Thread: HELP! lowering problem

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ok, here it is. I have a 1948 chevy truck with a 1989 firebird subframe. When I got the truck it had 1/2 ton truck springs in it. ROUGH ride and it was too high (for me anyway) I got a set of stock springs for a 1989 firebird and put them in. The front came down just where I want it but the tires are rubbing the fenders now. The tires I have on it are 235/75/15 with a (I think) 8 inch rim maybe a 10 inch but realy think its a 8 inch. I havent driven it except to straighten the truck out in the garage so the wife could park her car so I dont know if its going to float when I go down the road. 1. What can I do to make the tires not rub and 2. what about the floating issue (if there is one)? And 3. I cant afford air bags so dont say it. Smaller tires will get me lower and the bumper is like 6 & 1/2 inches off the ground now. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I have to say it looks BAAADDD AZZZZ with the front down and the rear up.

Not enough info . . .

Where do the tires rub? Inside of fender, outside of fender, inside of fender at the top of the tire?

What does your front end alignment look like? If you dropped the car that far, the alignment has to be way out. Do the tires tip in or out at the top or are they straight up and down?

What the heck is float?

Unless the alignment solves the problem, you have to raise the car up somewhat. There are rubber spacers that you can put in the lower spring pocket that will raise them up somewhat.

http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...spring+spacers

Click on Mr. Gasket MRG-1285

I can't provide more without information on what's really happening.

The tires are rubbing at lets say 10 to 11 oclock and 1 to 2 oclock. They are rubbing at where the tred begins on the tire on the outrside. As far as alignment, I had no idea that would throw the alignment off. I use to race stockcars and never had to do the alignment when changing springs so I didnt think of that. I looked and the tires seem to be fairley straight. No negative or positive camber. Floating is where the car bounces like a boat when driveing when you have too soft spring in it. I have a bunch of spring rubbers in the shed from the old race car days. I think thats what you recomended from Mr. Gasket. Thanks for the link! Anything else I can try?

Originally posted by K9 48 Chevy
The tires are rubbing at lets say 10 to 11 oclock and 1 to 2 oclock. They are rubbing at where the tred begins on the tire on the outrside. As far as alignment, I had no idea that would throw the alignment off. I use to race stockcars and never had to do the alignment when changing springs so I didnt think of that. I looked and the tires seem to be fairley straight. No negative or positive camber. Floating is where the car bounces like a boat when driveing when you have too soft spring in it. I have a bunch of spring rubbers in the shed from the old race car days. I think thats what you recomended from Mr. Gasket. Thanks for the link! Anything else I can try?

you fix the floating with shocks. sounds like you need a smaller tire, and if you droped it down with springs you need a realignment.

I got the smaller tires and the rubbing is gone and I did get new shocks but haven't put them on yet. Now with the new tires on it sets 4 inches off teh groung so I have to raise it a bit but the wife and babay and i went for a ride last night and drug teh bumper once but it rides real nice and smooth, no pulling or anything. Thanks for the help!