Rubbing on 18x8 +35
 

Got a set of 18x8 +35 with 235/40/18 tyres, stock suspension. Immediately after installing I began noticing a clunk sound when making certain turns at close to full lock at low to mid speeds. Doesn’t sound like rubber on fender, sounds like something is being repeatedly hit until I finish the turn. The only thing I can think of is that the forward weight transfer of the car when braking and turning is what’s causing something to hit that otherwise doesn’t when the car is stationary- and I can take fairly aggressive turns without hearing any noise if I carry my speed through the turn. Things that almost guarantee a sound are making U turns and going around small roundabouts. Today I heard the noise just from a 30-50 degree turn out of a parking space, before today it only ever happened on occasional turns that were close to full lock

It doesn’t do it all the time and seems to be more common when I’m turning at low speeds. Until today it always made sounds when doing certain right turns, but it made a sound today when reverse parking with the wheels turned left.

Had 0 issues what so ever prior to the new wheels being put on, and they started the same night they were put on, gradually became less frequent as my tyre pressure went down and now is back and even worse now that I’ve recently pumped my tyres back up.

Getting an alignment done after new springs which I’m hoping is the issue, any other potential causes? I didn’t expect to have any issues at all with how many people I see running much wider and aggressive offset wheels with no problem

https://i.postimg.cc/65VmPdHT/A26-CE...B676-D4646.png

Weird. Can't think of anything logical that would do that as a result of changing wheels and tires.

I guess just check the usual - make sure lug nuts are torqued down properly, check sway bar end links for play, etc. :iono:

This is usually a symptom of the car being lowered, the endlinks hit the control arm when turning.

Check the fender liners at the back of the wheel well in the front for scuffing as well

All my suspension is completely stock, nothing has been changed other than the wheels and tyres. I don’t see any marks on the front or rear of the liner that would indicate any tyre on fender rubbing either

When I hear the sound, I’d describe it as hitting an empty milk carton with a stick.

I’ve tried to replicate the rubbing to record sound clips for my friend to work out but for some reason it doesn’t always happen

Haven’t checked the sway bar so I’ll do that next but I’ve checked the lug nights and they’re tight, and there’s no play in the wheels incase the bearing was out.
My wheels have been removed and refitted 2 seperate times after the new wheels were put on. And in every instance I would still hear the occasional sounds during certain turns.

Right, I meant it is usually a symptom, meaning it's strange that you're seeing it without being lowered :(

I see what you mean now.

Yea I don’t understand, it’s very situational. It had always happened occasionally since I got the wheels on the same high angle right turns, but then got worse than ever after pumping the tyres back up to 36 PSI. Now a week later it seems to have become less frequent again but still there if I’m accelerating from a stop at close to full lock, or braking as I turn right close to full lock.

There’s a picture from the front of the assembly, dirty but I can’t see any marks from where the wheel/ rubber would have grinded on anything.
https://i.postimg.cc/WzhjGsq4/370573...F1-E8-F5-B.png


I’m about to install springs, possibly camber bolts and have an alignment so hopefully after all that the sounds good away

I suspect your rubbing issue may be related to your large tire size. 235/40/18 has a diameter of about 25.4 inches, whereas stock 215/45/17 is about 24.6 inches, so almost an inch difference. The fact that the issue gets worse when you increase tire pressure (ballooning it more) seems to further supports it’s the culprit.

For reference, I’m running 16x8, +25 with 225/50/16 (24.9 inches) and lowered about an inch, never rubbed.

I'd pull both front wheels and look over the entirety of the front wheel wells for any signs of rubbing. Check the entire fender liner, lip of fender, and toe arms+end links. When you mentioned "I’d describe it as hitting an empty milk carton with a stick.", that makes me think fender liner (probably toward the front of the car).

FWIW, I ran that same tire/wheel size on my car while lowered 1" and did not have any rubbing issues.

Hope this helps.

That's what's odd to me. I run a 245/45 17 on eibach pro kit springs and mine don't rub..

Jack it up and put something (the wheel at least) under the sill so it can`t fall on your head. then have a good look around.
Super cheap have trolley jacks on sale FYI

IGNORE --- 245/45R17 (which I also run without rubbing, lowered on H&R springs) is smaller diameter than a 235/40R18. A 225/40R18 would be closer in size to what we're running.

EDIT - correction, misread your tire size. I'm running 225/45R17 on a 17x8 ET35 wheel. 245/45R17 is definitely on the chunky side...LOL.

I'd initially have suspected it being due to the larger diameter causing rubbing, except the OP said that there's no sign of rubbing, so...maybe not?


Yeah, that description kind of does sound like fender liner or something else plastic rather than a suspension joint...

I have no idea still but i dropped my car with Whiteline 25mm springs on a low km Saach shocks set today, and all sounds have completely disappeared. Haven’t had an alignment yet either, that’s happening tomorrow

front wheels look like they have more positive camber after springs install as opposed to the slight negative camber it had post new wheel and tyre install…

Got my mechanic to check my fender lines and suspension during my service and he saw nothing that could have been causing the sounds as in rubbing on fenders or tie rod.

Don't think that your wheel and tire combo should rub anything. I ran those same sized tires on 18x8.5 +35 wheels without any rubbing on stock suspension and lowered on RCE Yellow springs