Closure - the saxo looks great. I had huge Dunlop Steelies on my first car, a Triumph Herald convertible many years ago so I understand what you're into. It ruined the ride but to my 17 yr-old eyes, it looked good.
Don't listen to any siren voices telling you not to tell your insurance company. Ins co's will use the slightest excuse to not pay, so don't give them the chance.
Do any of the Max Power type mags have forums on their websites? Is there a Saxo owner's club? Spend a bit of time on Google and I'm sure you'll find someone who had done the same thing as you wish to do. Keep visiting here though, you'll learn a few things, I know I have.
Best of luck.
|
|
|
My daughter's (ex) boyfriend had a Rover 216 I think, early 90's model. He did several bodywork mods to it, wheels, boot spoiler, bodykit etc. His insurance company was informed, and I think he was allowed something like 8 non-performance mods, as above before they said that they would look at increasing the premiums.
I cannot think of a downside to notifying them.
Presumably Closure has fitted anti-theft bolts : - - -
Whether you take the angle grinder to it or have it done more professionaly depends upon how much pride you take in the finished article.
Stuartl,
I'm in Wotton under edge in south Glos, It's a bit better today, I can see the other side of the road!
|
|
mjm, yes its slackened of to a fine mist of rain. Still think a white Christmas is a long way off though : o)
|
|
annoying that. i had a fiver on it being a whilte christmas
|
|
|
|
The car is a Saxo with 3 stud hubs, the wheels are Raceline RLS's 15", the only 3 stud 15" wheel currently available.
Hammer and angle grinder no, the arch lips just need rolling flat up against the quarter panel / wing and then covering in seam sealer to prevent them rotting out. A decent bodyshop will do this for less than £100.
Phone someone like Demon tweeks and they will confirm that 15" wheels fitted to this car (which has AX running gear) will give clearance problems.
Handling is'nt a consideration, he wants the car to look nice.
On a different note it would be well worth getting someone to check the rear brake shoes on this car as they are well known for the friction material falling off and locking the rear wheels
|
|
|
Quote>>>>>>>>Just because lots of people do something doesnt mean that it is right.
Dead Right.
The fact remains that you are asked on inception of motor insurance if your car has been modified from standard. Whether the mods are visible such as wheels or invisible, ie a chip in the ecu is irrellevant. If you mod the car during the period of insurance you also have to inform your insurers. Simple as that.
Whether your premium rises or not doesn't matter but they must be told.
Sorry Simon, your advice is plain stupid and only a fool would do as you suggest.
|
Jusy come to this thread and 'skimmed' thru it. If closure has got these wheels on his car, he goes out on the road in it and his insurance company do not know (whether they actually care or not) then Closure is technically uninsured from that moment SFAIK. To say that he won't tell his insurers becuase he doesn't know if he will keep the wheels is very very unwise. He is giving them a 100% dead cert opening to avoid paying any claim. I think his 3rd party cover would be OK but his personal loss, injuries and those of any passengers would be declined SFAIK. Get on the phone or stay off the road!
|
Dont worry about insurance I will tell them, im one for spending money to save money.
My insurance company is closed till 27th, so I will keep driving to a low.
Also for the main point of this post is about the tyres rubbing, and whether it wil be worth it to do it myself or get a professional to do something I can do.
Also no-one think jacking up the car so its off the floor for 20 minutes wont do anything?
Closure
|
quote...........Also no-one think jacking up the car so its off the floor for 20 minutes wont do anything...........................unquote
>>>
>>>>>>>>>> no it wont do any good
can i suggest you enquire at your local tech college if they have a night school basic mechanics course?
if there is you will meet like minded car enthuisiasts and your tutor may well show you how to roll your lips (no pun intended)
|
Jacking the car up for 20 minutes wont do nothing to fix the problem.
I still reckon you have a rear torsion beam trailing arm bearing issue.
|
|
|
Sorry im a young web designer, I have no time to go for evening courses as I attend college, work and my own websie business.
Can anyone explain the process step by step and I will do when I arrive at my fathers.
Closure
|
Leepower explain what that is to me.
Thank you.
