Help... Just installed Hotchkis 3" kit and rubbing bad

[DannyBoy]

Just installed along with Hotchkis' new SPS 1.5 Aluminum bodied shocks and the ride and handling are amazing... Absolutely night and day compared to the previous set up! Plus, it looks awesome!

However, I am having a serious issue with bottoming out on my fenders when hitting any kind of bump in the road... I figured this would be an issue so, immediately after putting on the new suspension, off to get an alignment I went. The specs I went with are -1 Camber, 2.5 Caster and 1/16" toe in. Thought that would solve the problem... Wrong!! It's no better than it was before.


Thus, my question - Can someone give me some advice on how to remedy this issue? Do I need more camber? I really thought this adjustment would be enough but it's like I did nothing. Aside from the fact that the car now drives straight as an arrow and handles like hell (being the positive of said alignment), I can't drive down the road without white knuckling it, waiting for the next bottom-out!


Thanks, in advance, for your help


PS - Running 18 X 8.0" front wheels with 4.5" BS.


Danny

[71RS/SS396]

Just installed along with Hotchkis' new SPS 1.5 Aluminum bodied shocks and the ride and handling are amazing... Absolutely night and day compared to the previous set up! Plus, it looks awesome!

However, I am having a serious issue with bottoming out on my fenders when hitting any kind of bump in the road... I figured this would be an issue so, immediately after putting on the new suspension, off to get an alignment I went. The specs I went with are -1 Camber, 2.5 Caster and 1/16" toe in. Thought that would solve the problem... Wrong!! It's no better than it was before.


Thus, my question - Can someone give me some advice on how to remedy this issue? Do I need more camber? I really thought this adjustment would be enough but it's like I did nothing. Aside from the fact that the car now drives straight as an arrow and handles like hell (being the positive of said alignment), I can't drive down the road without white knuckling it, waiting for the next bottom-out!


Thanks, in advance, for your help


PS - Running 18 X 8.0" front wheels with 4.5" BS.


Danny

What car? Camaro, Mustang, Nova, Chevelle......? Sounds like your backspacing is wrong on your wheels to me.

[DannyBoy]

What car? Camaro, Mustang, Nova, Chevelle......? Sounds like your backspacing is wrong on your wheels to me.

Whoops, suppose that's an important detail... It's a 67 Camaro. The wheels I'm running I've seen run on several other 67-68s without issues. Photo attached.

[71RS/SS396]

I'm going to assume the above pic is before you installed the springs? Just because others have used those wheels and backspacing without issue doesn't mean they will work with your car. Brake packages and ride height impact the backspacing requirements.

[DannyBoy]

I'm going to assume the above pic is before you installed the springs? Just because others have used those wheels and backspacing without issue doesn't mean they will work with your car. Brake packages and ride height impact the backspacing requirements.

That's actually a photo I took the day after putting the new suspension on but before doing the alignment. I just looked at my front brakes (which were on the car when I bought it) and they look like they have some kind of built in spacer on them... Never noticed that before!

[71RS/SS396]

That's actually a photo I took the day after putting the new suspension on but before doing the alignment. I just looked at my front brakes (which were on the car when I bought it) and they look like they have some kind of built in spacer on them... Never noticed that before!

That spacer may be required for the brakes you have or for the wheels to clear the calipers. Time to do some investigating to see what your options may be. Are the shocks properly valved for your springs? Are they adjustable?

[DannyBoy]

That spacer may be required for the brakes you have or for the wheels to clear the calipers. Time to do some investigating to see what your options may be. Are the shocks properly valved for your springs? Are they adjustable?

Seems to me the calipers would be about flush with the rotor hat... Just looks odd. See attached photos.

Thanks for your help

[rickpaw]

Assuming you have stock suspension, wheels with 4.875" back spacing will work much better. You may want to try thinner wheel spacer to increase the back spacing. I had 4.5" bs wheel before and it rubbed badly.

Also, I wouldn't run that much of a spacer (spacers in this case), but it's just my opinion.

[DannyBoy]

Pardon my name ignorance in this matter, but are these spacers? I've never seen spacers like this before and, if they are spacers, I have no clue how to remove them...

