Well ... just fucking shit **** bitch ass motherfucker ...

[8ball]

Well, cut the fenders today. As you can tell from the title, things didn't go well. First, father came up with an idea. Why don't you cut slots in the fender lip and then roll it, making it less stressful on the paint? Great idea. Minus the fact that nobody on here said the fender lip is motherfucking 3 layers fucking thick, so rolling it was basically impossible with the tools we had. Cutting it was no easy task either. On the side that we tried rolling it, paint was visibly cracked. Other side, no cracking ... yet. Results of it all ... let's just say this car will never be allowed near a car show, unless the fender gets replaced. Nothing visible, but if you peak under, well, I don't think I need to explain.

Now, for the better news. Still motherfucking rubs. It has definitely helped, but on high speed turns and large dips in the road, there is absolutely rubbing ... scary sounding rubbing ... the kind of sound that makes you wonder if your tires will hold together (my tires were shredded from rubbing). So, now, here are some things.

1. Still need an alignment, but was waiting for the springs to settle in. Springs are settled now, but just got the 18" Beyern's on, so an alignment will be coming VERY soon. Will this help? Seeing as it won't effect the camber, I'm guessing a resounding NO.
2. Will running a smaller tire help? Currently have 285/35 Nitto 555 DR's. Thinking of going to a 275/35 or 265/35 standard Nitto 555's. Could this help? Looks like it's just hitting at the very edge.

Only other option would be to trash the 9.5" wide wheel, run drag bags with a ton of pressure and/or run Pedders 0" drops rather than the 1/2" drop I have now.

[bsavi]

wow im sorry to hear that man! I have a 2" drop in the front and a 1.5" drop in the back but i took mine to a body shop to roll the fenders and they put an anti corrosive on the rolls to make sure they didnt crack or chip... i didnt have the balls to try the task on my own.

[8ball]

wow im sorry to hear that man! I have a 2" drop in the front and a 1.5" drop in the back but i took mine to a body shop to roll the fenders and they put an anti corrosive on the rolls to make sure they didnt crack or chip... i didnt have the balls to try the task on my own.

Yea, should have done that. Worst part is, doubt it can be rolled now after the cutting. Unbelievably pissed right now. This fucking car makes me never want to mod a car again. Why are there 3 motherfucking layers of metal??!?

[Lorider680]

Have you checked your cradle alignment? The 275's on mine rub on one side, though my fenders are untouched.
F

[pbmgoat]

What were you trying to roll it with? If you couldnt get a fender roller, you should just get a grinder. You might want to try and grinding down whats left and then touching it up with touch up paint.

[8ball]

Have you checked your cradle alignment? The 275's on mine rub on one side, though my fenders are untouched.
F

Have no checked my cradle alignment. It rubs on both side, but the right side is the only that has havor wreaked on it (fender tearing into the tire).

What were you trying to roll it with? If you couldnt get a fender roller, you should just get a grinder. You might want to try and grinding down whats left and then touching it up with touch up paint.

A big ol' piece of steel bar. Then pliers (with a metric ass-ton of tape cover the fender and pliers) ... still got cracking and it barely made a dent in the fender lips. Finally just got to cutting them up.

[Kingsize]

I hate to hear this, but if you would have bought a proper offset wheel you wouldn't be having any issues. I am running a 275mm with tire on 9" wheels, I have not rolled or cut anything and I have 1/2" room between the fender lips and the tire and 3/4" on the inside between the tire and the shock tube at full suspension compression. Just rack it up as lesson learned and go drive that beotch! :)

[Lorider680]

A big ol' piece of steel bar. Then pliers (with a metric ass-ton of tape cover the fender and pliers) ... still got cracking and it barely made a dent in the fender lips. Finally just got to cutting them up.

That's kinda funny you say that. I was going to put a Louisville Slugger in between my tire and the fender to try and roll it when moved. I got scared.
F

[8ball]

I hate to hear this, but if you would have bought a proper offset wheel you wouldn't be having any issues. I am running a 275mm with tire on 9" wheels, I have not rolled or cut anything and I have 1/2" room between the fender lips and the tire and 3/4" on the inside between the tire and the shock tube at full suspension compression. Just rack it up as lesson learned and go drive that beotch! :)

Yea, lesson learned indeed. As for your last comment, I don't think you guys are understanding why I'm so concerned about this rubbing issue. I'll post up pics in a bit ... it's not simply a nuisance as far as noise, it could potentially have me blowing out a tire, destroying the wheel and possibly sending me careening off the road.

