8.5" Vectors, What tires are you running?

[YGETV8]

Oops... I meant that the wheel itself has the "lip" that can possibly be machined. It'll be this winter (if at all... may be facing a job change soon!) as I will have to dismount the tires to do it. Jay

 

[tim87tr]

Tires mounted, more questions

Just test drove the 275/60s on 8.5" Vectors and steel drums, and had a very slight wheel rub on the ps outside very edge/sidewall of tread, on a mild launch. Here are a few questions, would like some opinions.

1. I'm running 15 lb ps and 5 lb ds in the air bags, and know I can go a bit more. The wierd thing is that the ps is closer to the fender lip, and is the one that slightly rubbed. Maybe that stock ps spring has taken more abuse and is lower, and of course the frame and body allignment is not perfect.

One thing I noticed was that the ps air bag was not centered in the spring as well....any chance that could affect it, or maybe higher air bag psi?

2. How hard is it to roll the fender lip, and what's the best way? Or is grinding of the lip better? I really hate to do this to the car

I was reading in the prior posts about Jay grinding on the inside of the wheel to remove a lip casting to move it closer to the frame (more room there), and I'll go out and check that now.

Any tips for this setup appreciated

 

[Geoff87]

bttt!

I'm interested as well!

 

[YGETV8]

Hi Guys,

The lip I was referring to was on the set of wheels I bought for my T-Type. They were the uni-lug version... that may have been the difference since I checked and the ones on my WE4 don't have it. I never got to experiment as I sold them yet unmounted with the car in June.

As for "grinding" it off: DON'T! I was planning on machining it off in a CNC lathe as this would be where the wheel locates against the drum and needs to be in perfect alignment with the rest of the wheel or it will wobble!

 

[TRDirks]

FWIW,
Here are some pics of the Limited with the L-60 American Racer tires I spoke of above. I do need to run a good amount of air in the bags to keep them from rubbing which gives the car that jacked up look.

L-60's

I am in the middle of a refinance on my condo and as soon as that is finished and I can resume spending money I will get the rims milled/cut and see how much they can actually be moved in.

 

[tim87tr]

Re: Tires mounted, more questions

Originally posted by tim87tr
Just test drove the 275/60s on 8.5" Vectors and steel drums, and had a very slight wheel rub on the ps outside very edge/sidewall of tread, on a mild launch. Here are a few questions, would like some opinions.

1. I'm running 15 lb ps and 5 lb ds in the air bags, and know I can go a bit more. The wierd thing is that the ps is closer to the fender lip, and is the one that slightly rubbed. Maybe that stock ps spring has taken more abuse and is lower, and of course the frame and body allignment is not perfect.

One thing I noticed was that the ps air bag was not centered in the spring as well....any chance that could affect it, or maybe higher air bag psi?

2. How hard is it to roll the fender lip, and what's the best way? Or is grinding of the lip better? I really hate to do this to the car

I was reading in the prior posts about Jay grinding on the inside of the wheel to remove a lip casting to move it closer to the frame (more room there), and I'll go out and check that now.

Any tips for this setup appreciated

Anyone? I have 32 psi in the rear tires and am going to lower that to 26 to how much that helps. Also going to try 20 lb in the ps air bag. Still would like to find out the best method to roll the rear fender lips. I've looked some in a search and not found everything.

 

[RareT]

I run the BFG 275/60/15's on the Vectors with aluminum drums but never had a problem with rubbing. You can take a baseball bat and wedge it between the tire and the lip, and have someone slowly move the car forward and backward while you "roll" the lip with the bat. I've never done it, but I know that's one way to do it.

Ed

 

[tim87tr]

Originally posted by RareT
I run the BFG 275/60/15's on the Vectors with aluminum drums but never had a problem with rubbing. You can take a baseball bat and wedge it between the tire and the lip, and have someone slowly move the car forward and backward while you "roll" the lip with the bat. I've never done it, but I know that's one way to do it.

Ed

I'm still on stock suspension with just air bags. Can you give me any details on your suspension? Thanks for the lip roll advice.

 

[RareT]

Originally posted by tim87tr
I'm still on stock suspension with just air bags. Can you give me any details on your suspension? Thanks for the lip roll advice.

Mine is stock with the exception of boxed lowers, air bags which I think are empty, and heavier rate springs. I bought the car from the original owner who told me that he put the springs in there because he used the car for his business and carried heavy stuff in the trunk. I have no idea what springs they are, but it sits about 2"-3" higher than most TR's. You might try to run 25 psi in your right (ps) bag as that side will naturally want to squat more than the left side. Your PS spring may be weak.

If you can get someone to help.....one person in the car brake torquing, while the other watches the PS tire to see how close it gets to the lip, keeping adding air until you have plenty of clearance ( or the bag blows! )

I think in order for the bat to work right, you'd have to let it roll with the tire and just concentrate on holding pressure on it as needed.

 

[tim87tr]

Thanks Ed. I'll add more air to the ps bag, roll the lips, then add newer springs lastly if needed. The car has good short times and I wanted to avoid changing the springs if possible.