[Rod]

that is not a spacer that's a factory replacement brake rotor they have that step on them.....ok looks like you have a 69 camaro brake setup so the width is fine and 4.5 backspace sounds correct for and 8 inch wheel...so I would guess too wide a tire...a 245 usually doesn't rub a 255 most times will rub, I would make sure the body/frame mounts are ok if there crushed or worn out the the frame and body will sit to close to each other and you loose tire clearance, if the frame mounts are good, and you have the 245/30-18 tire and still rub...you will have to do some inner fender well modifications

[DannyBoy]

that is not a spacer that's a factory replacement brake rotor they have that step on them.....ok looks like you have a 69 camaro brake setup so the width is fine and 4.5 backspace sounds correct for and 8 inch wheel...so I would guess too wide a tire...a 245 usually doesn't rub a 255 most times will rub, I would make sure the body/frame mounts are ok if there crushed or worn out the the frame and body will sit to close to each other and you loose tire clearance, if the frame mounts are good, and you have the 245/30-18 tire and still rub...you will have to do some inner fender well modifications

Thanks for the response, Rod. I'm actually only running a 235 tire... And my body mounts are relatively new polys. Now, you said I have a 69 Camaro brake setup - Isn't the 69 about 3/4" wider that the 67-68 on either side?

[MarkM66]

What is the tire hitting? The bolts that fasten the fender to the inner fender? You can replace those with button head bolts.

Wheels need more backspacing to really fix it. At that height, I don't think you'll do any damage unless you're really hitting some bumps!

[DannyBoy]

What is the tire hitting? The bolts that fasten the fender to the inner fender? You can replace those with button head bolts.

Wheels need more backspacing to really fix it. At that height, I don't think you'll do any damage unless you're really hitting some bumps!

The bolt is definitely being hit, yes, but it seems like it's actually contacting the inner edge of the fender as I noticed paint rubbed off right around one of those bolts.

Would adding another .5 degree negative camber possibly help, ya think?

[MarkM66]

Yeah, I think it would help some. I'd swap that bolt for a button head.

Measure the base of the lug seat to the wheel mount face. If it's really think (which I doubt) you can have some material shaved off to gain some more backspacing. I like 5.25"-5.5".

[andrewb70]

Also, double check the backspacing of your wheels.

Andrew

[DannyBoy]

Really appreciate everyone's insight!

Yeah, I think it would help some. I'd swap that bolt for a button head.

Measure the base of the lug seat to the wheel mount face. If it's really think (which I doubt) you can have some material shaved off to gain some more backspacing. I like 5.25"-5.5".

Considering just doing the Willwood upgrade I was planning for the future now, if it will help with the height of this rotor hat. Does anyone know if the Willwood kits provide less of a step in them?

Also, double check the backspacing of your wheels.

Andrew

I checked and it's accurate at 4.5"

[markss28]

Wow! The thickness on the face of that rotor looks huge. I'd check with Tobin at Kore 3 to see if that could be a reason and if he has something that's better than what u have. Just a thought

[DannyBoy]

Wow! The thickness on the face of that rotor looks huge. I'd check with Tobin at Kore 3 to see if that could be a reason and if he has something that's better than what u have. Just a thought

I just checked with him and he said they are stock. Still, the tires are so damn close to the fenders...

[MCB Matt]

More backspace or a narrower wheel.... This is a VERY common issue we see all the time.

Its hard to get that much wheel/tire under a lowered 67/68

They will typically always rub on the bolts, those should be swapped for button heads for sure but the true solution is going to be a deeper offset wheel. IMO

Matt

[DannyBoy]

More backspace or a narrower wheel.... This is a VERY common issue we see all the time.

Its hard to get that much wheel/tire under a lowered 67/68

They will typically always rub on the bolts, those should be swapped for button heads for sure but the true solution is going to be a deeper offset wheel. IMO

Matt

Thanks for the response, Matt. You are probably the perfect person for me to ask this question - I measured the distance from the face of the rotor to the face of the hub (wheel mounting surface) and it came out to 2". Do you know if that is really the distance between these two points for a factory 1967 Camaro front disc brake?