16 replies to this topic

[alextheboyowen]

Can anyone help me? I have fitted sport pack arches to my British Open Classic Mini and also 7x13 minilites. The rear wheels fit perfectly but the front wheels do not look central in the front arches. Also when i turn the wheels the outer edge of the tyre rubs the arch. I cannot even turn the steering wheel one full turn!

The garage that fitted the arches says the offset is wrong. Is this correct? The arches seem to be fitted in the right place at the side indicator is in the right place and they are snug to the front bumper.

What offset should i have?

(I bought the wheels off of ebay)

Thanks in advance

Alex

[oli8925]

No 7x13 or I think 6x13 wheel will fit the mini without having to cut the arches to get a decent amount of lock without them catching the arches. You haven't done your homework. Minispares I think have a downloadable template telling you where to cut the arches.

As for 'they don't look right', I don't quite understand. The offset on most 13x7 wheels for minis is ET-7, but I don't see how that will have any affect on them looking central in the arches, it just adjusts how much the stick out by.

Edited by oli8925, 08 May 2011 - 06:27 PM.

[bmcecosse]

Rover also raised the suspension -and limited the steering lock when fitting the silly 13" wheels. Have you done that ?

[RayBoogs]

are they catching on the sportspack arch or on the metal wing, because if its the metal wing you will need to cut some away, and if its the actual sportspack arch you may have fitted them wrong. Photos might help with identifying the problem too.

[alextheboyowen]

 my_mini.JPG   51.23K   148 downloads
Here is the only picture i have at the moment, to give you an idea (Sorry my phone wiped all the others off!)


I did have group 5 arches on before and all was fine (they did not rub on the body work as i have cut that out as per the templates) the garage fitted the sportpack arches and now when turning the wheels the outer edge of the tyre rubs the sportpack arch.

Any ideas?

(I will get better pictures tomorrow)

Edited by alextheboyowen, 08 May 2011 - 08:08 PM.

[oli8925]

Do you know the type of Sportspack arch? Genuine, not genuine, rubber? My 13x7s used to catch on the outer edge of sportspacks as you say. I guess the only way to stop this is to trim the arch or try to bend it out.

[alextheboyowen]

They are fiberglass non genuine.

[Tupers]

It looks like you've got quite a high profile tyre compared to what most people run with 13x7s. I ran these on my MPI that was lowered and they only just caught on the arches when parking.


If you're wheels look like they're too far forward in the arches you may have bent Tie Bars. They connect the hubs to the front of the subframe and will push the wheel forward if bent.

[oli8925]

I ran 195/45r13

Use this to calculate the dimensions and affects different tyres will have.

[alextheboyowen]

I will check all this tomorrow and up some pictures. Im getting desperate as i have tickets for the L2B run and a mini that does not drive!

[oli8925]

I will check all this tomorrow and up some pictures. Im getting desperate as i have tickets for the L2B run and a mini that does not drive!

I have a similar problem

[cradley-heathen]

i know what you mean, i have seen several minis with 7x13 alloys and sportspack arches, and they usually have huge rub marks on the inner side of the plastic/rubber/g-f arch (i dont know how they put up with it!)

i think part of the problem is that sportspack arches are deigned for sports pack wheels, which are both narrower and have a different offset. standard s/p arches overhang (or bury) the s/p wheels because of this.

only last week i had to cut the metal wings back on a friends mini who had s/p arches and 7x13 starmags to prevent them from catching.

my personal opinion (and it really is only that) is that s/p arches and s/p wheels should always be fitted together, other wheels dont look right with s/p arches IMO. 7x13s look best (and fit best for that matter) with somthing like grp5s etc. as i say thats just my opinion though!

[alextheboyowen]

Thanks for all the help.
I changed the tie rods and now they fit nicely.

MOT showed up lots more issues lol (like the drive shaft cutting through my exhaust!)

Fingers crossed i will make it to the L2B run.

[oli8925]

the drive shaft cutting through my exhaust!

I'm a bit out of touch with Minis now, but from what I remember surely the driveshaft shouldn't be anywhere near your exhaust!?

[wardyxxx]

Lulus got 13's on, but no limited steering rack - seems like she doesn't need it! Never had a problem with rubbing. But you deffo need to triom the arches