problem with BMR A-arms and aftermarket wheels

[94tbird]

Well as you may be aware i jsut got my car back from the body shop. i also had the BMR A-arms installed as well as one of the stock arms was bent. They are super quiet and no added NVH but there is a problem. i have 9.5" rims up front running a 275/40/18 BFG tire. when i turn the wheel to either left or right extremes, the rim is scraping the BMR a-arm. these are the same rims i had before with no issue with the stock a-arms. here is a pic of where it is scraping

it makes a horrible noise when it scrapes obviously. I called BMR and spoke to jason and asked him if i could shave that piece of metal off, if it would cause any structural problems. he said i could take some off the straight part of the a-arm, but if i took it out of the elbow above, it may cause problems. im not sure how much further the wheel is suppsoed to turn either since it is hitting the a-arm currently. he said the a-arms are designed off the stock wheel (8in wide rim and stock tire). i find it hard to beleive many people are out there with the stock rims and tires. any ideas on what to do guys?

 

[S197 GT]

Yeah, take them off and return them.

You shouldn't be taking off any material to get these to fit....It's way to crucial of a part to be "modifying" it.

Save a life, run your stockers!

BTW...Sorry to hear about that, but for god's sake...don't hurt yourself or your car again to shave a few pounds off of the front.

If BMR thought you could get away with less material, they would have made them that way....Just my

 

[qwkcoupe]

Usually with really wide tires you have to have to install Steering Rack Limiters. Fox body mustangs had these on many of the GT model, where as the narrow tire 4 and 6 bangers did not.

http://www.stangsuspension.com/store/comersus_viewitem.asp?idproduct=1333

a) Take the boot off of the end of the rack (slide it off).
b) Install 1,2,3 amount of limiters as needed to keep the tires from hitting the frame.
c) Slide the boot back on and resecure the boot onto the rack with the correct ford stainless strap and tool (sorry I don't remember what parts are correct. I used stainless steel zip ties.)
note-slidding the boot off does not require removing the tie rod end, only slidding the boot along the tie rod shaft.

p.s I would never grind on any load bearing suspension parts.

 

[S197 GT]

p.s I would never grind on any load bearing suspension parts.

Case in point!

You heard it here from the crackpot analyst!

 

[94tbird]

qwkcoupe i wonder how many i would need

 

[Cali HP Addict]

I agree, don't modify the part. Install stops or return the part.

 

[S197 GT]

Hey Ron, do you have any local buddies that you could swap rims with the check on fitament issues?

I wonder if you'd make it with a 8" or even a 9" rim up front?

 

[94tbird]

i got my stockers still and i know they will fit with those, as Jason at BMR said they developed them using the stock 17" rim

 

[GI Joe]

Usually with really wide tires you have to have to install Steering Rack Limiters. Fox body mustangs had these on many of the GT model, where as the narrow tire 4 and 6 bangers did not.

.

yup true

 

[S197 GT]

i got my stockers still and i know they will fit with those, as Jason at BMR said they developed them using the stock 17" rim

That really blows since a lot of people upgrade to 9" or bigger for the front wheels.

I hope it all gets worked out.

I was asking more to see if you'd be able to do the leg work for some other people.

It'd be nice to say that these A Arms work with rims sized (A-B)....know what I mean.

 

[94tbird]

That really blows since a lot of people upgrade to 9" or bigger for the front wheels.

I hope it all gets worked out.

I was asking more to see if you'd be able to do the leg work for some other people.

It'd be nice to say that these A Arms work with rims sized (A-B)....know what I mean.

ill give the stockers a shot later this week as a test. i still gotta get the car back to the shop n get the side skirts on so when its in the air, ill have em place one of my stockers on and see what happens. i shoulda took some pics. damnit i always forget haha

 

[94tbird]

i just ordered 2 sets of the rack limiters that qwkcoupe suggested. hopefully they will solve my problem

 

[donnyonee]

that really blows
i have a lot of bmr pieces and havent had any problems, althou no a arms.
bmr should advertise that the a arms fit stock wheels and any other wheel makes fitment questionable. i dont know if its false advertising or just poor advertising but they should straighten it out. did you politely ask about it?
or what about running a matching 8" wheel that would fit.
unless you into excessive turns do you need a 275 on the front? just a thought. smaller tires cost less, dont find the ridges as well, less rolling resistance. are the arms worth the result?

 

[94tbird]

that really blows
i have a lot of bmr pieces and havent had any problems, althou no a arms.
bmr should advertise that the a arms fit stock wheels and any other wheel makes fitment questionable. i dont know if its false advertising or just poor advertising but they should straighten it out. did you politely ask about it?
or what about running a matching 8" wheel that would fit.
unless you into excessive turns do you need a 275 on the front? just a thought. smaller tires cost less, dont find the ridges as well, less rolling resistance. are the arms worth the result?

BMR didnt advertise that nor did they mention anything to me when they were ordered. most likely poor advertising, or they just didnt test with aftermarket wheels.

i was told i could shave a little material off but im not gonig to. its there for a reason.

my rims dont come in a 8", but do in a 8.5". i wouldnt have gotten the a-arms if my drivers side one wasnt bent from the accident. and i def wouldnt have gotten them if i knew they wouldnt fit.

i went with a 275 tire so i can rotate my tires all around. keeps the wear even and is part of my regular maitenence.

 

[davids2toys]

I vote for steering stops!!!

 

[94tbird]

I vote for steering stops!!!

thats the plan. let me know whenever you got some free time dave, we can coat my currie rear

 

[06TorchVertGT]

Ron,
Do you think a set of wheel spacers on the front would help by moving the wheel/tire outboard slightly away from the A-arm?

 

[94tbird]

Ron,
Do you think a set of wheel spacers on the front would help by moving the wheel/tire outboard slightly away from the A-arm?

they might, but that would make my wheels stick out. right now they are tucked nicely and i don't want to lose it. good idea though, that hadn't crossed my mind

 

[Cali HP Addict]

All these fabrication shops, as good as their products may be, get in such a damn hurry to get their product out that they don't do enough R&D. It pisses me off when a disclaimer like "aftermarket wheels may cause interferance" is not addressed. Or, a wrong torque spec is on the instructions. Or, "won't work on convertables" is somehow overlooked. Frustrating as hell sometimes!

 

[ZmanM3]

I wounder if they would do it with 9" rims.