Rear drivers arch is a problem

[Marc]

Right after putting me new 15 inch alloys on (with big tyres until i can get some money together for low pros) went for a drive about saw a few mates offered them a lift, then realised the driver rear arch scrapes like fuck :(

So today me and me brother got to work on the arch, cut the lip that catch's into sections and started to move each bit up. found this is no good time wasted and painted cracked :(

So after a thought will be fine with 3 people in the car so can still run 2 college and back no probs. So on thursday going to get a grinder on it n trim it down and file it so there is no sharp edges.

Jusrt wanted to know if anyone got the same problem and what they did?

All help Would be useful

(sorry about so much writting)

[dunova]

If you had got wheels with the correct offset (ET49), no of that would have happened :wink:

As for what to do about it now, if you've taken the arch right back then there's not a lot you can do tbh. What offset are the wheels you've got? ET35 by any chance?

[Marc]

no ive got vauxhall standard wheels 49et. Na i can do something i.e. grind the lip down and file it etc but not to handy with a grinder lol

A friend who work in a garage all day long etc told me that the drivers rear wheel always sticks out a little bit more than the other on a nova

[dunova]

Tbh if you're having all this trouble with standard nova alloys then there must be a problem somewhere else. I know that each side of the car will differ with clearance, especially because Nova's were made with a +/-5mm error margin on the rear axle which is just stupid :roll:

Have you checked your rear suspension bushes? If one was severely worn it may not help the situation. Is it definately rubbing on the outside arch? Or inside? Because i have Astra gsi alloys on mine (ET49) and the passenger rear was rubbin on the inner arch, so off with the wheel and out with the lump hammer and all better :D

Could possibly get it on a jig if the rear axle is out of line? For example, if it had been in an accident before you had it (or when you've had it).

[Marc]

will have to get all cehcked over then. that what i was planning to get the wheel off and hammer the problem but me brother cam up with a better idea of cutting in to bits and doin it.

but i guess will just have to have everything checked over at that side.
i dont know if it has been in an accident but there is signs on the front of a little crash but not totally sure.

[NOVA_JONO]

I have got the same problem, my nova is lowered 60mm and has Tigra alloys with 185/55/15's on (et49 offset). The passengers side rear is fine, but the drivers side rear is very close, even when no one is in the back.

What can be done about this other than getting arches rolled or cut back?
Cheers Jono.

[Cassie-Nova]

I had this same problem with my rims.

You got Mk1's or Mk2's? IIRC Mk2's have slightly wider arches compared to the Mk1's. I had a lovely set of 15" TSW Venons with, they were offset 40 which caused problems, the fact that they were 7" wide tyres didn't help either...

Using a hacksaw, had a fuel leak at the time so no grinder, i took away both of the rear wheel arch lips, and used a grindstone drill piece to smooth it down. The wheels still rubbed though!

Took em off in the end cos they were such a pain in the arse. The combination of the wrong offset, 7" wide rims and the Mk1 arches made it pretty impossible for a rub-free ride with me! :(

[flowlikewater]

its actually a suprisingly common problem!!! i had it as did a mate that has a gte (his problem seemed to come as standard,not sure how tho!!!)

i did a similar thing to you, by cutting it and folding the arch up. only problem is it still rubbed! what i did was to get a handy mate of mine at a local body shop to flare my arches slightly. didnt cost too much, but now i technically have modified arches.

alternatively you could do what im planning to do (im only doing it for style tho) and get a widearch kit!!!

bit of a costly way but should be good. not sure when i can afford it mind you but hey if you got the money.

[Marc]

thats the problem flowlikewater i havnt got the money. yeh the standard that ive got are 6" inch's wide on a mk2 so will just get a grinder to it now while im fixing me car. also think i need a new rear damper but not 2 sure

this is goin 2 cost me 2 much and got tax at the end of the month! :evil:

not happy at all!

but got 2 think will all be alrite in the end lol (well hope)

[NovaloadedAgain]

"Nova's were made with a +/-5mm error margin on the rear axle"

Hmm, I have a question about that, I cleaned the car today & Its been annoying me since Ive had the car, Tyres dont wear down unevenly & the car drives straight etc but anyway, The passenger side rear wheel seems closer to the rear quarter panle then the drivers side rear????

I can get my hand & sponge easily in the arch on the drivers side but not on the passenger side?

[sickrabbit]

had probs with my rear driving side also - and ive the correct offset , mr grinder sorted it nicely ...and a slap of underseal .Some thing else .......
I spoke to a scrap merchant yesterday , as soon as i said the car type i owned he asked did i want a passenger door - apparently they rust n rot at the bottom ( oooer ) like a good un . So i checked em - the passengers is rusty .....is this a coincidence ...??

[NovaloadedAgain]

Lol, that guy u spoke to has x-ray eyes!

I got the correct offset wheels etc, Must have been a vauxhall factory f*ck up.

[Marc]

Must have been a vauxhall factory f*ck up.

well least its not me whos got it then lol



mr grinder sorted it nicely ...and a slap of underseal

thats the same plan for mine :D will sort it out for now lol

[dunova]

"Nova's were made with a +/-5mm error margin on the rear axle"

Hmm, I have a question about that, I cleaned the car today & Its been annoying me since Ive had the car, Tyres dont wear down unevenly & the car drives straight etc but anyway, The passenger side rear wheel seems closer to the rear quarter panle then the drivers side rear????

I can get my hand & sponge easily in the arch on the drivers side but not on the passenger side?

That's exactly what i was saying. Because of this error margin, your passenger side rear wheel may only have 1mm from the tyre to the arch and the drivers side may have 5mm. I think this error margin was only used on mk1's (afaik) and mk2's were slightly more accurate, hence why mk2's seem to be a lot less of a pain in the ar5e when fitting aftermarket wheels. Along with them having SLIGHTLY more arch room aswell.

[NovaloadedAgain]

mines a mk2 but Vauxhall probably couldnt be bothered to sort em out, so carried on making buggered ones.

[flowlikewater]

try tapping it out after youve grinded them. but be very careful with the grinder!!!!!!!!!! if you slip you could cause alot of damage to your car, and on a lesser note you may loose a finger or 2.

try to see where the tyres are rubbing! if you know where then you can gently tap it out abit. dont go too mad and alwats take your time. remember that by knocking out the arch your also stretching/reshaping the paint job. thats why you need to be careful. also the heat from the grinder can warp the arch metal so take more time than you expect.

i cant really say much more than this. i guess thats because theres not much more than can be said. go to a body shop and ask them what they can do and get an estimate. mite be cheeper than you think. worth a try.

after you get the quote, voice any problems they may have with the job on this forum, they may be chatting bollox!

[Marc]

yeh i worked out where its rubbing, but will take it slow shud hav all day to work on it n shit so will be happy
to late already cracked the paint then typing to bend it :(

but will get sorted asap :D

[ade]

take it at a bit at a time on the old grinder. Wear gloves to prevent burns.

Also - use red stripe seam sealer to properly seal the ground area - underseal isnt any good unless its the shutz stuff - underseal will come off eventually. Red Stripe (you can get it from halfords of all places!) is a solid flexible sealer and can be painted over.

Ade

[Marc]

ok thanx didnt know that ade, :D now i know :D