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Drop Spindles, Chromies, Tires Rub

I bought a 1960 bug, with 2.5 drop spindles on the front. It has 4 lug chromies all around, newer tranny, and 185/65/15 Potenza tires..

The front fenders have cracks on the underside from the tires rubbing. I can drive all day without much of a problem. Add a light guest, and hit a bump.. I hear something rub. Add a guest and a full tank of gas, then the bump.. and you know it rubs. Add a passenger in the front and back, then hit the brakes.. and think you are dieing.. something rubs really loud.

I know this is an odd tire.. They stick out about 1/2 an inch from the fenders.. Some people may reccomend a skinny tire.. some a lower profile..

What do you think? Has anyone had this problem, and cured it with a set of 155/15's? or did you cure it with a lower profile 50 etc??.. I just want the vehicl to look it's best. I'm scared if I go with too skinny of a tire that it may not look so good. Will it be too skinny for the rim?

Reply to
payments338
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You need to get narrowed beam, drop spindels do make your front end track wider by an inch or two. This also means that you will need to get correct length tierods...

same story here, i have drop splindles AND narrowed beam still get some rubbing on the edge of the tire.

ant> I bought a 1960 bug, with 2.5 drop spindles on the front. It has 4 lug

Reply to
anton

the problem with lowering is rubbing is nearly always a problem...either on the fender with stock beam, or on the wheelwell with a narrowed beam....folks with balljoint beams have adjustable stops at the steering box. it can be adjusted to stop the rubbing....this does, however, limit your turning radius....(i know this doesn't help the OP)....i narrowed my beam 5 1/4 inches to compensate for wheels with too much negative offset and dropped spindles....i can tuck the tires upfront(not that you can turn much like that) but i do have rubbing on the inner wheelwell..... heck mine rubs the headlight bucket and the body at the top of the fender too.....

Reply to
Joey Tribiani

More info has been found. When I had a passenger.. I tried to stick my finger between the wheel and fender. Just fit. When the passenger left and I checked a day or two later.. still the same gap. The other side has 2 inches of gap.. I pulled up that side and dropped it back down.. and it stayed up 2 inches.. bad shock???

Joey Tribiani wrote:

Reply to
payments338

first grease the front beam....years of no proper maintenance can cause binding and stiffness in pivot points.

Reply to
Joey Tribiani

Thanks! I will try that. I just bought it Dec. It came from VA. I haven't greased anything.

Joey Tribiani wrote:

Reply to
payments338

Reply to
anton

Hmmm, is it the same at the back? If it is then levelling the rear by adjusting the splines on one side will sort out the front.

-Steve

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Reply to
Phatman

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