I have an 01 cobra and just put the lowering springs on it. My rear wheels are 18x10 and are rubbing the wheel well at even the slightest bump or dip in the road. Is there anything I can do, or are the wheels just too big? Would spacers help, or does that just move the wheels out away from the exhaust?
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Joined: 6/8/2006 From: SF Bay Area Status: offline
Where are they rubbing? How low did you go? What are tire numbers?
I am running 295/30's on 18"x10.5"s and 1/2" spacers and have no issues of rubbing at all. I have a 2" drop and fenders are heavily rolled, so you should not be rubbing uless you are running a HIGH profile tire.
The tires are Sumitomo 285/352R18 97W and it was dropped 1.5"-1.75" with springs that were for an 01 cobra with irs. It's definately rubbing though, I just looked at it again this morning and the tread on the outer edge of the tires are shredding and I only drove it about a mile from the shop.
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Joined: 6/8/2006 From: SF Bay Area Status: offline
Sounds like you are hitting on the fender. If you drove home, even if only a mile, then you can probably get away with rolling the fenders. In case you are not familiar, I recommend you have a body shop do it so it comes out nice. This should allow the clearance you need, b/c if you were hitting REAL bad, you would have had to pull over due to SEVERE noise, tire and fender damage. Is the fender pulled out some around the inside edge?
I could here the noise as soon as I hit even the slightest dip in the road, and this morning when I looked at it again, there was some damage to the tire. It doesn't seem like it is hitting the fender, it seems to be hitting the top of the wheel well. when it is parked you can fit your hand laying flat on the wheel between the wheel and the well, but thats about it. The car came stock with 17" wheels and I put on 18" before I had it dropped.
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Joined: 6/8/2006 From: SF Bay Area Status: offline
If you only have 1 hand thickness (about 1" or so) than you have well more than 2" drop. I woul not expect any "damage" to tire from hitting underside of wheel well, only fender. You see the tires/wheels I am running and have no rubbing anywhere and dropped 2". I have never measured space above tire, but figure it is probably 3" (I will try to measure tonight). One difference I have over you is torque bar, pan-hard bar and no upper control arms. This allows the axle to move straight up and down inside of wells as axle articulates. You have upper control arms and will move the wheel forward or backward some as it moves up and down. Although, this would not be an issue when hitting a bump and car remains level (this would be a solid axle rear-end. Please confirm you have one because my info will be incorrect on this issue).
I'll take some pictures tonight. I just printed out the mounting instructions for the springs, and noticed that the instructions say to remove the spring isolator from the factory springs and to put it on the new spring. What if the mechanic didn't know to do that? That would probably drop it another 3/4"-1" i would think, if he put them on without it. He said he put my old springs in my trunk, so im gonna check when i get home and see if the isolator is still attached. Do you think that could be the problem?
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Joined: 6/8/2006 From: SF Bay Area Status: offline
I used to remove the isolators from my springs whenever I lowed my cars. It gave me another 1/2" drop or so and didn't change ride quality but in the most minute way. I just was able to check my car and have at 4"or so. I was able to put my fingers together and hold hand on edge between the tire and thumbnail was touching inside of fender above.
Look at this thread ***HERE*** and you can see my car and the stance it has. Let me know if my car is higher (I suspect it is). It maybe possible that you have the incorrect springs installed.
mine appears to be lower, there is definately more of a gap between your wheel and well then mine. I'll snap some pictures tonight and post them. I know the springs I bought are supposed to be for an 01 cobra convertible with irs, but I'm wondering if the mechanic didn't install them correctly. What if he put them upside down or has the rear ones in the front and vice versa, or if he didn't use the isolators. I spoke to him and he suggested putting my factory springs back on in the back or changing my wheels, but I think he has to have done something wrong, or I have the wrong springs. I have the box they came in at home, so I'll double check. thanks for all your help, I'll be back on here after I get home and can have the car and the spring box in front of me.
I just called Eibach, and they told me the sportline springs I got are made for the coupe, not the convertible, and that I would have to buy the pro-kit for the convertible. And that the reason it is sitting so low is that the convertible is so much heavier then the coupe. Then I looked at their website and sure enough the springs I bought are listed for the coupe and the convertible. They did say if I could find an extra thick isolator pad to replace the stock one, I could raise the back up enough. It came with a 13milimeter thick isolator pad with a .66 motion ratio. Any idea where I could find an extra thick isolator pad? Eibach gave me the name of a company, but when I called they said they only deal in original stock parts.
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Joined: 6/8/2006 From: SF Bay Area Status: offline
I think you may want to get the correct springs as the rate will be incorrect for your car.
You will be able to raise it up with extra-thick spacer, but springs will probably not fit correctly and ride will be rougher than it should be. I think you should try to return them, if possible, or sell them on SVT or Classifieds section of MF's. Incorrect spring rate can make your car handle poorly and ride lousy.
Sorry to hear that, but answers some of the wierd things you were describing.
I ordered the right ones. Do you think I could leave the the front springs on and just replace the rear ones, or will that mess up the ride to have different springs in the front and back?
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Joined: 6/8/2006 From: SF Bay Area Status: offline
My feeling is that the entire set of 4 needs to be replaced, as the vert is heavier and hight as well as ride will be compromised.
I would, however, consider leaving out the spring pads to get a little lower, if you like, and not change spring rate and only minutely change ride quality (you probably won't notice ride quality) IF YOU LEAVE PADS OUT, GREASE THE CONTACT POINTS SO YOU DON'T GET SQUEEKING OF METAL ON METAL. How low a drop is the spring set-up you have comming? If it is 1.5", leave the spring pads in but BE SURE TO SEAT RING INTO PAD PROPERLY. A misaligned pad will not let car set to proper hight and likely be un-even.
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01 cobra rear wheels rubbing wheel well - 
