Issue with rear suspension
 

So I have an issue with my 2015. I just put gram lights on. 18x8.5 +37 with factory TRD springs. 235/40/18.

Drivers side rubs. Took it to my friend who’s a suspension guy and we put it up on the alignment lift. We noticed that the drivers side sticks out a little more than the passenger side. And he said the tow could be off.

I’m starting to think this car was in an accident and the former seller didn’t disclose. Car fax was clean. Also, had the suspension looked at. No signs of damage. Anything bent. Subframe is okay. Etc. my friend suggested something along the lines of taking it apart. Putting it back together and seeing if that could possibly fix the issue. I’m not a suspension guy so any feedback is appreciated!

Here’s the pics. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...2096dd0dbc.jpg
[IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200714/8243f2734317c2d58223939***428aea.jpg[/IMG]
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...638672bd68.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...40a8ededa0.jpg


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Good looking car!

Would a spacer make it better or worse - :iono:

How about verifying the offset on all of the new wheels? Actually measure it just on the chance that you received one that was not what you ordered.

Yeah, I did. Stamped +37 18x8.5

Also OEM wheels look similar just don’t rub


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First of all, your car looks bada$$ [emoji106][emoji41]

Secondly, did you measure the offset of each wheel? Like physically measure not go by the stamping on the wheel. I’m not exactly sure how you go about doing that accurately though.

Did you notice anything before switching to the new wheels?


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I didn’t. But I put the stock ones on and it’s the same


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That seems like a huge difference from that pic. /subbed

Have you tried rotating them front to back (to see if one rim/tire is whacked out)?

I didn’t but like I said, on the stock wheels and tires there’s still a difference.


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What were the alignment specs? Do you have adjustable lower control arms?

It could just be the angle, but the drivers side wheel looks like it has more camber. The rear caber is not adjustable on the car so it either has adjustable LCAs or something is bent.

Stock suspension other than the TRD springs. Nothing looks bent.


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I would take everything apart and check all components. Also check subframe mounts to car. Previous owner may have curbed it. If all looks good you. May be able to get things to line up with the Whitline adjustable upper mounts and lower adjustable control arms. Move upper mount all the way out on the left and all the way in on the right, then adjust alignment with the lower.

How close to rubbing is the passenger side? Every manufactured part has tolerances (however tight those may be). When the sub-frame is mounted it can and will shift slightly to one side or the other as well.

You might just have picked a setup that is so tight it could fit on some cars and not on others. If you loosen the sub-frame and adjust it (or remove to inspect and then reinstall) then you may find that they no longer rub driving straight, but then rub when you corner (movement in the rubber sub-frame bushings).

That’s my plan in the fall.


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If I remember correctly, a friend's GC8 Impreza had the exact same issue.

What was the fix?


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Sorry if I didn't clarify much. Since he wasn't exactly rubbing, he "corrected" the misaligned look with different size spacers. He might have smaller wheels, but can't remember.

I just thought that it was a weird item, considering had any type of mishap with his vehicle.

I know the stance guys with mkiv VW's pretty frequently have a miss match from one side to the other in the rear (solid rear beam construction). 5-8mm spacers aren't uncommon to alleviate the issue.

I’m a complete newbie when it comes to this suspension stuff. But this is also concerning me. Notice how far back the passenger side wheel is compared to the drivers side https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...be0ef8ab56.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...20e8b476c2.jpg


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something's not right there. Like another member suggested; take apart the sub frame to see if it shifted for some reason.

Post the alignment readout.
Why leave us all in the dark?

So... This is reminiscent of the issue I used to have on my 2004 ralliart lancer. One thing that would happen to the car is the bushings in the rear lower control arms would wear out and the mounting holes would be 'pulled' eccentrically outwards in the mount. This made the control arm 'longer' than it should be and resulted in exactly what OP sees. In my lancer it made the rear of the car squat down, bottoms of the tires would stick out slightly farther, and on larger rims and rubber they would run in the rear.

Looking at the pictures of the rear suspension setup it seems arranged in a lot the same way as that car. Try taking out the lower control arm on the offending side and see if the bushings are still okay. Might be all it is. But I could be wrong