That's kinda funny you say that. I was going to put a Louisville Slugger in between my tire and the fender to try and roll it when moved. I got scared.
F

You didn't miss out on much. There is no way any human being would be able to roll the fenders this way, unless you started taking huge swings at it.

[8ball]

Here y'all go. Just imagine this around the entire outter edge of the tire. Only happens on the right tire, not on the left.

http://i41.tinypic.com/6i5rfk.jpg

[WilsonSSS04]

What are the offsets on the rear rims?

[thekingntb]

Wow that sucks... Sorry to hear!

[wildey475mag]

ill go with incorrect offsets on the wheels along with you need that cradle aligned im far from a expert but from what i see here the cradles are the key to this as well as the correct offsets one of the reasons that im going to a zero drop in the front and 5/16 raise in the rear before i get my beyrens and 275's

[purplenurple]

Yea, 285s arent a good idea with wheels that werent meant for the GTO in the first place.
The max that I would put on wheels with those specs is 275.

It probably wont fix the issue, but rear control arm and sub-frame bushings will reduce movement back there and help with clearence. Shaving down the wheel mounting surface 3mm will also help.

...or your safest bet is jacking up the rear ski-high with drag bags.

[mooninitesunite]

You have no idea how much worse it could have gone. I went to a local shop that a member here recommended and, needless to say, I don't even feel like looking at my car anymore. :(

[ls2alex]

try getting the cradle alignment

[impulse101]

I did pretty much same thing with the whole cut slots thing, needleess to say I ended up bringing to body shop and they fixed it back up for fairly cheap..like 200-300$ i think it was to fix the hack job ;)

[sporaclic]

And i only paid 125$ to get mine cut and if he Screwed em up well then i got a new fender lol.
Either way your running to wide of a tire.
For me anything wider than 10.7 (some brands 265s and some brands 275s) isnt going to fit back there. I have a 45mm offset with a 48+ you can fit any brands 275 and maybe some of the narrower brands 285s but very doubtful.

Other things that may help... My king springs dont rub like my pedders springs did.
I havent had sufficient weight with the kings yet but im 1/4" inch lower than my pedders springs sat and my pedders rubbed with more than 2 people in the car so it does help with rubbing. I will have 4 people in the car soon so i will know if it ever rubs for me. Im expecting it to though.

[8ball]

Ok, so, got these used and bought them on an impulse (always wanted Beyerns and it was a damn good deal). 45mm offset. Didn't even bother to check how bad these were for rubbing. Big mistake, never again. Hopefully the cradle alignment will cure the problem. If not, hopefully a narrower tire. If not, may just have to scrap the wheels and get new ones with a 30mm offset.

[CoppeR]

2 words:

angle grinder


Takes the metal off like butter.

[impulse101]

Ok, so, got these used and bought them on an impulse (always wanted Beyerns and it was a damn good deal). 45mm offset. Didn't even bother to check how bad these were for rubbing. Big mistake, never again. Hopefully the cradle alignment will cure the problem. If not, hopefully a narrower tire. If not, may just have to scrap the wheels and get new ones with a 30mm offset.

30mm is not correct..u want higher than 45-52 abouts if possible for rears.

[8ball]

2 words:

angle grinder


Takes the metal off like butter.

Had something similar to that. Definitely made the job easier, but certainly didn't make it easy. I also stopped every so often as to not heat the metal too much. Having to restart messed things up more to be honest. Should have just kept at it.

[8ball]

30mm is not correct..u want higher than 45-52 abouts if possible for rears.

You would be correct. I'm retarded. The previous owner didn't seem to have a problem running these. Not a fan of DR's anyways and wanted to switch the tires soon. May have to do that a lot sooner than I had anticipated.

[Mikey340]

2 words:

angle grinder


Takes the metal off like butter.

+1
Get the Beyern's shaved and some 275s you'll be golden.
Mike

[sporaclic]

Or leave them unshaved and get a 265

[8ball]

Or leave them unshaved and get a 265

Will do, if not, shave them ... if that doesn't help, assume fetal position for a day or two

[GTOGRRRR]

IMO...get your cradle centered....have 3mm shaved off your wheel hubs and run a 265/35...you need at least a 48 offset with a 9.5" wide wheel...

that 285/35 your running is way too tall and wide...with the 265/35 the difference in O.D. is .6"

[Daisey Moonshine]

Oh 8ball that sounds like a nightmare. If I were you, I would have the damage professionally repaired and get a proper set of wheels & tires.

