30 psi in the rears.

When I have one or two people in the back, and I go hard into a roundabout I can hear a rubbing noise coming from the rear passenger side wheel.

I can't see any signs of rubbing, and the clearance is fine when the car is stationary, and with two passeengers in the back.

What's catching rubbing?? Any ideas?? Is it the Prodrive wing on the back creating too much down force???

Help, or I'll have to stop carrying passengers!!!

Thanks
Andy

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Andy Tang:
<B>My car is a UK MY99, with standard suspension, and ScoobySport/MIM alloy wheels covered in Bridgestone SO2PP's 215/40R17

I'm running 33 psi upfront, and 30 psi in the rears.

When I have one or two people in the back, and I go hard into a roundabout I can hear a rubbing noise coming from the rear passenger side wheel.

I can't see any signs of rubbing, and the clearance is fine when the car is stationary, and with two passeengers in the back.

What's catching rubbing?? Any ideas?? Is it the Prodrive wing on the back creating too much down force???

Help, or I'll have to stop carrying passengers!!!

Thanks
Andy[/quote]

Soon after the next time it happens take the wheel off and look on it and under the arch for shiny areas where something has touched. If you wait for long, mud and stuff will cover the areas.

 

Good idea Tim, thanks!

 

You will probably find that it is the tyre rubbing on the rubber wheel arch finisher at the rear which can happen with ET45 wheels at full bump.

Mike

 

Mike,

Is there anyway around this?

Change the suspension? More air in the tyres? Cut some of the arch away? Refit arch, etc?

Sounds desperate, but it does sound dangerous at speed!!

Thanks
Andy

 

Andy, Have the same problem as you, same MY99 standard suspension with Scoobysport 17".

Only had the car for about a month so when it happened kinda wondered what was going on whether the suspension was knackered or something.

Any suggestions anyone?? or has anyone else experienced the same thing BBBRRRPPP or noise to that effect

 

A friend of mine had a similar problem on his Golf Gti and we both thought it was rubbing. He took it to the local lads and it turned out 2 of the opposite corner wheel bearing were ****ed! It might not be the case here but might be worth checking.

 

It's the ET, 45 is WAY to low, my wheels (17x7 ET48 with 215/40 F1's) rubbed on the rear arches, just a tad, but still.

I removed the rubber thingamaboobs, problem solved. You need to find a way to protect the area from wear and tear though.



/Jerry - Sweden

 

Andy

Our 17 & 18" wheels are ET52 or more so this doesn't happen. I would suggest you speak to your wheel supplier to effect a solution.

Mike

 

I've spoken to Jerry, and he has suggested the following:

Remove the rubber lip on the arch
Fit 205/45 R17 tyres

I've removed the lip, and see how I get on!

Come tyre time, I may have to forsake the Bridgestones, and get some PZeros!

Are the ScoobySport wheels ET45?? If so why have some of the Subaru dealers started selling them????

Thanks
Andy

 

Hi Andy

I've been doing some investigation, hence the delay in replying.

This seems to be a problem that affects some UK cars and not imports. The problem only seems to affect a small number of UK cars and on some it is the left arch, some the right. I suspect that geometry inaccuracies may explain some of this.

What's different about the UK and import cars is that the UK cars have a rubber protection strip around the rear arches and imports don't.

When the suspension hits the bump stops, as it can with 5 passengers, the tyre can just catch this strip.

If you experience this often, I would suggest removing the rubber strip. If you want retain some protection of this face (imports have none and do not rust without it), then I would suggest fitting some black duck tape, 10mm wide, along this surface.

If you want us to fit this, we will do so free of charge.

I do not think this would affect the bodywork protection for two reasons. First, it is virtually impossible for stones to hit this area, it being alongside the area of tyre tread. Second, the rubber strip is likely to trap water, holding against the paint, instead of allowing it to naturally drain away.

 

Pete,

Thanks for the reply, and chatting to you!

