Hi Everyone,

When I did the work on the encapsulation panel (other post) I noticed a few things. First my 245/45/17 tires seem to rub on the shock strut. And second there is a really neat excentric bolt set-up on the suspension arm. I'm wondering if my suspension is out of adjustment since other 500E owners report no rubbing with 245/45/17's in front. It does it on both sides. I am thinking either suspension adjust or wheel spacer? What do you guys say?

Thanks,
Eric

Eric,
I don't think it's the tire that's rubbing against the strut tube. If you look at the suspension closely, you'll see that the strut tube does NOT move in relation to the tire. That rub mark is above the tire. If it were rubbing it would be right at the tire sidewall.

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Glen Tokuhara
Beauty & the Beast and the wagon that could!

I doubt that the tire's rubbing...never heard of such a problem with Evo IIs. More likely it's the plastic baffle/dust boot that's supposed to be covering the strut's exposed piston rod, or whatever that part's called...maybe that's wearing the dirt & paint away on the strut?

As to those eccentric bolts, that is how the caster & camber are adjusted for the front wheels.

[Edited by Michael on 02-14-2001 at 04:13 PM]

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"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

Eric;

I have the stock 225-55-16's and I noticed the EXACT same rub-spot in the exact same place as yours... So we can rule out that it has anything to do with your 17's.

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Mark Herzig
1995 E300D 153K
1985 300D 142K (sold)
1979 450SL 122 miles (sold)
1992 500E 127K (sold)
1987 300SDL 132K (sold)
1986 300E 161K (sold)

I'm pretty sure its the tire. In the picture above, the car is on a jackstand and naturally the wheel has dropped down since there is nothing under it. The inside wall of the tire has a corresponding scuff.

Eric,
The scuff in the picture is most likely from the strut piston dust boot. If the inside of the tire shows a rub/scuff it's most likely rubbing against the sway bar at full lock. Like I mentioned above, the relationship of the tire and strut tube does NOT change during suspension travel. If it's rubbing the strut tube, you wouldn't be able to see it in the picture, you'd have to look where the sidewall passes the strut...which again is a fixed point.

__________________
Glen Tokuhara
Beauty & the Beast and the wagon that could!

Glen,
Take a look at the scuff. The lower center part of the spot which looks white in the picture is actually bare metal that has been buffed by the tire. Are you telling me that the strut dust shield did this? To me the dust shield looks like it has been pushed up by the tire.

But I will take another look to investigate this. Another clue. When going at slow speed, and at near full steering lock I can hear rubbing noise coming from that area.

Eric

Yes, that's what I'm saying :-)
It looks like you may have the original struts...I think the scuff is the result of the dust boot rubbing against the strut for many years. I can't tell for sure from the picture, but it looks like the plastic ring with the three tabs near the top of the strut but below the scuff is still there. It's there for the boot to 'rest' on as the suspension compresses. If the tire made the scuff at least one of those tabs would be gone...but I bet they are intact.

I still think it's the tire rubbing against the sway bar.

__________________
Glen Tokuhara
Beauty & the Beast and the wagon that could!