3 replies to this topic

[iakona]

1998 Sportsback MPI 

I had new wings installed, and followed the template set out by minispares to cut the arches which I believe i've done properly. However the front left when in lock is now catching on the wheel arches (the plastic original ones).

Wondering if there's anything else i've done. They sit on 13", doesn't look like there's anything wrong with the arms. I am wondering if the cones have sagged so much they are now catching? Just unsure of what else other than to cut the plastic arches, which im a bit reluctant to do. 

They didn't catch before the restoration, but the restoration has taken me almost a year to do. 

[mab01uk]

When the new front wings were installed was the front panel also replaced or removed and refitted?

The reason for asking is that the factory fitted spacer shims of varying numbers to the teardrop rubber subframe mounts on each side to push out the front panel/wings to clear wheels/tyres on full lock. This was probably due to worn factory tooling over many years and lack of investment, increasing tolerances and alignments on what was a handbuilt bodyshell when compared to modern robot car body manufacture to much finer tolerances.

Even if the front panel was not replaced, fitting new wings may have disturbed things and slightly altered the original clearance.

From memory I think the front left wing arch when on lock is usually the side that catches the most often and often seems to have needed more spacer shims fitted at the factory to gain clearance, even with standard 12" wheels and uncut arches.

Maybe try loosening the bolts especially on that side and sliding in more spacers if at all possible to ease the front panel/wing forward a little.

There are two fixings for each rubber teardrop mount. The first fixes the teardrop at the top to the front valance. There is a captive nut in the valance which a short 5/16" UNF bolt screws into and secures with a spring washer. The second fixing goes through teardrop and connects it to the front subframe. This will either be a 3/8" UNF nut and bolt (or an optional towing eye can be installed/fitted). The important thing with a teardrop is the bolts should not be used to pull the front panel valance to the subframe, but the special packing shims are available to take up the varying gap.

 

PACKING SPACER BETWEEN FRONT PANEL AND SUBFRAME - 2A4292
"Fitted to rubber mounted subframes from 1976 on this packing piece goes between the front panel and the subframe mounting points. You might be surprised how many of these were fitted to your car when it came out the factory. When replacing the front panel or mountings you should repack them accordingly. They are open end shaped to slide in over the bolt 1.4mm."

https://www.minispar...el-and-subframe

Edited by mab01uk, Yesterday, 04:46 PM.

[iakona]

Wow, you might be onto something there. The front panel was indeed replaced, and im confident I didn't use anything like that! Im just trying to view the diagram to visualise where those spacers go! 

[sonikk4]

How do the wheel sit within the Arch? Are they centered?