2nd Generation - 15" Wheels Clearance Problems

[Neal_J]

Can't locate definitive answer using Search so here goes.

Installed a set of 255-60-15 tires on 15x7 (4.5" backspace4.75" bs) Mag500 wheels in place of stock 14" wheels up front today.  Tires rubbed immediately.  Front tires hit the steering linkage.  

Back left tire rubs too when turning right (275-60-15 on 15x7 with 5" b.s.).  4.75" bs)

CORRECTION:  ALL 4 WHEELS MEASURE 4.75" BS

Totally stock ride height.

Any insights welcome. Thanks!~

[chargerbr549]

There are several guys on here that have run that tire size (255/60/15) with no problems but i'm not sure what backspace they used, I think member Charger 1970 has them on the front of his car.

Kevin

[Neal_J]

Man, that's what I'd feared - it's the wheels & not the tires.  Dammit!~

Funny, I bought them from another 69 Charger owner who ran them with no problem.

Dammit!~

[chargerbr549]

Where were the tires rubbing at? I am running 245/60/15 tires on my 69 Charger with 15x7 wheels with 3.750 backspace and it all clears very nicely, my ride height is about an inch or so lower than stock plus I have the cordoba 11 3/4 disc rotors and A-body spindles on front which I have heard might change the backspace required on the wheels, I think 4.250 backspace would be closest I could do before the wheel hits the upper control arm.

Kevin

[Mike DC]

The first problem is usually the tires hitting the front subframe rails at the back inside edge of the tire.  Like behind the steering linkage.   

[Neal_J]

I pulled all the wheels tires off in disgust with myself last night but plan to put them on again tonight to reevaluate what's hitting, where and hopefully determine/correct why.  

The fronts appeared to be hitting the steering linkage while the driver's rear seemed to be scraping the inner wheelhouse only on right turns.   WTH??

What I can't understand is what, like an idiot, must I be missing?  The previous owner and LOTS of others in old threads have run these same tires/wheels with no problem.

Damn, it's frustrating being such a fool...

GRRRR!~

[Rolling_Thunder]

tolerances on older cars are not like newer cars - sometimes the tires rub in weird places because they are just variations in the build process - cars may have been hit - bent frame rails - or just plain bad luck ----   

[chargerbr549]

When I put on my 295/50/15 tires on the rear with 5.5 inch backspacing the tires would want to rub on inner wheel well in turns but I cured that problem when I installed an addco 7/8" rear sway bar. Now I am going to put in new poly rear spring bushings to tighten it up further.

Kevin

[Neal_J]

Could only check the rears tonight.  I was hoping that perhaps I'd installed installed the rears on the front and vice-versa but, alas, not. 

On the left side, clearance between the inner tire and the inner wheel well is about 1/2" while it's closer to 3/4" on the right side.  Can't imagine there would be much difference in the tire dimensions, so I guess my car got hit on one side at some point...

[68 RT]

You need 4.25 back space wheels. I have 245/60/15 on 15x7 and have no rubbing issues.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

You need 4.25 back space wheels. I have 245/60/15 on 15x7 and have no rubbing issues.

  I run 255/60/15's with 15 x7's 4.25 BS on all 4 corners with no issues...

[Neal_J]

Thanks Chris.  

That would explain why the back is rubbing (5" bs vs. 4.5") but the explanation would seem to exaccerbate the fronts, where with only 4" bs I'm hitting the steering linkage.

I'm wondering how the previous owner of the wheels ran them on a stock 69 hemi Charger.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Can't locate definitive answer using Search so here goes.

Installed a set of 255-60-15 tires on 15x7 (4.5" backspace) Mag500 wheels in place of stock 14" wheels up front today.  Tires rubbed immediately.  Back left tire rubs too when turning right (275-60-15 with 5" b.s.).  Totally stock ride height.

Any insights welcome. Thanks!~

Thanks Chris. 

That would explain why the back is rubbing (5" bs vs. 4.5") but the explanation would seem to exaccerbate the fronts, where with only 4" bs I'm hitting the steering linkage.

I'm wondering how the previous owner of the wheels ran them on a stock 69 hemi Charger.

Neal in your orig post you stated you have 4.5" in the front?  That would cause the rim to sit .25" closer to the frame no?

[Neal_J]

Yep Chris, you are correct.  I made a typo.  Moreover, following two nights of utter disgust, I remeasured the front wheels again tonight and the offset is more like 4.75" up front. I suspect that all four are the same.

