Front wheels far forward in opening (and rear tire clearance)

[Carbuilder]

I'm looking into putting larger wheels on my car. I know this isn't for everyone. The front wheels are pretty far forward in the wheel opening. See the picture. I've checked other pictures I could find and mine might be at the extreme of what I've found. The issue is that when turning the wheel it comes so close to rubbing at the front that any more stickout on a new wheel/tire would hit the fender.

I don't see how this can be adjusted. Does mine look normal? I know, it needs to be lowered.

Screenshot 2025-01-31 at 2.30.44 PM.jpg

Screenshot 2025-01-31 at 1.54.13 PM.jpg

They sure have used every bit of space with the wheels/tires. At the rear the clearance with the lower shock mount is about 1/4" and the tire is about 1/4" inside the fender. No room to go wider.

Rick

[82DMC12]

I'm looking into putting larger wheels on my car. I know this isn't for everyone. The front wheels are pretty far forward in the wheel opening. See the picture. I've checked other pictures I could find and mine might be at the extreme of what I've found. The issue is that when turning the wheel it comes so close to rubbing at the front that any more stickout on a new wheel/tire would hit the fender.

I don't see how this can be adjusted. Does mine look normal? I know, it needs to be lowered.

Screenshot 2025-01-31 at 2.30.44 PM.jpg

Screenshot 2025-01-31 at 1.54.13 PM.jpg

They sure have used every bit of space with the wheels/tires. At the rear the clearance with the lower shock mount is about 1/4" and the tire is about 1/4" inside the fender. No room to go wider.

Rick

That's pretty extreme. Have you ever had an alignment?

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[Timeless]

Has the front suspension been inspected recently? That wheel location makes it seem like a suspension component is compromised.

[Carbuilder]

I got the car last summer and haven't had an alignment since it drives fine.

I just had a better look at the suspension and took some pictures. I can't see anything that looks suspicious.

Screenshot 2025-01-31 at 4.42.04 PM.jpg

Screenshot 2025-01-31 at 4.42.15 PM.jpg

Screenshot 2025-01-31 at 4.42.24 PM.jpg

Screenshot 2025-01-31 at 4.42.55 PM.jpg

[82DMC12]

Hard to confirm how bad it is without getting an alignment, not that an alignment will necessarily fix this, but those lower control arm braces are not factory and who knows if they have the correct geometry.

This could also happen if the front sway bar somehow modified or the bushing clamp slots are enlarged.

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[Rich]

I'm looking into putting larger wheels on my car. The front wheels are pretty far forward in the wheel opening.

Does mine look normal?

Yes, your car's wheel location looks normal.

See photo below, scraped from an online auction site.

DMC-12 Front wheel.jpg

[Carbuilder]

...but those lower control arm braces are not factory and who knows if they have the correct geometry.

This could also happen if the front sway bar somehow modified or the bushing clamp slots are enlarged.

I read something about the sway bar not being positioned properly causing this, but I don't see how that could pull the whole suspension forward. Same with the LCA braces. Since caster is not adjustable (as far as I can see) nothing can move the wheel/suspension forward, other than severe crash damage which I don't see. Maybe things varied a bit in car assembly?

[dn010]

Looks normal to me, here is mine and my suspension has been overhauled, along with trying two different sway bars. Frame is straight but a very early frame (712).

wheel1.jpg

[Bitsyncmaster]

My gap with the wheels pointed strait ahead is 1-1/8" with my 195-60-R14 tires.

[82DMC12]

I still don't think one finger width from fender edge to tire is normal.

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