Hey guys.

I'm putting bigger rims (18x8, +35, 235/40/18 tyres) on my VR-X in a couple of days. Most threads mention having to trim the rear flares so that the tyres don't scrub when there's a load in the back. I had a look under the car today and found this, which confused me a bit...

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd31/89djm/flares.jpg

The lip above the flares - is it part of the bodywork? Does it need to be trimmed to ensure that the rims don't scrub? If so, what should I trim it with, as it appears to be metal? I was just going to use a dremel to trim the flares.

I have King Lows in the back, but I often highway drive and tow for work/have luggage/have big mates in the back, so I'm guessing I'm going to have to be pretty liberal with how much I take off.

I know all the threads on bigger rims are getting annoying, but I'm driving 600km in a couple of days time, so I want to make sure everything's tip-top before I go :) Thanks in advance.

it's usually just the plastic (and clips) that rub, and then I found it was the at the rear of the arch that I had the most scrubbing.

take to the plastic with your dremel, then find some mates and pile 'em in the back and go for a drive. a couple of cement bags in the boot and a full tank of fuel should be enough to see whether you need to take more off.

cheers,
.wook

from the pics its pretty obvious that you'd be better of giving them to me

The best bet is to remove the flare, (is easy) and then trim from 10 oclock to about 2 oclock as you look at it the right way up.

Mine have the 18 x 8 and the rears JUST touch on a heavy bump or on one of our freeways there are a couple of dips and at 100 will just hear it touch. Has not marked the tyres at all so must only be just

Also depends on the offset as mine poke out a fair way

u can get lip on the actual guard (the metal part) rolled flat... some tyre shops have the tool for this..

i had my red sports dont years back.. no problems at all after that was done

u can get lip on the actual guard (the metal part) rolled flat... some tyre shops have the tool for this..
I'll ask when I get it done, but if not, I could probably grab the dremel and cut it off myself? It seems pretty thin, and doesn't appear to be attached to anything bar the flare.

Thanks for the opinions guys. I might just hack at the flare and see how we go from there.


from the pics its pretty obvious that you'd be better of giving them to me
That's definitely a better idea :P

If the new wheels contact the guards your better off getting them rolled rather than cutting off the lip.
That lip is there to give the guard strength, at least by rolling them you retain some of that strength.

I'll ask when I get it done, but if not, I could probably grab the dremel and cut it off myself? It seems pretty thin, and doesn't appear to be attached to anything bar the flare.

Thanks for the opinions guys. I might just hack at the flare and see how we go from there.


That's definitely a better idea :P

mate, if you stuff up cutting that section your up for a new rear quater panel.. big job that requires cutting the old panel off with a grinder and welding a new on one.. you really dont wana stuff that up mate...

get it rolled man.. about $80 from memory... much better than cutting it which could potentially cost your 1-2k to fix (per side)

Didn't think of it that way. I'll probably find someone to roll it to be on the safe side. Cheers.

Just an update if anyone comes across this when searching in the future. Went to pick up my car this afternoon after getting the wheels fitted. The tyre sits *below* the flare. The flare was on so I didn't get a good look, but I reckon it would have rubbed like anything on the guard - my old man reckons I wouldn't even make it up our driveway with the flare/guard still intact. Didn't think it'd be that bad given my choice of wheel/tyre, but it'll be right in the end.

Pretty annoyed about it though, I asked the guy at the tyre shop to roll the guard 'if necessary' and he didn't. Not very safe if you ask me... :nuts:

On the plus side, car looks VERY schmick with its new wheels :D

Any pics??

I'll update my Members Machine thread when I get the car back and give it a clean, but here's a snapshot I took when I was in before. While clearance is an issue at the back, at least the rims really fill up the guards :D

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd31/89djm/DSC00558resized.jpg