Why are my wheels rubbing?

[kchica415]

When I bought my ti I was told the back left spring was broken, so I recently replaced it with a spring from an older e30. Once we took out the spring and compared it to the one we were going to install it was clear the old one was broken. There was probably an inch gap between the fender and the wheel with the broken spring. Once we got the new spring in there is now a couple inches or more between the fender and the wheel, matching how it looks on the right side of the car. I was pretty confident I wouldn't have trouble with the wheel rubbing on the fender anymore when I went over bumps/took right hand turns a little too fast, but that isn't the case. It still rubs sometimes, and I can't seem to figure out why. I am running 17'' mille miglias and think it might be because the wheels are a bit too wide and stick out, but like I said i'm just not sure. I possibly need to roll my fenders? Thanks for the help!

[cooljess76]

offset.

[spidertri]

/thread.

[cooljess76]

Originally Posted by kchica415

the back left spring was broken, so I recently replaced it with a spring from an older e30.

So let me get this straight, you determined the original spring was broken by comparing it to a spring off of a completely different generation/model BMW? I'm sorry, but that makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever. The fact that you installed an e30 spring on one corner of your car to solve a problem blows my mind. I'd be more concerned about safety and handling being compromised due to uneven spring rates and improper fitment, than I would be about the tires rubbing.

[Del Rio]

get some spacers

edit: nvm you said fenders

[3.2TI]

If you are running these wheels then they are 17x8 et20, which means that the OFFSET is low, like Jess said. If your car is lowered you need to roll your fenders and or get 205/40/17 or 215/40/17 tires, depending on your choice and how much you are rubbing.

[kchica415]

Originally Posted by cooljess76

So let me get this straight, you determined the original spring was broken by comparing it to a spring off of a completely different generation/model BMW? I'm sorry, but that makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever. The fact that you installed an e30 spring on one corner of your car to solve a problem blows my mind. I'd be more concerned about safety and handling being compromised due to uneven spring rates and improper fitment, than I would be about the tires rubbing.

I determined the original spring was broken based on the following:
1. The left rear side of the vehicle was sitting approximately 1.5" lower than the right.
2. Both ends of the spring were sheared off removing nearly 2" of the original spring's height.
3. The e30 rear spring is the same height/shape as the right OEM spring.

Are you trying to say that its safer to run the broken OEM spring, rather than an identical, unbroken spring, from another model car? The rear springs from both the e30 and the 318ti are responsible for nearly identical curb weights, and in a pinch, there's simply no way a good spring is worse than a broken one.

[cloud9193]

What he's saying is even if the spring looks/fits the same, that the spring rate of the e30 spring is most likely different. Should've just replaced both springs with used OEM ones. Either replace both or not at all.

[cooljess76]

I'm not saying that at all. Size and shape of a spring has little if anything to do with spring rate. At the very least you'd want matching springs.

[cooljess76]

Originally Posted by cloud9193

What he's saying is even if the spring looks/fits the same, that the spring rate of the e30 spring is most likely different. Should've just replaced both springs with used OEM ones. Either replace both or not at all.

^^^exactly

[kchica415]

I'll go ahead and get the matching spring and replace the right one as well. The left side was previously rubbing really bad and had to be replaced asap so that is why we just replaced that one. The car drives fine right now, and the fender gap on the left side is near identical to the right side so it appears there are no problems.

[cooljess76]

Cool.

FWIW, just because a vehicle's curb weight is close, does not mean it's a good idea to use non matching springs on different sides of the car. I wouldn't take a spring off of a Toyota pickup and put it on the front of my ti because it looked the same and the vehicles are close in weight. Two completely different vehicles engineered to perform and handle differently.

[kchica415]

Good to know, honestly this was my first time doing any work on the suspension of a car, but I knew the spring was broken and needed to be fixed so rather than buying new springs, it made the most sense to take the used one off of the old e30 sitting around at my boyfriend's mom's house. (I'm a college student; I usually default to choosing the cheapest option.)

I get 98% of my information from my boyfriend, who has owned 3 e30's, 1 M3, 1 M5, 1 318, and 1 other 5 series and changed the suspension on several of them, and is an active member of numerous BMW forums. So as someone who has limited knowledge of BMW's, nevertheless cars in general, I trust him to fix mine since he has owned 7 of them and has much more experience working on them. Naturally, he got a little heated when you called him out that he was making my car unsafe, and that his idea made absolutely no sense. (you didn't call him out per say, but you know what I mean) He and his friend said the ti had an e30 rear suspension, and the other spring would work, so while you might think I'm an idiot for taking their advice and changing it, it sure beats the hell outta taking my car into a shop and having some mechanic screw me over cz I'm a girl and "BMW's are expensive to work on."

[3.2TI]

Personally I know very little about the mix and match of the ti and e30 rear spring rate or size but being that most of the rear is interchangeable I would see this as a possibility. Of course I am no expert and it would take some reading and research to get that answered. Either way I do hope that you replace both springs and not just one, at least to be sure it is even.

Post some pics of the springs to see the comparison...

[kchica415]

Originally Posted by 3.2TI

Post some pics of the springs to see the comparison...

Unfortunately I already threw away the old spring, which wouldn't make a good comparison anyways, but I will take pics hopefully next week sometime when I change the other spring.