Help! real wheels won't fit on Bilsteins lower perch

[ac011]

I installed the Bilsteins with lower perch today, there is NO WAY you can fit the rear wheels in with lower perch. The OEM spring is tuching the tires and I need to use OEM setting on the rear and lower perch on front (my car look kind of weird now..) I am using 225/45/16 front and 255/40/17 real. Anyone can help me with this?

Thanks,

[This message has been edited by ac011 (edited 06 February 2003).]

[This message has been edited by ac011 (edited 06 February 2003).]

 

[RyRy210]

What size & offset are u running?

 

[ac011]

OEM wheels
225/45/16 front
255/40/17 rear

[This message has been edited by ac011 (edited 06 February 2003).]

 

[heretic]

I have Eibach\Bilsteins on my car. I didn't use the lower perch. After looking at my car I agree with you there is NO WAY I can see to use the lower perch and not rub on the rear tires IMHO. Regardless of the tire rub
how much height did you lose in the rear?
The diff from top to lower perch is what 3/4
of an inch? You may have to go this route.
How about spacers??? They would help to bring the wheels closer to the outside of the car (my only complaint about stock wheels).

[This message has been edited by heretic (edited 06 February 2003).]

 

[RyRy210]

I have '02 OEM wheels with 255/40ZR17s with no problems whatsoever. The rear wheels measure 17 x 9.0 with a 56mm offset.

Has your car ever been in accident before? My old '95 had major rubbing issues and I later found out that it was because of some frame damage that the previous owner did not disclose.

------------------
2001 NSX-T
- Bilstein Shocks
- '02 OEM Wheels

 

[DanO]

I use Bilsteins on all 4 with the lower perch with OEM 16&17 wheels/tires without a problem. Hmmm? Are you sure you didn't put the front shocks/springs on the rear? Something's not right if the tire is rubbing.

DanO

 

[ac011]

My rear look the same high with Bilsteins OEM setting and my front look 3/4 lower with Bilsteins lower perch. My rear look way higher then the front.

The OEM springs need to be on TOP of the tires for the wheels to fit, I don't see anyway you can bring the wheels closer to the outside?

 

[ac011]

Originally posted by DanO:
I use Bilsteins on all 4 with the lower perch with OEM 16&17 wheels/tires without a problem. Hmmm? Are you sure you didn't put the front shocks/springs on the rear? Something's not right if the tire is rubbing.

DanO

I am SURE I did't max the front shocks/springs on the rear. Are you using 255/40/17 on the rear too? maybe that's the problem?

 

[DanO]

Originally posted by ac011:
Are you using 255/40/17 on the rear too? maybe that's the problem?

I'm using OEM Yoko tires, whatever those sizes are--that's what i'm using. There are many people with Bilstiens on the lower perch and OEM wheels/tires. Are you sure your perches are not upside down? Can you take a picture and post it here?

DanO

 

[RyRy210]

Some people even have the CGI Bilsteins which are the same shocks but with more perches for more adjustment. These people are running larger wheels and tires with no problem. Litespeed had a problem as well but that was because he was running huge rear wheels and tires.
http://www.nsxprime.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/005021.html

I second what DanO said, make sure the perches are not upside down.
http://www.daliracing.com/v666-5/catalog/suspension/bilstein_install_properly/index.cfm

 

[ac011]

I am SURE the perches is not upside down, we had 3 peoples working on the car and still can't make it work.

To make is clear: I was able to installed the lower perches on the rear, but when I try to put the wheel back in...the springs is touching the tire and there is no way I can push the tire inside. I then take out the shock again and use the OEM setting in order for the wheels to fit.

I will take some pictures tomorrow mornig.


[This message has been edited by ac011 (edited 06 February 2003).]

 

[Zishan]

That is very strange. People often drop their NSX's almost 1 and a half inches with rims as large as 19x10's with 275 or even 285/30/19 inch tires. Very strange....
Good Luck
Z

 

[RyRy210]

Originally posted by ac011:
the springs is touching the tire and there is no way I can push the tire inside. I then take out the shock again and use the OEM setting in order for the wheels to fit.

That does not sound normal at all! Your car has never been in an accident right?


------------------
2001 NSX-T
- Bilstein Shocks
- '02 OEM Wheels

 

[Andrie Hartanto]

Very important to know the wheel size and offset. Not only the tire size.

 

[docjohn]

All of us want to help you,and we know how distressed you might be but somthing you and your installers hav'nt thought about or recognize is happening.There are many folks running around with your spring/shock/wheel combo no problems.

