Tyre rubbing

Hello,

Does anyone know why my offside rear wheel contacts the wheelarch liner when I go over largish bumps? I'm not racing over humpback bridges, here - even on a large undulation on a country road it'll do it. I wish it wouldn't...

Unrelated: Changed front disks and pads yesterday. Got a full set of Mintex bits for £112.00. Had an absolute nightmare when a seized caliper bolt sheared off in the caliper. Grrrr.

Hi,

I had the same problem on my GTV V6, i had a look under my car and noticed the bump stops had fallen off, i got them replaced but it still rubbed against the arch when coming off larger bumps as the rear end squats. So i thought it may be the bushes or shocks, took it in to alfarama and they kindly pointed out the bushes and shocks were all fine but the bump stops were constantly touching the spring pan which meant the car was lower than normal and needed new springs, i looked under my friends GTV and saw that there was a few inches of gap between the bump stops and spring pan, looked at the height of mine and his and noticed mine sat a little lower than his at the rear, so basically the orginal springs had compressed with age. Got them changed and no more rubbing!

Hi,

Yep bump stops. Got mine replaced on Monday as one had broken off. Have a look under the back of the car. Inside the spring is a cone shape on the end of which should be a plastic/rubber bit. This sits a couple of inches off of the swingarm/wishbone. Make sure it hasn't fallen off or at a funny angle.
Jimbo.

Originally Posted by Jimmy-Spider

Hi,

Yep bump stops. Got mine replaced on Monday as one had broken off. Have a look under the back of the car. Inside the spring is a cone shape on the end of which should be a plastic/rubber bit. This sits a couple of inches off of the swingarm/wishbone. Make sure it hasn't fallen off or at a funny angle.
Jimbo.

Yep, did it last year on ours

Brilliant, thanks guys

My nearside rear has been rubbing on the arch liner under hards accceleration or when carrying passengers. Thanks to the replies in this thread I have just stuck my head under the back of my car, and wot should be laying in the spring pan?..... yes the bump stop.

How do these attach to the cone and is it an easy job, doesn't look it, as I assume the spring has to come off. if that is the case it may be worth replacing them as the gap on the offside between the bottom of the bump stop and spring pan looks to be about an inch. As a test I measured the gap between tyre an wheel arch... 55mm (wheels are 225/45 x17") can anyone confirm if this gap sound about right?

Pete

The bump stop comes off because the cone rusts away around the hole that the rubber bump stop pushes into. You need to buy new cones and bump stops usually. Your measurements sound about right although I've never checked one for sure. This pic is of the bump stop mounting,. see how its rusty in the centre.

I had this problem. Was advised (wrongly) by a specialist the springs had sagged; he changed them for new ones and no improvement... not happy. Changed mechanics who said he hadnt even changed the bumpstops, which were missing.... Still, not the point, you dont want it hitting the bumpstops all the time. In the end what cured it was new bilstein rear shockers, (plus bumpstops) even though 2 mechanics said there was nothing wrong with the old shockers. Big plus is the amazing handling improvement I got with the Bilsteins.... fantastic, I can recommend highly.

Originally Posted by johnnystealth

I had this problem. Was advised (wrongly) by a specialist the springs had sagged; he changed them for new ones and no improvement... not happy. Changed mechanics who said he hadnt even changed the bumpstops, which were missing.... Still, not the point, you dont want it hitting the bumpstops all the time. In the end what cured it was new bilstein rear shockers, (plus bumpstops) even though 2 mechanics said there was nothing wrong with the old shockers. Big plus is the amazing handling improvement I got with the Bilsteins.... fantastic, I can recommend highly.

No change in ride height johnny? How about harshness on a badly surfaced, pot-holed road or even roads with tons of badly done manhole covers?

Originally Posted by Markos

No change in ride height johnny? How about harshness on a badly surfaced, pot-holed road or even roads with tons of badly done manhole covers?

No change in ride height with Bilsteins unless you fit shortened springs- I wouldnt bother doing that, the GTV wheels sit close enough to the arches as it is- especially on 17's. Ride is a little firmer but you really have to concentrate to notice. But the wierd thing is the ride seems firmer but better... Sounds crazy but because the Bilsteins are so much better than Alfa orig's, it doenst crash over bumps as much and seems to soak them up better- it just rolls and lolls about less. Handling is loads - i mean loads - better. Good value as well, I think the rears are about 200 quid inc vat for the pair. I want some fronts just as soon as I can afford it.

Thanks for the info johnny, I need to do some research as mine will need changing at some point, especially if my rear tyres go a funny shape again.

Originally Posted by alfafamily

The bump stop comes off because the cone rusts away around the hole that the rubber bump stop pushes into. You need to buy new cones and bump stops usually. Your measurements sound about right although I've never checked one for sure. This pic is of the bump stop mounting,. see how its rusty in the centre.

Thanks for the info guys. Does that mean it's a welding job if the cones need replacing?

Originally Posted by Pete046

Thanks for the info guys. Does that mean it's a welding job if the cones need replacing?

No,just replace them,easy

they're a fairly cheap part from Alfa, maybe about 8 quid each +vat - if you are going to replace shocks/springs at any point you may as well order a set in advance so you're not waiting a week with the car in bits for them to arrive like i had to...

one wasn't too bad but one fell into rust/dust so just replaced both sides whilst i was there...ah the hidden surprises that await every job, bless you Alfa

Originally Posted by adam_u

...ah the hidden surprises that await every job, bless you Alfa

We must think it's worth it otherwise we would all be driving rep-mobiles Thanks again for the info, from the ride height, i think the springs should be ok.

I think it will be a couple of bilsteins, cones and bumpstops....that should sort the backend out.

Then on to the front, to sort the slight knocking.... I think it's anti roll bar, but could be ball joints.....

Ahhh the joys of Alfa ownership

Thanks again,

Pete