wheel meets suspension issue

[novalew]

ok heres the overview,

i am running coilovers on the front and i am using vauxhall 15" alloys, the tyres on the front are both different one is 185/55 and the other 195/50. the issue is both wheels fit fine on the passenger side although they do protude a little but the suspension clears the wheel as below
http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h381/novalew/20130728_173144_zpse9eb4163.jpg (http://s1107.photobucket.com/user/novalew/media/20130728_173144_zpse9eb4163.jpg.html)
http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h381/novalew/20130728_172824_zps06407b9d.jpg (http://s1107.photobucket.com/user/novalew/media/20130728_172824_zps06407b9d.jpg.html)

the issue is the drivers side it sits on the coilover i have tried both wheels on there and the same thing happens as below
http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h381/novalew/20130728_173134_zpsfa12bd94.jpg (http://s1107.photobucket.com/user/novalew/media/20130728_173134_zpsfa12bd94.jpg.html)
http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h381/novalew/20130728_172800_zps1df74e81.jpg (http://s1107.photobucket.com/user/novalew/media/20130728_172800_zps1df74e81.jpg.html)

i dont want to just slap a spacer on

i've had a look and cant seem to see why its happening anyone come across this before or point me in the direction of a solution?

cheers guys

[therealnovaboy]

Do the coilovers have slotted holes for camber adjustment? If so check they are both set the same

Are the coilovers the same height? if not get them evened up

Have you checked for play in the wheel bearing?

[novalew]

cheers for the quick reply, the wheel bearing feels ok, they are just boggo coilovers and i'm pretty sure they arent camber adjustable. pretty sure they are the same height but i will double check that too. cheers +rep for the advice

[Johnny A]

You can elongate the top hole on the coilover to carrier bracket by 1mm, it should reduce the camber just enough to clear the lock ring

[therealnovaboy]

You can elongate the top hole on the coilover to carrier bracket by 1mm, it should reduce the camber just enough to clear the lock ring

you could, but the fact it is not the same on both sides indicates that there is some sort of issue/damage.

[Johnny A]

oooh yeah, I really should read the thread correctly

[novalew]

reckon coilys are fooked if i cant find the issue?

got to learn to buy new.......

[Johnny A]

You would be able to see a bend in the main tube or a buckle in the bracket, I doubt either TBH

[novalew]

I may take them off and refit. Can't think what else it could be?

[dan23]

mine do this
but you can actually see the wheel start to camber as the car is rolling
what top mounts are you using

[gearbox90]

swop the coil over from one side to the other . Will tell you if its the strut or the hub .

[novalew]

Good call. Completely forgot that. +rep when I am on the pc.

[mowgli]

why are you surprised that a car more than 20 years old might have a bent chassis??

a tiny manufacturing difference in the coilover would easily result in the odd camber, & filing the top hole out to sort out the camber is std practice, its even in the haynes book in chapter 13.

[novalew]

Tbf mowgli I had thought that but wanted to exhaust all the possible removable components first.

[Riggy]

I'd go with the holes on the coilover , I'd say the top one is elongated for camber adjustment , they do look like fk style ones

Or the re top mount isn't seated on the shock or body correctly

[Iain]

why are you surprised that a car more than 20 years old might have a bent chassis??

How would a bent chassis cause that kind of difference? The wheel is held in a fixed angle against the strut with the knuckle so it's got to be either the strut, the knuckle or how they're bolted together, no?

[L14MNP]

Or the pick up points on the chassis?

OP, why are you running two differently sized tyres on the same axle, anyway?

[Iain]

OP, why are you running two differently sized tyres on the same axle, anyway?

I figured those pics were with the same size tyre fitted to both sides, if not wtf do those pics prove lol

[novalew]

The 185 trye is the one that is touching. I tried both tyres on both sides to come with the same outcome.

[novalew]

Or the pick up points on the chassis?

OP, why are you running two differently sized tyres on the same axle, anyway?

They were free. Its only to make it a rolling shell on my drive. I will fit same tyres for road use lol

[L14MNP]

They were free. Its only to make it a rolling shell on my drive. I will fit same tyres for road use lol

Makes sense now! lol

[therealnovaboy]

do you have brake discs on?

[novalew]

do you have brake discs on?

yep 256mms

[Hobbit]

I thought this was standard nova build tolerance?

[dan23]

my moneys on the top mounts
when the top mounts are bolted tight they cant move however the shock seems to move up an down against the top mount the top mount moves although its bolted tight ( your shocks look very similar to mine
roll the the car back an forth with the bonnet up an listen for the sound of the shock against the top mount

[therealnovaboy]

it cant be the top mount.

the problem can only be where the shock mounts to the hub carrier or the wheel bolts to the hub.

it doesnt matter wher the top mount is attached, the wheel will still hit the shock.

[Benn]

I thought this was standard nova build tolerance?

It mostly is. Add in very round side walls on tyres too.

[novalew]

I will check it all out at the weekend. And update but thanks for the help.

[meritlover]

my moneys on the top mounts


the top mount does not affect the position of the wheel relative to the strut. It only affects the assembly relative to the chassis.
unless by 'top mount' you are referring to the 2 bolt holes which mate the strut bottom to the hub? this would cause the problem if the bolt holes had been modified or the bolts used are not OE.

[novalew]

I have found the problem. The top bolt hole on the strut is elongated for camber. I feel like an idiot for not noticing. But a big thanks to everyone for the help.

[deneil_gsi2000]

I have found the problem. The top bolt hole on the strut is elongated for camber. I feel like an idiot for not noticing. But a big thanks to everyone for the help.

I used to get this all the time on my vec gsi. even when the bolts were murder tight the bolt would slip after a few hundred miles so I ended up welding a washer over the elongated hole to stop it

[novalew]

I will watch out for this. Cheers for the heads up

[meritlover]

im glad this is sorted but this issue was suggested in the very first reply.

[novalew]

I know. I didn't have time to investigate it at the time. Does show how many things can fail

[scott.parker]

You can buy camber bolts to stop the slip.

[novalew]

I have seen them. On the bay for 20. Do avos and gaz gave the same set up?

[Benn]

Gaz dont have slotted holes.

[Riggy]

Neither do avo's