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by DanO:
I'm using OEM Yoko tires, whatever those sizes are--that's what i'm using.

You're using '94-01 wheels, so your OEM sizes are 215/45-16 front, 245/40-17 rear.

 

[ac011]

I am running 94+ OEM wheels, not sure what the offset is? I am sure my can had never been to an accident.

I am hoping anyone running this setup on the Bay Area that I can come to look at their car?

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by ac011:
I am running 94+ OEM wheels, not sure what the offset is?

+55 mm front, +60 mm rear.

 

[ac011]

I had my shocks reinstalled to the lower parchs today. The result is only 1/8 of inch between the spring and the tire. Is this normal? Will it scratch the tire during high speed cornering?

Here is some pictures. I doubt any tire size over 255 will fit on the lower parchs.
http://www.shutterfly.com/os.jsp?i=67b0de21b331a0c58407

[This message has been edited by ac011 (edited 07 February 2003).]

 

[RyRy210]

Your pictures are not showing. If the perch isn't touching the tire now, then it shouldn't be touching under any circumstances.

------------------
2001 NSX-T
- Bilstein Shocks
- '02 OEM Wheels

[This message has been edited by RyRy210 (edited 08 February 2003).]

 

[hyuan]

I have the same setup. My rear wheels do not rub on my car. My front wheels do rub slightly when my shocks are compressed (unevenly) and the steering is fully locked to one side.

From my research on the boards, I think downsizing the height of my tires to 225/40/16 instead of 225/45/16 would solve my problems.

I don't have any problems at all with my rears... they easily clear and they are 255/45/17.

 

[ac011]

Originally posted by hyuan:
I have the same setup. My rear wheels do not rub on my car. My front wheels do rub slightly when my shocks are compressed (unevenly) and the steering is fully locked to one side.

From my research on the boards, I think downsizing the height of my tires to 225/40/16 instead of 225/45/16 would solve my problems.

I don't have any problems at all with my rears... they easily clear and they are 255/45/17.

Did you had the OEM springs too? How much space you have between the tire and spring?

 

[pok8rok8]

Does camber have a play on this issue??

 

[Litespeeds]

Hello Everyone,
I used the stock springs and lower perch settings of the Bilstein shocks and I had no problems at all with the stock wheels. Currently I have Volk AV3 wheels with the following sizes:
17x8 +35 offset with 215/40/17 S-02
18x10 +44 offset with 275/35/18 S-02
When I look at my rear suspension when it is on the ground, the tire is about 1/8" from the spring perch plate. What I decided to do was to grind down some of that with a dremel. I also have Dali street/race sway bars set at 2nd to the softest which might help a little.
What is funny is my left side rubs a little more than the right side. Probably due to the extra weight of me being the driver.
What I did right now was install some wheel spacers for extra clearance. When I change my rear tires, I am going to go with 265/35/18 and that will solve all my problems.
I am really surprised that your stock wheels and tires won't clear. If you figure out the wheel offset, the stock is 17x8.5 +60 and my Volk AV3 is 18x10 +44.
The stock wheel has an outer lip of 1.89 and an inner lip of 6.61 inches.
My AV3 has an outer lip of 3.27 and an inner lip of 6.73 inches.
The difference is only .12 inches or 1/8".
I think your problem is your tire size. The stock rear tire size is suppose to be 245/40/17 so by changing to a 255/40/17, you have increased the tire height and width. Tire sizes vary tremendously. If you compare a 255/40/17 from one brand to another, you will see that some are wider than others, some are taller than other, etc.
In order for you to put your wheels on without rubbing, you will need to change your tires back to the stock sizes or get wheel spacers.
The reason why I have about the same clearance as you is because I am stretching a 275 tire onto a 10" wheel. A 10" wheel can accomodate 265, 275 or 285 width tires.
A 8.5" wheel can accomodate a 235, 245 or 255 tire.
You are currently using the widest tire for that rim size and that is why you need to either get spacers or downsize your tires if you do not want to rub.
Hope this answers your question. Please e-mail me if you have any other issues. I am always happy to help.

Sidney Lee
California Sunscreen Window Tinting
800-400-TINT

 

[Wheel]

ac011. You might want to use spacer to take care your rear problem. 1/8 spacer will give you 3.18mm more space between the tire and spring. If you need more then 1/8 spacer, you need to redrill the OE wheel's lug hold bigger to take the "ET lug nut" for more threads contact.