Closure
|
8< SNIP
Non worthy contribution to this thread removed.
DD. BR Moderator.
|
|
Thank you, DD. BR Moderator.
|
Maunfacturers spend thousands developing cars
dont you think they put the original size wheels on it for a certian reason?
|
|
Of course, but this thread is here to find a problem for me so I can keep the wheels on.
|
have you actually found where the tyre is rubbing? whip the wheel off and it should be obvious - the dirt will have been polished off, as may some of the paint / underseal. this may halp you choose your remedy -
*if it's the arch, have it rolled (or attack with the grinder)
*if it's something structural then it's either different wheels or wheel spacers, depending what it's hitting
you get the idea?
|
www.kelsey-forums.co.uk/cgi-bin/cmm/YaBB.pl?num=11...5
i think that is the page my friend was referring to....
|
I thinks its an age thing. When I was in my early stages of motoring I would have liked to 'pimp my ride' but now I am the opposite.
I bought an x-reg Astra estate from ebay that was pictured with huge aftermarket alloys.
Before bidding I asked if he had the correct wheels for the car which he thankfully did and I bought the car with the right (steel) wheels. To cut a very long story short, I sold the car four months later and have since seen it around with, yes, you've guessed it, huge aftermarket alloys.............
It's a matter of taste I guess.
( Just to add to the argument, I now drive a BMW 318i with huge but ORIGINAL BMW alloys.)
|
I thinks its an age thing. When I was in my early stages of motoring I would have liked to 'pimp my ride' but now I am the opposite.
exactly what's not happening to me :LOL:
when i was 18 i drove a completely stock astra merit. it was slow, basic and ugly. each of my cars has been progressively less stock, to the point i'm at now. 11 years on, my current motor has got very few stock parts on it. ranging from different wheels (set of alloys with tyres from dear old fleabay was cheaper than 4 new tyres) to "breathed on" engine, different fuel type, uprated and lowered suspension, higher spec interior, towbar (!) and a slightly freer flowing stainless exhaust. all declared to my friendly local insurance company and covered full comp for only £140 =) i guess getting older does have some perks...
|
You have really got to wonder about that person who posted that topic on the other forum site.
I think that out of site URL should be removed, and his IP banned from registering to the site.
Closure
|
If the wheel / tyre combination you are using isn't standard, then you must inform your insurer.
In order to check, and to satisy yourself, that the installation is safe, the only way to check is to dismantle the suspension, remove the spring, and then check the clearance between the wheel and body in all positions between full bounce, and full rebound. For the front suspension, this should also be done for all possible steering positions.
As a start, I would hope to always have at least 30 - 35 mm clearance (this accounts for suspension bush deflection under load, and possible foreign objects). You may find that you need to roll the lips of the wheel arch and/or add wheel spacers.
If you need to add wheel spacers, you should check that the wheel remains within the arch when viewed from the front or rear of the vehicle. If it does not, then your installation does not comply with Construction & Use regulations. As Yorkiebar mentioned above, fitting spacers puts extra load on the wheel bearings - keep a regular check on them.
This checking and adjusting will take lot of time, but it is the only way that you can gain sufficient confidence in your installation on your car.
If you find that one side is OK, and the other fouls, then you may have some damage to either the suspension or body which should be rectified before you continue.
As mentioned above, jacking your car up for a while does nothing - the idea of suspension is to allow deflection, and then return to the right position.
I also agree with the view stated above that you are likely to make your car steer and handle worse by your modifications.
Having said all this, you are dealing with a Saxo - is it really worth it?
Number_Cruncher
|
Sorry, there's more!
If you fit spacers, then, it's possible that the centre location of the wheel to the hub may not be right, and you might find it difficult to fit the wheel properly, which will result in vibration at speed.
Also, the length of engagement of the wheelnuts on the studs, or of the wheel bolts in the hub may be dangerously compromised.
In short, a can of worms!
Number_Cruncher
|
Thats the kind of advice I was looking for Number_Cruncher, thank you.
My rear wheels are in the body well, I would say that its touch my wheel by amount a 2mm as there is hardly any damage on the wheel as of now, and I have been driving around with the tyres for about 4 days.
