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Strut to tire clearance

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531
364
sfo
Is there a rule of thumb for front strut to tire clearance under race conditions? The inside of my tire is very close to strut body. I just can't wrap my head around how much the tire moves dynamically.
 

Grant 302

basic and well known psychic
Depends a lot on the specific tire and wheel combination...as well as vehicle specific geometry and hardware.

I’ve found that tires can move a lot under certain conditions, even at the top toward the strut, or the sway bar link bolt, which was more of the concern.
 

Fair

Go Big or Go Home
Supporting Vendor
277
492
Plano, TX
IMG_8626-L.jpg

Depends on the tire, and of course if you have a sloppy rubber strut top mounts.

IMG_8620-L.jpg

5mm is pretty safe, but I admit we have pushed this gap closer to 3mm in some instances.

DSCN1730-L.jpg

When you are pushing the wheel inboard keep an eye out for tire rub marks on the strut, like this. Have never cut a tire doing this, but this is something we check and if there is a "kiss" then a thin spacer (3mm) is added.

Cheers,
 
I want also to add one thing
I found my spacer was clearing the strut/tire space. However the same tire was rubbing the subframe (probably during max turning of steering wheel)
That is why i went with a 28mm spacer (from 25mm)

Capture+_2021-02-03-09-43-17.png
 

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