[mreroc]

Okay, I've waited a couple months before coming for help. I've looked things over many times, searched the forum, BMW-mechanic friend looked at it, and an independent BMW shop in town looked at it and the opinion was everything is installed correctly. Ok, details.

Problem: The back right wheel rubs the fender. Only the back right, not the left. It happens on dips, bumps, and hard left turns. Having weight in the back, 30-40 pounds, makes a difference. When nothing is in the hatch it takes a much bigger dip for the rub; left turns still rub. The noise I hear is sort of like a crunch/grating. The loudness and length varies with my speed and duration of the turn/dip/bump.

Setup: Bilstein sports with RSMs and ACS springs. The springs were purchased used on the forum and the shocks were purchased used, but not installed, on the forum as well. RSMs new from Turner. Other modifications in the back is HR sway bar (used from forum) and LSD (used from craigslist). One piece Style 5 (16x8, ET 23), installed before the springs...no rubbing at this time. New brakes. The LSD and sway bar were installed after the problem. The shocks were installed before the problem, before the springs. The problem began after the springs were installed. Also should be noted that I drive the car on dirt roads now and then when camping/hiking. These aren't 4x4 roads, they're graded evenly, but there some bumps and washboarding. However, the problem did start on paved roads...right after the springs.

Thoughts: I am sure (though only working on cars for a year now) that it is the springs in combination with the wheels. I know they are not the stock offset. My main question though (besides if I am wrong) is why only the right side rubs? Does this indicate that the one spring is bad? My friend seems to think it is not rubbing and it could be something else...half shafts or bushings. New bushings went in with the sway bar, but no others in the subframe have been swapped yet. But, I can see the wear line on the tire and the polishing in the fender, so I know there is rub. Maybe there are 2 things happening, but definitely a rub. All parts look tight and installed correctly, this has been checked over. Nothing cracked or broken. I do plan on putting the stock springs back on regardless, but was curious for some input in the meantime. I'd hate to do the springs and find out I was wrong. The shock looks ok.

Final Thought: Swapping the springs out seems like the obvious, easy fix to this loooong winded post. I think the lowered spring and ET 23 wheels are the culprit, but I would have thought both sides would rub (only 1 year experience though). Is one side normal, or does it indicate something is wrong with the rear subframe or does it indicate the spring is bad?

I can attach a couple pics of the back, but I don't know if they will help. If anyone has specific questions or needs a pic of something else, let me know. Sorry for the long post for a simple question, just wanted to try and get as much needed details in originally. Thanks for any input; it's appreciated.

Sidenote...I will be LA end of month of anyone needs any of the rear parts I took out. Driving out, so can throw in the hatch.