Catching wheel Arches after new Springs and Shocks

Merry Xmas everyone!

About six months ago, I had new Baermach medium duty springs fitted. The kit came with soft shock absorbers (Wild bear I think).

I’ve noticed since then if I drive about 20mph over speed bumps, I catch the arches. Yesterday I went on a very very gentle lane (technically a normal road with a caution sign for rough terrain) and I had to crawl to 5mph as I was hitting the arches.

I have 30mm spacers fitted but did not have this problem before the new springs and shocks.

Any suggestions?!

cheers

Chris

Have your bump stops fallen off

Angel_110 said:

Merry Xmas everyone!

About six months ago, I had new Baermach medium duty springs fitted. The kit came with soft shock absorbers (Wild bear I think).

I’ve noticed since then if I drive about 20mph over speed bumps, I catch the arches. Yesterday I went on a very very gentle lane (technically a normal road with a caution sign for rough terrain) and I had to crawl to 5mph as I was hitting the arches.

I have 30mm spacers fitted but did not have this problem before the new springs and shocks.

Any suggestions?!

cheers

Chris

Click to expand...

If you have spacers, which presumably you have fitted to have massive wide wheels, the axle becomes too wide for the wheels to go up inside the arches when the axle articulates. Which is how the designer intended it to work.

Turboman said:

If you have spacers, which presumably you have fitted to have massive wide wheels, the axle becomes too wide for the wheels to go up inside the arches when the axle articulates. Which is how the designer intended it to work.

Click to expand...

Hi Turboman

I had the spacers fitted as the front wheels were catching on full turn. They are 265/75/16 which I'm told are standard size but I'm a bit clueless with that kind of thing. It didn't happen before the new springs/shocks were fitted which makes me wonder if it has anything to do with the spacers.

Cheers

Chris

Angel_110 said:

Hi Turboman

I had the spacers fitted as the front wheels were catching on full turn. They are 265/75/16 which I'm told are standard size but I'm a bit clueless with that kind of thing. It didn't happen before the new springs/shocks were fitted which makes me wonder if it has anything to do with the spacers.

Cheers

Chris

Click to expand...

If the old springs were stiffer or longer, the wheels may not have gone up so far inside the bodywork, which could be why they hit it now.

It might have been simpler to adjust the lock stop bolts, or just not turn the steering wheel so far, so that the wheels didn't hit the body.

I don't know much about later vehicles, so not sure about the tyres either, TBH. But I doubt if the wheels hit the body when the vehicle left the factory, something must have changed.

Turboman said:

If the old springs were stiffer or longer, the wheels may not have gone up so far inside the bodywork, which could be why they hit it now.

It might have been simpler to adjust the lock stop bolts, or just not turn the steering wheel so far, so that the wheels didn't hit the body.

I don't know much about later vehicles, so not sure about the tyres either, TBH. But I doubt if the wheels hit the body when the vehicle left the factory, something must have changed.

Click to expand...

You're probably right. I might take the spacers off to see if it makes a difference.

Thanks again.

Chris

i run 265 x 75 x 16 insa turbos in the winter on some modular wheels ( no idea on offset have looked but cant find it on the rim) with no spacers on standards springs and shocks. mine touch the radius arms at full lock, on its summer tyres it does not touch radius arms

these are a smaller size tyre 235 x 70 x 16

at no time does it touch the arches or bottom out, this on a 1986 90

hope this helps

265/75x16 was standard fit for several years so the tyres aren't oversized.
The normal procedure for tyres rubbing on radius arms it to adjust the lock-stops, as long as they aren't seized then it is a simple operation that should only take a few minutes. Certainly a lot easier than fitting spacers and modifying the vehicle (and of course the potential insurance implications if you don't inform your insurer).

think it depends on the wheels fitted

the 265 75 16 on land rover disco steel rims fit the hubs ok

however having tried them on my 90 they foul at a very small amount of lock

My insa only touch at full lock, it suits me not to alter the steering stops due to at least 6 months of the year it is on different size tyres and even on the winter boots when turning on a field margin perilously close to a ditch in the dark would sooner have the lock thanks

Borrow someone else's wheels and try them if you have any local landy mates would be good option or some pics of your wheels .

Cheers Ian. Might just do that.

Cheers Scooby. I’ve wondered how you adjust them and now I know. I love that guy. He does some great videos.

Thanks again.

Yep his video encouraged me to do my FIP seal rather than sending it away, certainly very knowlegable