If you still have the wheels, I may pick them up!

Cheers
Andy

 

Andy

This wheel is available from Subaru Dealers in ET52 which will not give this problem.

Mike

 

I've definitely had this problem on my RB5 PPP with four people in the car when cornering reasonably hard.

I assumed it was the rubber protection strip and wasn't too worried as I couldn't see any wheel/tyre/wheelarch damage. I noticed the other day that one of the protection stips had fallen off!!

Haven't noticed the noise since.....

Mike: is there any problem likely to be caused not having this protection strip in the rear wheelarches?

 

Kryten

Unless your car has suffered some damage or the rubber strip has been dislodged at some stage, then you should not have experienced it touching. You shouldn't have any problems with not having the strip there but it's worth keeping your eye on the lip to make sure it's not getting damaged by stone chips etc.

Mike

 

Thanks Mike, that explains the wheels at the Subaru dealers!

Kryten, I'm surprised the rubber strip has fallen off!!! It should be screwed down!!!

General note: To remove the rubber strip, pull it away from the lip, as you get near the bottom of the arch, near the rear door take care. Get a 10mm socket set, and undo the screw under the skirt. With this removed, pull the skirt down gently, and the rubber strip is released.

As for what to do in the furture, I've now removed the rubber strip, and need to some people in the back to try it out.

If everything is fine, I'm sticking with the SO2PP's at 215/40 R17, if not I'll give the P7000's a go at 205/45 R17. If it's still an issue, then maybe change the wheels, but we'll see!!

I'll let you all know how I get on.

Thanks for all the replies
Andy

 

Forgot to ask!!

Will resetting the geometery help?? I'm looking at having the bumpsteer removed (ala PowerStation) Will setting some camber (if it's possible) to the rears help?? Or will it completely screw up the handling???

Questions, questions!!!

I'm surprised that I'm the first to mention this, but it seems to be a can of worms!!!

How about getting two wheels from a Subaru dealer and putting those on the rear??? Will that mess up the handing, or at least create confusion when it comes to changing tyres!!!

Oh I don't know!!! Anybody want a set of anthracite ScoobySport wheels???

Confused (as ever!!)
Andy

 

Andy, I had the same when I fitted 215/40 x 17 falkens on Rimstock Monza's ET45. eventually it wore through the rubber of the rear wheel arch protectors which then started to fall off as the metal inside the strip rotted. Answer fit 205/45 tyres or get ET50-52 wheels or remove the protector strip.
Adge

 

I have the same problem with just myself in the car it sounds frightening when cornering hard at high speed.
The Mims are coming off on friday and being replaced with P1 wheels that should solve the problem. So I also have a set of well worn and battered 17" mims up for grabs.

 

Bob,

Did you not have this problem on your MY98??

Regards
Andy

 

I'm trying to work out in my own mind why my car doesn't do this although I know Pete has said that Imports seem to be OK.

I have the ALK and rear sway bar links fitted (stock springs/dampers) - maybe this is a contributing factor ?

If the rear sway bar links do solve the problem, this may be a better way of doing it (?)

Thanks

Gavin

 

Gavin... if you stuck the little rubber trim strips on, it may well do it.

Remove them and the tyres just cannot touch.

 

Andy/
No I did not have the rubbing problem on my MY98, But ever since I have had the Mims I have felt uneasy with the rear end.

 

Andy - Don't know if it will help with this particular problem, but I had the bumpsteer mod done at Powerstation yesterday and I highly recommend it. Steering feels slightly heavier and a lot more precise.

I'd say get it done anyway (Geometry too)

 

Gussie,

It was next on my list anyway, and yes I have noticed a slightly skittish back end (like Bob)

I'm hoping that the Powerstation mods will help calm it down a bit.

Andy

 

Had the P1 wheels fitted today and even with new P-zero's the car feels like its on rails the twitchy backend has now gone.

 

17s or 18s sir?

 

Second hand 17"