Control Arm/spindle help

I have an 88 mustang GT convertible and i bought a set of 17in cobra Rs and on the driver side the tire hits the fender when i turn (Hard) the tires are 245/45/17 The car was hit in that corner and the control arm and spindle were replaced and when the car is up in the air the passanger side hangs about 1.5 in lower.  I think the body shop guy may have put one on off a 4 banger. The car drives very straight.

My questions are:  Are the control arm and/or spindles (spindle was replaced) different from a V8 to a 4 cylinder? Could the wron control arm or spindle or both be the cause of my rubbing problem? If not what else could cause this?

Any one who can help THank you!!

Which brand of "Cobras" did you get and what is the width on them 8" - 9"?

THey are AFS cobras and the came off an 89 and they clear on my moms 91 GT it only rubs on the driver side they are 9in in the front but they dont rub a little they hit hard enough to push the fender it needs about another 3/4 inch to clear good give or take a little.

The problem you are having is 9 inches of wheel.  AFS itself recommends going with their 8" up front and 9" in the rear.  The struts on fox bodys are too close to the wheel/tire on a 9" rim to be able to have an offset/backspacing that will do any good. 

The factory wheels, as you know, are 7".  You've just added 4 inches of wheel.  There is no room to design a wheel that will tuck more inside the fender with the struts in the way.

A guy I know with an '87 notch experienced rub up front until he went with the 17x8 Ford Racing Cobras up front with a 235/45/17 and AFS 17x9s out back...........JM2C

it only hits hard on the driver side and clears passenger.  They clear great on my moms 91 GT. I don't dare drive it  in fear of tweaking a fender. I am thinking of putting a 235/35ZR17 on the front and a 275/40ZR17 on the rear and hope the lowe profile will clear if i can get it to clear the right way. it boggles my mind that it fits my moms and my passenger side fine.  Like i said the car was hit on the driver side and thats my problem side if i can find out if the shop made a mistak i will take it back but its been 2 yrs since the repair I normally run 15X5 draglites in the front and 15X9 in the rear but i want better braking and handling. I have a set of 14's that rub on the driver side 225/60/HR14 they rub.  I think there may be a problem on that side but need to know what to replace? or else i'll have to buy four tires but the fronts are brand new Goodyear F1's. any other possibilities?

i wouldnt think they should rub that bad. i have 18x9 all the way around with 245/40/18 up front. mine are sallen look alikes buit that really shouldnt matter. the only problem i have is that it rubs very little when i have the wheel cranked all the way, but its not on the fender and its not only 1 side. i would say something isnt stirin the kool-aid. mine is a 93 but again that shouldnt matter as long as yours is at least an 89. if its older ive heard you have to get new struts for some reason.

If you're rubbing with a 225/60 on a 14 inch rim, something is definitely wrong.......unless the wheels have a serious offset to stick outsidde the wells further.?.  

I would have the alignment checked, a good shop might be able to tell if the spindle in question is within specs. They also might be able to tell you something by checking the thrust angle. It's a cheap way, 50 bucks or so, to eliminate your concern of if the body shop missed something.

Good luck! 

In 91 the front fenders were made bigger to clear the sixteen inch pony wheels that is why they clear.   You will need to modify you inner fender to clear the wheels.  Possibly cutting away or taking the plastic moulding out all together. good luck

Dan

Thanks for the help. It is an 88 but the fender on that side was replaced i will measure it to the other side see if there is a difference in size.  

They sit out the fender an inch or so the have a big offset  

i am gonna measure the fender to the other side and my moms and see if there is a difference and i might take it into an alignment shop and have it  checked. thanks the the help  

i'll check that today and update you thanks

Thanks everybody

I would take it to a shop... mustangs are subframed cars and if u had to replace all that, something may still be tweaked.  wich could easily be masked with the stock wheel tire combo.