At this point, I don't think even 1/2" wheel spacers will cure my problem.   Out back maybe, but not up front.  

I'm sure wondering how the prevsious owner ran these wheels on his 69 Charger without any issues...

Woe is me.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Crap

[TylerCharger69]

You need 4.25 back space wheels. I have 245/60/15 on 15x7 and have no rubbing issues.

That's exactly what I'm running!!!   No problems!!!

[Neal_J]

Thanks Tyler & everyone for your helpful comments.

I installed all 4 wheels again this afternoon & the unholy racket they made up front at less than 5 mph was unbelievebale.   Both the UCA and LCA hit the inside lip of the rim, regardless of whether I'm driving straight or turning.   I will post pics later after my blood pressure drops below 200.  

Oh, an the rears scrape too whenever I turn.   Just swell!~

I suppose my only options are (1) to try 1/2" billet spacers, or (2) just sell these wheels and find some 15" wheels with less backspace.

Dammit, dammit, dammit.  

Neal

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Man, that's what I'd feared - it's the wheels & not the tires.  Dammit!~

Funny, I bought them from another 69 Charger owner who ran them with no problem.

Dammit!~

No fork in way that was possible without spacers of some sort.....

[Neal_J]

Yea, totally agree, Chris.

On the positive, I went and looked at a friend's 68 Charger today.  He runs 15x7 wheels on all 4 corners with about 1/2 inch of clearance between his front suspension and the wheel.  He didn't know his backspacing offhand but has no problem with rubbing - front or back.

Soooo, next weekend I plan to go Mr. Wizard and use some stacks of washers to test whether 1/2 spacer will get the job done and allow me to torque the lugs.  No sense ordering a pair of $70 spacers from Jegs yet when washers are free.

Fingers crossed.  I sure hope it works because I really like the look.

[Neal_J]

For posterity, here are the permutations I tried of brushed vs. polished trim rings in combination with spinners or Mopar centers.   Initially, I'd planned on brushed rings with spinners but opted for the stock look instead.  Cheers~

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

I take it you got the brushed rings like I got from Summit?  I think they look much better than the polished.  I see your spokes are brushed/painted as well.....is this a Ford wheel?  Might explain the backspacing as well....

[Neal_J]

Yes & yes. 

After I got your recommendation, I bought 1 brushed ring & 1 spinner from Summit and looked at all the combinations.  In the end, I preferred the stock look & bought 4 more (I like the look of a matching spare).  Thanks for the advice, amigo!~

Most defifinitely a Phord wheel, dated Jul-84.

After a couple of hours of searching, I found the phone number of theguy who sold me the wheels.  I'm going to call him today to ask if he ran spacers but maybe forgot to tell me.  More importantly, I'm interested if 1/2" depth worked OK without rubbing.

[Chatt69chgr]

I'm planning on having one set of "stock" steel 15 inch rims with dog dish hub caps for my 69.  I had a 69 C body that had 15 inch rims and thought these were 15X7 but they were not.  They were 15X6.  I found a website that shows and older 15X7 steel wheel and a newer 15X7 steel wheel.  I never could find any of the older types in my local junkyards but found quite a few of the newer type.  I have attached photos of the two types.  The newer type seemed to be used up until around 1980 or so.  I got 9 rims and ended up with 4 good ones and one good enough for a spare.  The rest were bent.  They are all plainly stamped inside with 15X7 on them.  Now for the question.  Does anyone know what the backspacing is on these?  I hope it's 4.25 inch since from what I have read that's what I need for my 69 charger.  How do you measure the backspacing?  Do you just lay a straightedge across the back of the rim and measure down to the hub mounting surface?

[Neal_J]

Lay a straightedge across the back of the rim.  Use a tape to measure the distance from the back of the lug mounting surface to the straightedge. 

[autoxcuda]

Neal, what brake/spindle setup are you running?

With the 73-76 A/E-body disk spindle swap 4.5" backspacing should be about the most you can run with stock upper control arms. The only other place you may hit with a wide front tire is the 69 wide style front sway bar. Only when the whee is cranked. On a 70 and up narror sway bar this  is not an issue.

Of the shelf 15x8 magnums and rallyes are 4.5 backspacing. Sort of tought to get 4.75 because of where most out rim halves have the drop in the center. Where your rims custom made?