Closure
|
You have only been here a week! Do we care what you think? Stick to worrying about your rubbing wheels and your insurance I suggest.
|
|
Armitage Shanks, I have only been here a week and I have more respect for this site than you do by the looks of it.
|
I think not closure. You have turned up, asked questions, picked our brains and got some good answers, and told us what you think should and shouldn't be done here. You haven't contributed anything yet. Respect doesn't come into it and in any event it has to be earned. You aren't there -yet!
|
I'm a bit interested in the suggestion that jacking up the car for a time might result in a better ride height.
So far it's been dismissed as fantasy, but the fact is that if all of the relevant suspension bushes are loosened, and the car then jacked up - using the chassis as a jacking point, the suspension bushes will settle into a new position. When tightened in this position, the elastic properties of the bushes will tend to seperate the body from the suspension. Not by much though. And the bushes will be overstressed in such a way that early failure will occur.
|
|
|
|
|
Suggest you put your standard wheels back on, or don't drive it until the 27th then....Aside from insurance your car isn't safe to drive in its present condition....Sounds to me like you've got suspension problems.....
About 5 years ago, I had a Vauxhall, it needed some new tyres, anyway I got offered a s/h set of Vauxhall alloys for pennies, phoned my insurance company first...They told me if I fitted any alloys to my car, then they wouldn't be able to offer me cover..So you've been warned...
|
Well im looking forward to the conversation with my insurance company, They seem alright I asked them if I can upgrade to a VTR with modifications like alloys and they said yes that is fine but your cover will go up by £52 a month.
Closure
|
|
Yes but a doesn't a VTR have alloys as standard, that fit the car with no problems?
|
No these are aftermarket, none standard alloys. But yes I get your point.
Closure
|
|
Sorry I ment on the VTR I was talking about were "ftermarket, none standard alloys. But yes I get your point."
|
As this thread has become more of a general discussion, and a lot of the content has steered away from the technical aspect, as some point on Sunday it will be moved across to the discussion side of the forum.
DD.
|
a thought occurs:
insurance companies always ask if a car is fitted with "alloy wheels"
steel is an alloy of iron and carbon
show me a car that DOESN'T have alloy wheels =p
|
Yes but alloy wheels fitted as standard/original are designed with looks AND handling in mind.
Bolting any old size/style of wheels and tyres can have the opposite effect!
I take your point about most cars being fitted with them though! My Combo Van has some ebay fake Vauxhall wheel trims to cover the steel wheels : o ). (A lot less expensive when my wife kerbs it !!!)
|
Simon - refused insurance claims aren't as rare as youy may think, I know someone who lost his 2 year old car as he "forgot" to tell his insurers about a K&N air filter that he'd added, they refused his claim when he crashed. Closure is doing exactly the right thing by telling them, for peace of mind if nothing else!
Closure - Good luck getting everything sorted!
Blue
|
"My insurance company is closed till 27th, so I will keep driving to a low."
He hasn't told them AND he is driving it - not clever and no respect for the law!
|
Its christmas and I want to see my family. I have no option but to drive there.
My insurance company never actually asked me if I had any modifications which I found weird. I did it online, and they usual say state any modifications from standard.
Closure
|
Its christmas and I want to see my family. I have no option but to drive there.
Couldn't you have just refitted the original wheels and tyres until you get things sorted with your insurance company and wheel arches?
|
I would but its christmas and places are closed.
Im going to see what me and dad can do today with the wheel arches.
Closure
|
I would but its christmas and places are closed.
??
Forgive me for stating the obvious, but what is wrong with using the wheel brace and jack that was supplied with the car and swapping the wheels back yourself?
|
>>My insurance company is closed till 27th, so I will keep driving to a low
keeping driving to a low is still driving without insurance cover
1. You're not listening to the advice you are being given.
2. Options; a) put correct (original wheels back on), b) don't drive
quite aside from that I run my 106 on its original wheels and tyres, it may not look cool, but roadholding is fine, and four new tyres cost me £110 fitted, I imagine you can at least double that for low profile tyres
|
|
|
|
|
