Rear Tires Rubbing After New Shocks

62Blazer · Aug 29, 2024

Assuming you completely pulled off the inner wheelwells, or at least pulled back part of them, when installing the shocks. Are you sure when re-installing them they didn't get tweaked out some and are fully seated back in? As stated above it's definitely worth while seeing if the shock bolt is pushing out on the liner also. The only thing that makes sense is that the wheelwell liners are not sitting in the same place as before and sticking out some.

Sean J Blackburn · Aug 29, 2024

Scottly said:
The normal installation configuration is the bolt being inserted from the outside of the mount, with the nut on the inside of the mount. The bolt face is facing the wheel well liner and the nut is what you would grab with a crowsfoot, or wrench if you can get in there. If you reverse that, you have the additional threaded portion of the bolt sticking out and pushing on the wheel well liner. Again, not sure if that's your issue, but throwing it out there...for a reason.

OK, I will reverse the orientation after work today. Hopefully it is just a combination of that mixed with the new suspension components that is causing the issue

Sean J Blackburn · Aug 29, 2024

18CrewDually said:
OP, Definitely go check what he's saying quoted above.
Like he said, if rhe shock bolt is real long it may be pushing the plastic splash shield out into the path of the tire.
So far this makes the most sense.

I will reverse the orientation of the upper shock bolt after work today

Sean J Blackburn · Aug 29, 2024

62Blazer said:
Assuming you completely pulled off the inner wheelwells, or at least pulled back part of them, when installing the shocks. Are you sure when re-installing them they didn't get tweaked out some and are fully seated back in? As stated above it's definitely worth while seeing if the shock bolt is pushing out on the liner also. The only thing that makes sense is that the wheelwell liners are not sitting in the same place as before and sticking out some.

I didn't remove the liners I just did the swap from under the truck. But I agree, the liners have to have moved somehow, maybe through a combination of new suspension components and the bolt/nut needing to have the direction reversed

Sean J Blackburn · Aug 29, 2024

Jeepwalker said:
Did you verify your old and new panhard rod lengths were the same? Or is there an adjustment cam on it?

IDK if I'd hit the inner fender liner with a heat gun. Might be better to drill a hole and add a new fastener.

I help the old panhard bar next to the new one and they appeared the same.

18CrewDually · Aug 29, 2024

The bolt should be in like this.

62Blazer · Aug 29, 2024

Sean J Blackburn said:
I didn't remove the liners I just did the swap from under the truck. But I agree, the liners have to have moved somehow, maybe through a combination of new suspension components and the bolt/nut needing to have the direction reversed

You should be able to do a quick check by simply pushing on the wheelwell liners with your hand and see if they flex in any (flex in away from the tire). Even if you didn't remove the liners I would think you would still have put some pressure on them getting the wrench on the bolt?

Sean J Blackburn · Aug 29, 2024

18CrewDually said:
The bolt should be in like this.
View attachment 549752 View attachment 549753

That is exactly as I have it. Bolt head on the outside facing tire, nut on the inside. Maybe I wasn't clear before but the picture matches how mine are installed

Sean J Blackburn · Aug 29, 2024

62Blazer said:
You should be able to do a quick check by simply pushing on the wheelwell liners with your hand and see if they flex in any (flex in away from the tire). Even if you didn't remove the liners I would think you would still have put some pressure on them getting the wrench on the bolt?

I will check this when I get a break from work

Sean J Blackburn · Aug 29, 2024

Liners seem like they are in the right position. However, I might be an idiot. I forgot that two days ago I aired my tires down from 42 to 37, which is what my door placard says. I've never run these tires that low before. Not sure if 5 psi is enough pressure difference for the tire to grow that much wider but I'm airing them up to 45 and will try them out

Jeepwalker · Aug 29, 2024

I doubt 5psi would do it. When you push the liners you're saying they're 'puffed out' in that middle area where the tires are rubbing?

It's possible they weren't quite 'seated' when installed. They're kind of a bugger to get in/out. At least mine were. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.

Are your wheels/tires stock size?

Sean J Blackburn · Aug 29, 2024

Jeepwalker said:
I doubt 5psi would do it. When you push the liners you're saying they're 'puffed out' in that middle area where the tires are rubbing?

It's possible they weren't quite 'seated' when installed. They're kind of a bugger to get in/out. At least mine were. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.

Are your wheels/tires stock size?

The liners seem like they are in the correct place. When I push in on the liners they don't seem puffed out but they do flex a decent amount.

I actually didn't remove the liners to do the shocks I just did it on my back under the truck.

My wheels and tires are stock size 275/70/17 which is what the truck came with. They are pretty aggressive all terrain tires but I've never had issues with them rubbing before unless I was doing serious offroading. Right now I can feel the tires rubbing while doing minimal flexing like pulling up a slight incline while turning.

When my wife goes to bed I will go out to the driveway and make sure the liners are torqued down properly.

rzr6-4 · Aug 30, 2024

I am still caught up on the fact that your rub marks are 4-5" above the top of the tire. Even if by some weird chance your shock bolt or tire psi actually did make a difference (which I don't think either of them is), why would the rub marks be that far away from the tire?

Are you driving over something that would be putting a lot of flex on the suspension? Normal daily driving doesn't seem like the tire should ever touch the liner up that high.

Sean J Blackburn · Aug 30, 2024

rzr6-4 said:
I am still caught up on the fact that your rub marks are 4-5" above the top of the tire. Even if by some weird chance your shock bolt or tire psi actually did make a difference (which I don't think either of them is), why would the rub marks be that far away from the tire?

Are you driving over something that would be putting a lot of flex on the suspension? Normal daily driving doesn't seem like the tire should ever touch the liner up that high.

I agree with that assessment! It seems odd for the mark to be so high above the tire. I don't think I'm doing anything crazy, just normal city driving when I noticed the rubbing. The most stress I've put on the suspension lately is just speed bumps at an angle while turning.

What would be the explanation for the marks being so high up?

rzr6-4 · Aug 30, 2024

Sean J Blackburn said:
What would be the explanation for the marks being so high up?

It doesn't make any sense to me, so I have no idea.

I would quite literally rub some dirt on it to get rid of the scuff marks, then give it a couple days to see if it does it again.

Sean J Blackburn · Aug 30, 2024

rzr6-4 said:
It doesn't make any sense to me, so I have no idea.

I would quite literally rub some dirt on it to get rid of the scuff marks, then give it a couple days to see if it does it again.

OK, I'll do so. Hopefully it doesn't do it again. I have no clue why it did it either, seems weird

Sean J Blackburn · Aug 31, 2024

I inflated the tires back up to 44 psi and I also took it in for an alignment since I hadn't done that since replacing the rear control arms, panhard bar, sway bar and end links. Been a couple of days and it seems OK so far.

I think maybe the issue was low tire pressure combined with being out of alignment. That's my best guess

Jeepwalker · Sep 1, 2024

It doesn't make sense to me...but hopefully they'll come up with something. Let us know.

Sean J Blackburn · Sep 2, 2024

Jeepwalker said:
It doesn't make sense to me...but hopefully they'll come up with something. Let us know.

The shop that did the alignment said the suspension looks fine, so not sure what the problem could possibly be. It hasn't rubbed since the alignment and airing up. Doesn't make sense to me either.

zrock · Sep 2, 2024

to me that looks like the truck is over loaded and rubbing on where the liner starts to round, but you say your not hauling anything so are you **** down a verry rough road or something to get the tires to stuff that far up into the wheel well or are these pictures with the weight of the suspension?

Rear Tires Rubbing After New Shocks

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