67 tire rubbing help

[Henry S.]

/In the past year or so I've been trying to restore the 67 and getting it ready to get judged. Didn't do the frame off version and since this was my first "restoration" attempted I've tried to learn as I go. I'm now having some problems with front tires rubbing when turning that I didn't have before I started. A little history, I changed the front shocks to the correct Delco replacements. Also took off the steering components, tie rods and sway bar to clean/paint and replaced aftermarket bolts and nuts with correct ones. Did take it in to a reputable shop to have the front end realigned after doing this. I also have an incorrect 9 leaf rear spring so I was thinking of ordering one from Easton along with a new set of front springs hoping that will take care of the tire rubbing. The front springs on it now have the correct 12 coils. Any other ideas I should be looking at for the tire rubbing issue? I am running Tiger Paw radials (205/75/R15) on repo bolt-ons. But getting ready to change to redline radials with DC ralleys.

[Dan H.]

Re: 67 tire rubbing help

Henry, does it 'rub' in one direction or both? Assume it rubs when turning. Had that happen due to steering not 'centered' with the tie rods/steering column allowing it to turn too far in one direction. Just a guess, hope you find your problem.
Dan

[William C.]

Re: 67 tire rubbing help

What size tires and wheel combination are you using and where does the tire rub?

[Henry S.]

Re: 67 tire rubbing help

Henry, does it 'rub' in one direction or both? Assume it rubs when turning. Had that happen due to steering not 'centered' with the tie rods/steering column allowing it to turn too far in one direction. Just a guess, hope you find your problem.
Dan

Dan, thanks for the reply. The driver side seems to be rubbing in the front of the fender when turning left. The passenger side seems to rub on the bolt/screw that holds the side pipe bracket to the fender well.

[Henry S.]

Re: 67 tire rubbing help

What size tires and wheel combination are you using and where does the tire rub?

Thanks Bill for your response. The wheels are the 15" bolt on reproduction by Western and the tire size is 205/75/R15 radials which i believe is equivilent sizewise to what came on it. Drivers side rubs on the front fender lip and passenger rubs by the bolt holding side pipe bracket on as far as i can tell.

[William C.]

Re: 67 tire rubbing help

the 205/75/15 is actually a little wider in cross-section than the original 6:70 and the 6 inch rim (I'm assuming "Knockoff" style) just works against you at the same time. Just for fun, measure the backspacing of the new rims and your originals, and see how much the center of the tire has moved outboard with this setup.

[Brian M.]

Re: 67 tire rubbing help

The 205/75 shouldn't be a problem, the 67's had 775

the 205/75/15 is actually a little wider in cross-section than the original 6:70 and the 6 inch rim (I'm assuming "Knockoff" style) just works against you at the same time. Just for fun, measure the backspacing of the new rims and your originals, and see how much the center of the tire has moved outboard with this setup.

[John H.]

Re: 67 tire rubbing help

Henry -

The issue shouldn't be related to the tires or wheels - the 205/75-15 is the same nominal diameter as the original 7.75-15, and the repro bolt-on wheel is the same rim width and offset as the steel rally wheel. I have Diamond Back 205/75-15 (Firestone Supreme Si) radials on repro bolt-ons on my '67, and have had no rubbing issues at all, in spite of those tires having tread width about 1" wider than typical reproduction 205/75 radials.

With the front wheels in the straight-ahead position, I have 2" horizontal clearance from the tire tread to the wheel opening flange on the parking light panel on the passenger side, and 1-7/8" on the driver's side.

[Henry S.]

Re: 67 tire rubbing help

Henry -

The issue shouldn't be related to the tires or wheels - the 205/75-15 is the same nominal diameter as the original 7.75-15, and the repro bolt-on wheel is the same rim width and offset as the steel rally wheel. I have Diamond Back 205/75-15 (Firestone Supreme Si) radials on repro bolt-ons on my '67, and have had no rubbing issues at all, in spite of those tires having tread width about 1" wider than typical reproduction 205/75 radials.

