offset question

[sjk9671]

I have researched my butt off for this but came up empty handed.... My gst has eibach pros and 18s with 40mm offset. I corrected the camber with a camber alignment kit but now the stupid tires rub the fenders. what offset are you people running with this setup and not rubing!?

 

[jarero]

How wide is your wheel and what tire size are you running?

 

[wret]

Did you roll the fender flanges? What is your camber setting?

 

[sjk9671]

the rims are 18x7.5 with 225-40-18 federal tires. unfortunatly i am not sure of my camber setting. No i didnt roll the fenders and dont really want to. i just adjusted it so the tires wouldn't wear...factory setting maybe? Im hoping to just fix this stupid problem with new rims.

 

[wret]

You added too much camber. Take some spacers out.

 

[sjk9671]

well correct me if I'm wrong wont the camber still be slightly negative then? what camber setting would you recomend? I am using a +1.25-3.00 degree kit if that helps.

 

[eclipsegsx1736]

well correct me if I'm wrong wont the camber still be slightly negative then?

You want some negative camber. Camber isn't actually what wears your tires down. 90% of inner tire wear is from a bad alignment (toe). Messing with your ride height and camber will throw the toe setting off and cause tire wear. For you I'd say around -1* rear camber would be fine. It's better to have more front camber than rear.

 

[sjk9671]

ugh...this topic and bring on question followed by another for me Idk if my camber adjusters will go back that far.

 

[wret]

Idk if my camber adjusters will go back that far.

Sure they will. You and your shims caused the problem. Take some back out.

Edit: Wait a minute. Are you talking about the front or the back?

 

[sjk9671]

Both...

 

[wret]

Usually when a 2g is lowered a reasonable amount, as on Eibach Prokits, camber adjustment is necessary only in the rear and is done with shims or washers under the upper control arm. What you end up with is about -2° camber in the front and about -1.5° in the rear, giving nice, balanced handling and usually no tire/fender rubbing issues.

Now it seems you have over-corrected camber on both ends of the car. The rear is easy to fix by taking out some of the shims. The front may not be easy if you are at the minumum adjustment level of the correction kit (offset mounts?). Be sure they are in fact at the minimum. If they are and you still have rubbing, replace them with the stock control arm mounts.

Once you have the camber back to where it should be, proceed directly to the alignment shop.

 

[sjk9671]

alright that helps a little but im still curious what people are running for their rim offset with my setup? Feedback is sweet!

 

[TKW#13]

The fitment guide that I have shows
18x7.5 +38/+45
18x8 +38/+42
with tire widths of 225 or 235/40r18
I have 17x8 +35 Enkei RPF-1 on 1998 gst

 

[sjk9671]

ok but is your car lowerd with eibach pros and with corrected camber?

 

[wret]

It's not a combination specific parts that is causing your problem. It's a factor of suspension height, the amount of camber adjustment and wheel offset. +40mm is the offset recommended most because it centers the wheel, or more importantly the tire between the two obstacles; the knuckle and the fender. For those with more conservative tire sizes, an offsets higher than +40mm or okay. This places the tire closer to the knuckle and further from the fender.

There are three potential solutions to your problem, besides fender rolling:
1. Increase negative camber (undo your adjustments). -2° front, -1.5° rear is good
2. Decrease tire width
3. Increase offset (new wheels)

 

[sjk9671]

so im asuming that the only way i can tell where the camber is, is to bring it to an alignment shop?

 

[wret]

Harbor Freight used to have these for a few bucks. I'm not sure if they still carry them.

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[sjk9671]

whats it called?

 

[spyderturbo007]

It's called a Strut Alignment Level.