Rubbing Tires (Standard size)

[gstsaver]

Hi, On my 87 GT it was pointed out to me today when being inspected that the front tires rub against the plastic inner fender and control arm.
They are standard 225/60/15 with standard rims that come with the car.
Anyone else have this problem with standard sized tires and rims ? What on earth could be causing this ?

 

[General karthief]

Is it lowered?
check lower control arm bushings for wear, tie rod ends and the front end alignment, after that it may be miss aligned body panels or/and bent front structure.

 

[gstsaver]

Not lowered but feel like allingment out so will try that. Control arm bushing and tie rods are all good.

 

[Mustang5L5]

I'd imagine the inspection would have checked for bad bushings and balljoints in the front arms?

Has the car been hit at all? Is it only one side?

 

[91TwighlightGT]

Bent components could certainly cause it. I wonder if the rack bushing could be worn allowing some play and extra movement? Does the steering feel tight?

 

[Blown88GT]

Hi, On my 87 GT it was pointed out to me today when being inspected that the front tires rub against the plastic inner fender and control arm.
They are standard 225/60/15 with standard rims that come with the car.
Anyone else have this problem with standard sized tires and rims ? What on earth could be causing this ?

I had the same problem from day 1 when I bought the car new. It's only a problem with the GT's at full steering lock. Ford changed the components in '90.

Several solutions available:
1. Change tire size to 225/50/15
2. Get some steering rack limiters.
https://lmr.com/item/LRS-3504HDW/79-04-Mustang-Steering-Rack-Limiter-6-Pack

 

[gstsaver]

Thanks guys. I will check out the limiters.
The steering does feel a bit loose but aren't all fox body Stang's a bit loose in the steering ? (Last one I had before this one was 20 years ago so hard to remember exactly). It hasn't been lowered and rack bushings are fine

 

[FastDriver]

Uh... no. Sometimes the power steering can make steering feel kinda numb in comparison to other cars, but no. Not loose.

Also, if 225/60/15s are rubbing, then you have a problem. Stocker shouldn't rub at all.

 

[gstsaver]

I think the first thing will be an alignment and see if that helps much. It has a noisy power steering pump or rack ..squeals a bit when turning but I believe most fox body's do as well?

 

[FastDriver]

power steering pumps tend to whine a bit loudly on 90s fords, including foxbodies. Not sure "squeals" is a great description, though. To me a squeal would be the sound it makes when the belt is slipping.

 

[General karthief]

Or a prius stuck in your grill

 

[Mustang5L5]

I don't think an alignment is going to help. If you are rubbing the fender, aligning the car isn't going to change that.

Do you have pics?

 

[mikestang63]

those are stock size tires
there should not be any rubbing
You need to fix/repair.replace the suspension parts before doing any alignment
Any shop that wants to align a car with bad suspension parts in place is somewhere you need to run from
it is not uncommon to need rack limiters- a cheap and easy fix

 

[Boostedpimp]

Does the car have an aftermarket k member in it? Some tend to push the wheel base a bit and with the smaller wheel well opening of the 87-90 cars it tends to rub with stock height tire. Post a picture so we can help pin point the cause

 

[Mustang5L5]

Any shop that wants to align a car with bad suspension parts in place is somewhere you need to run from

I would agree. Any bad suspension parts or loose parts and a shop should reject performing an alignment until fixed. AS an owner, I'd want to hear about loose tie rod ends, or bad bushings rather than have them spec it out and ship it

 

[frankbaerhimself]

I was told that after 30 years the car can be a bit self lowering. I bought the steering rack limiters from LMR.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Even lowered, the 15" wheels and tires shouldn't rub.

 

[Blown88GT]

You're not paying attention to what I said.
I am the original owner of this car.
It is well known that the early Fox body GT's rub the front part of the fender skits.
Mine still has the scars to show it.
This happened before modifications of any kind.
For all you doubters, here's the proof.

Steering rack limiters might fix this, they weren't available until many years later when Ford started using them at the factory, along with modifications to the skirt geometry.
I bought some a couple years ago, but never installed them.
The best solution is a smaller wheel/tire combo.
You can compare & see the size differences, here.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc

 

[Mustang5L5]

Except that's not the location the OP is saying they are experiencing rubbing

 

[Blown88GT]

Except that's not the location the OP is saying they are experiencing rubbing

Read it again.

...the front tires rub against the plastic inner fender...