With the front wheels in the straight-ahead position, I have 2" horizontal clearance from the tire tread to the wheel opening flange on the parking light panel on the passenger side, and 1-7/8" on the driver's side.

Thanks John,

I appreciate your input. From one of your earlier posts I remembered you had the Diamond Back redline radials and the 205/75/15 radial was the same diameter as the 7.75/15 the 67's came out with. Seeing some of the posts about the Coker tires I called Diamond Back this week. He said alot of the guys were going with the Firestone Supremes as you had. With the way the lettering is on the Firestone sidewalls DB is able to add the redlines without grinding off the lettering which he said isn't the case with most other brands. I've always had good luck with Firestones and that was what I was leaning towards. I'll check the distance between the tread and parking light panel when I head over to the shop later today to see how close they are to your measurements.

Do you think weak front springs could be the reason for the tire rubbing? If so how tough are they to change? Bill had mentioned the backspacing on the repo wheels but I didn't think that was the problem since they came with the car when I bought it. Anything I took off like the tie rods, steering, sway bar, etc I marked and measured so it was put back in the same position it was before. Again, I appreciate all suggestions.

[Gerard F.]

Re: 67 tire rubbing help

Shooter,

I had the same rubbing problem with Coker 205/75/15's on my 67, mainly drivers side and after new front springs.

Here's how I resolved it:

1. Had the front caster maxed out to 2.5 degrees. I'm running with power steering.

2. Changed and adjusted the front bumper brace on the rubbing side.

Some years ago, I had a little parking lot accident, mainly due to the lousy parking brake not working. The front bumpers were hit, and the inner brace on the driver side was slightly bent. At the time, I had a set of Michelins on it, which didn't make any difference in the rubbing. But when I put the Cokers on, I noticed the front driver's side rubbing on turns.

The bend in the inner bumper brace had put a rearward stress to the outside of driver's side fender. You would be surprized how really flexible fiberglass is under constant stress.

Well, I went to a new inner brace and when I put it on, I made sure that the stress on the fender was in the opposite direction (forward).

Never had the problem again. So my solution was either 1. or 2. above.

Happy New Year,

[Henry S.]

Re: 67 tire rubbing help

Shooter,

I had the same rubbing problem with Coker 205/75/15's on my 67, mainly drivers side and after new front springs.

Here's how I resolved it:

1. Had the front caster maxed out to 2.5 degrees. I'm running with power steering.

2. Changed and adjusted the front bumper brace on the rubbing side.

Some years ago, I had a little parking lot accident, mainly due to the lousy parking brake not working. The front bumpers were hit, and the inner brace on the driver side was slightly bent. At the time, I had a set of Michelins on it, which didn't make any difference in the rubbing. But when I put the Cokers on, I noticed the front driver's side rubbing on turns.

The bend in the inner bumper brace had put a rearward stress to the outside of driver's side fender. You would be surprized how really flexible fiberglass is under constant stress.

Well, I went to a new inner brace and when I put it on, I made sure that the stress on the fender was in the opposite direction (forward).

Never had the problem again. So my solution was either 1. or 2. above.

Happy New Year,

Hmmm, thanks Jerry. I did take the bumpers off and had them re-chromed. That could be one of the problems I suppose if I didn't get the braces adjusted just right. In my background check of the 67 I found one of the previous owners (John Zelenko) had a shop called "Corvette Collision by DJ" in Flint. John mentioned he bought the car from a kid that brought it in with passenger door damage and John ended up owning the car for about 20 years. It could have had some fender or bumper damage also but I couldn't tell by looking at it. I will take the braces back off and see if I can tell if they are bent.

Well jerry, it's a nice brisk 12 degrees here in Central Illinois today definitely NOT Corvette weather, hope it's better out there in sunny California and you can get the 67 out for a spin!!
Take care,
Shooter