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2008 strut rubbing rear tire

C

cumminstinkerer

New member
Hello all,
Just replaced both rear struts on my wifes base model GP, struts match to the originals except for springs are about a 1/4" shorter, I did not replace or rotate tires when i did this. I also replaced both rear lateral arms as the were bent. now my issue is the left tire contacts the strut just on the very inside edge of the tire and only randomly. when the car is sitting there is about a 1/8 clearance between the tire and the lower spring bracket, the right side has a solid half to three quarters of inch of clearance. I'm wondering if there is an adjustment i missed or something else to look at. The new struts were not slotted on either bolt for adjustment. any ideas would be a large help. Thank you
 


Yes both of sides and I adjusted them to as close as I could to original length after mostly straightening the bends in them. I know i don't have the toe in correct cuz it drive likes pooh but its close and makes no difference with tire clearance no matter where I adjust the left one too.
 
Ok.. trying to remember more how it's together (been a little bit).

Jack up that side.. loosen both lower strut bolts and move the part of the tire rubbing away from the strut. Then tighten them. Clearly you need an alignment and are probably going to do that as soon as it's not rubbing.
 
You've got it as for the alignment, there isn't much for wiggle room in those struts on the lower bolts but it may be enough, the right side was very close after initial install and I had a panic attack thinking I installed them on the wrong sides but investigated on sunday and they are correct and to complicate matters when I put that side back together now I have good clearance so there may be some wiggle room. Ill give that a shot.
 


i recommend an alignment shop asap so to not kill your tires if your driving it.

buy camber bolts, install them before going to the shop if they wont move off the strut. slotting works, but the bolts are nicer. seems like both sides need em.

and on top of that, the 04 up cars tend to wear the inside of the rear tires out due to the camber being off. camber bolts fix that.
 
Gotta get the sway bar link on that side too before i take it in plus gotta save a bit of cash up, i can tweak the toe in around pretty good with a tape just didn't have any help the other night, the camber i can get pretty close too a buddy has gauges from when he raced, ill try and get some bolts the tweak stuff around to get me by till we can pay the shop to align
 
Its kinda a pizz poor design not being able to adjust them. let me tell ya it was a fun ten mile drive to work this morning on snow covered roads, not bad under power but coasting the butt wanted to out run the front got me good and awake for work. Its odd that the original struts had lots of room and these don't have any must be jus a smidge different between the spring plate and the bolt holes but so small its hard to measure. Original ones made it over 300,000 so maybe i wont have to do em again
 


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