xenon_194

I have a '99 Civic Sedan and its been dropped with Eibach Pro-Kit (1.5 front, 1/3 rear) and KYB AGX and I also installed a front strut bar. After installing the springs/shocks, I got an alignment job done as well. The car rides wonderfully, handeling is okay, considering my tires are pretty worn, but I have this problem of rubbing. If I'm taking a curve at the posted speed limit and I hit a pot hole or bump, the front tires rub depending on what side I turn (turn left, Driver side does, if I turn right, passengers' does). So I have to slow down slower than speed limit to take a curve <-- not what I expected dropping my car, should be the opposite. Also, this one street I always travel on, there is a dip in the street, the both tires rub at the same time there too? I don't think this is common, also with stock wheels, I worry about upgrading to rims. Is there any chance something is wrong or could be fixed or is this just normal? Thanks

Cynikal.Mindset

is it the front or rear tires that rub? and where does it rub inside or outside of tire?

most cars dont rub with stock size rubber guessing 185/60/14 or 195/50/15 those shouldnt rub on stock wheels

xenon_194

They are 185/60/14, and I haven't been able to tell exactly if its the inside or outside, but I'm guessing its like this as the tire goes up, it goes up in a / direction into the fenderwall, and the outer-top edge rubs? <-- this shouldn't be happening, I know, but what could be the problem, cars aligned to factory specs and aftermarket springs(only 1.5 inch drop_ and shocks are installed.

imported_BoOsTd

Camber kit yes / no?

xenon_194

No, camber kits weren't required, the spring/alignment shop was able to fix the camber w/o a kit cuz it wasn't that out...

lordm

is your fender liner loose or hanging low?
also you could put some white shoes polish around the outside of you tire to see exactly where its hiting. see when it rubs it rubs the polish into the fender so you can get a better idea on whats going on. good luck

xenon_194

Thanx, I'll give the polish a try to get an exact location and as for the fender, no they are perfectly intact.

Cynikal.Mindset

the alignment shop prolly gave you too much camber or somethin so the tires rub when u hit a bump (if its the the outside rubbing)

lordm

he is right and the best way is to take a carpenters level and hold it up to you tire and see where the water buble is.
if it sits outside of the center you have 2 much positive camber and if it site inside towards the motor there is 2 much negative camber. i use this method to adjust my rear wheels.

imported_gatherer

what are you shock settings at?

xenon_194

The sheet I got from the alignment shop - Alchins (for those who live in Windsor) and here is what it says:


Front ______ Left/Right

Min Camber: -1.00/-1.00
Max Camber: +1.00/+1.00
Actual Camber: -0.76/-0.93

Min Caster: 0.**/0.**
Max Caster: 2.**/2.**
Actual Caster: 0.30/0.31

Min Toe: -0.04/-0.04
Max Toe: 0.12/0.12
Actual Toe: -0.2/0.09

Set Back: 0.03/---

Inc Angle: 19.37/11.21

SAI: 20.13/12.14

Min Total Front Toe: ---/-0.08
Max Total Front Toe: ---/0.25
Actual Total Front Toe: ---/0.07

*Note* all these values are in degrees, the Min/Max are what they are in factory specs, actual is what I have.

I've noticed the left wheel to give me more problem than the right....

I know, but you are supposed to have some negative camber, even in stock/factory settings have some form of negative settings, the numbers above tell you exactly how much.

I thought before if I played around with the settings, it would make a difference, it does, but does not prevent rubbing, so currently I have them on 2 in front & 4 in the back, but I've tried highest/lowest settings....

imported_gatherer

you actually paid for that alignment????? god thats a horrible job all mismatched from side to side ...

as for the settings try it again on the highest seting all round.... then try it all on the lowest setting ... follow the same path around the side streets making both left and right turns and obeying the laws of the road. which is better? (while niether should solve the issue it should help figure out whats wrong one will have less rubbing then the other)

I suspect you shocks arn't dampening enough of your spring rates are too low... the springs are installed correctly right? rear ones on the rear and front ones on the front?

xenon_194

I'll try changing the shock settings and experiment with it a little more. Apparently that was the best they could get it at w/o the use of camber kits, but since they are in spec should they not be okay? As for the springs being installed, yes they are cuz the car's stance is correct.

imported_gatherer

yes ok thats fine that that is the closest to stock they can get but if one side goes to -0.5 and the other side can only go to -0.7 you back the other side off so that they are both -0.7 so they are equal

xenon_194

so from the sounds of it, a camber kit and realignment would be the best bet?

imported_gatherer

yes at a shop that can do it right

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

I'd like to see where it rubs first... could be just snow in your wheelwell

what wheels do you have?

xenon, you ever seen that purple 99-00 sedan with the WW lip kit (I think) - thing is so clean!

xenon_194

Hey B, ahhh snow, completely forgot about that *looks outside and see the massive 0.0001 inch of snow outside*, thats teh problem..... lol....

I have stock sedan wheels, 185/60/14's

yeah seen that guy, I've seen him near the U and around LaSalle, it is real clean....I think he has a WW kit all around. Not sure yet who drives it though.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

werd... your rubbing problem has to be the wierdest thing ever... stock wheels, reasonable drop, undersized tires (unless you meant 65, not 60)... I dun get it.

when I had this problem, it was too low of an offset (38 I think) and it behaved exactly the same as yours... and I was dropped all the way on Ground Controls 3 or 4 years ago.

I was gonna go to that Alchin place with my Saturn, and now I'm not gunna

xenon_194

yeah, I gotta get someone to look at it, you busy this weekend, LOL....

damnit, ur learning off me about all the alignment shops, first how I got fooked with Windsor Springs, and now Alchins who can't match numbers...LOL....