[Adam4356]

sorry to read about your mess. Sounds to me like just too much tire and wheel. The fender rolling is a nice way to buy alittle room, but it can't correct a offset and tire combo. The cradle alignment is great but yet again might not correct the problem. Especially if both sides have some issue.

good luck

[jimmyonirocs]

fender roller and a heat would have been you best friends

[itslow]

When I purchased my GTO it had the 18x9.5" Beyern 5's with Nitto 275/35's and drag bags (stock springs) and fenders trimmed to the spot welds. Cradle hadn't been aligned. This combination didn't rub with air in the drag bags, but looked like a 4x4, IMO. Might have worked w/o the bags if the cradle had been aligned, however.

Regardless, I wanted the car lower (Pedders 1/2" lowering springs) and wasn't keen on the look of the Beyern 5's, so I switched to some billet 18x9's with a +51mm offset.

[City Goat]

Dude you live in NY...all our roads are horrible. Ditch the lowering springs, go with the drag springs from Pedders or Kollar and be done with this nonsense.

[Daniel Linnett]

You can always go my route if you want some serious meat under there. I had my fenders cut and the car Minitubed and am running 315s on 11" rims. I know that it probably is not cost effective for most people but it is an option.

Otherwise just cutting the fenders should resolve your issues depending on the offsets of course. But I was able to run a BMW rim with only a 40mm offset before my minitub with cut fenders.

[Chilly Palmer]

I don't understand why anyone actually ROLLS the fenders. It's easier and cheaper (even if you have to buy the angle grinder) to just cut/grind them down. No risk of paint cracking either, although I did manage to knick the outer fender on my car when the grinder got away from me for a split-second. :o

[UnRelentLess]

I understand the need/want to save money but honestly. I mean you live in NY, should of just called up Frank at Rocksand Racing in Bethlehem PA and schedule an appointment. Do it right, Do it once! Trip was well worth it for me, customer service is superb. Ask anyone familiar with Rocksand Racing.

[8ball]

IMO...get your cradle centered....have 3mm shaved off your wheel hubs and run a 265/35...you need at least a 48 offset with a 9.5" wide wheel...

that 285/35 your running is way too tall and wide...with the 265/35 the difference in O.D. is .6"

That .6" should be exactly what the doctor ordered. As you can see from the pics, it's just getting the edge of that tire. Poop.

[8ball]

I understand the need/want to save money but honestly. I mean you live in NY, should of just called up Frank at Rocksand Racing in Bethlehem PA and schedule an appointment. Do it right, Do it once! Trip was well worth it for me, customer service is superb. Ask anyone familiar with Rocksand Racing.

Wasn't about the money. I asked for a professional place to do it on the NE section. Nobody responded. I got impatient and just did it myself. Either way, very doubtful I'd go all the way to Frank anyways. It'd wind up being a huge PITA ... tho, guess it would be worth it if it had solved all this. *le sigh*

[2005silverbullet]

I have been impatient before too. Many times. Comes around and bites me in the ass too. Sometimes the best deal isn't.

[GTO=Beast]

OK so I am kind of confused here. I am going to buy new tires soon and I want to go with 275/40/17's (thinking Nitto's) on the stock rim in the back. Will this fit without having to cut/grind/roll or any other means of altering the fender?

[Shockrock3]

Dude you live in NY...all our roads are horrible. Ditch the lowering springs, go with the drag springs from Pedders or Kollar and be done with this nonsense.

Took 32 posts for the correct answer...just did it this weekend, install 5/16" and enjoy life. Pic is in my sig.

[devwil68@hotmail.com]

sorry to hear about that man! should have had somebody roll it. i did, and it was really worth it!

[City Goat]

Last bit of solutions....

1. Grind down the inside fenders half way through the weld. It will hold and you'll have extra room.

2. Springs dude. Don't go through this nonsense of shaving the wheels down, potential running into more issues if it's off balance...cheapest and easiest solution = springs

[wrp]

OK so I am kind of confused here. I am going to buy new tires soon and I want to go with 275/40/17's (thinking Nitto's) on the stock rim in the back. Will this fit without having to cut/grind/roll or any other means of altering the fender?I am running 275 Nittos on Stock Rims no rubbing. Have my fenders rolled though. But I had them rolled when running 18 inch wheels with 40 offset. I can't say for sure they would rub with the stockers.

[GTOGRRRR]

I am running 275 Nittos on Stock Rims no rubbing. Have my fenders rolled though. But I had them rolled when running 18 inch wheels with 40 offset. I can't say for sure they would rub with the stockers.

no rubbing because your STOCK wheels are 8" wide...the problems arise when you go to a 9.5" wide wheel...

[2005silverbullet]

I changed oil this weekend and had car tilted kinda funny. Where back wheel was deep in wheel well. Looked like I have about 1" to spare on stock wheels. The tires are 255/40/17s not sure about 18's though.