Wide tires & oil tube interference

[tedder]

I need help figuring out whether my shop screwed this up or if it is because of the oversize wheel/tires on my car (86 911);

Tonight I just got my car back from the shop where the oil lines from the scavenge pump to the oil thermostat were returned to stock (replacing a B&B oil line that was routed diferently) and as I accelerated (briskly) I heard a thump from the right rear wheel well. To make a long story short what I found is that the tire seems to be contacting the new oil pipes in the right rear wheel well when the suspension compresses. There is a little scuff mark on the brand new oil tube and a bright-mark where the rim hit as well.


It looks a bit like the oil tube in the right rear wheel well could be tucked tighter to the wheel-well by 1/8" or less. The tires are cup-like Antara rims in 255/40-17 with Sumitomo HTRs on them.

I haven't gotten to the PO yet to know if the car ever had the stock oil lines with these oversize wide tires.

Should I expect the shop to tuck the oil line in tighter and fit with these rims or is it possible the rims/tires are just too wide with the stock oil line configuration? The oil line they replaced was from a B&B setup and didn't pass through the wheel well?

Thanks

Ted

[jabb]

I have 285x30x18 on the rear of my car. The first time out of the shop on the way home the oil lined rubbed the tire pretty badly. I returned the car... the shop tucked the line in better and Replaced the damaged tire. That was why I had the shop mount and blance the tires with 285's on a narrow body car I was worried about the clearance

[jbrinkley]

there's a W shapped keeper that holds both lines together flush, or almost flush with the body. Are you missing that

[tedder]

Can't answer definitively about the keeper right now as I am in the office and the P-Car is sitting at home (its only going to drive back to the shop before this is fixed). I don't recall seeing one though.

If jabb can run 285x30x18 it must be possible to tuck the line in better. I do think there was maybe 1/8" of room there for it to move closer to the wheel well.

If this were your car, would you expect to have to pay for more labor to tuck the line in or should the shop pick up the cost? This is my first time in this (or any) shop since I bought the car 13 months ago and I don't have a relationship with them yet (though I feel one coming on over the next 2-5 years)

[jbrinkley]

if you didn't have the holder bracket deal in the first place I would think you'd have to pay for it? part number 91120723700
without this keeper mine would rub also. Look for a bolt that protrudes out from the body and points tword the oil lines, this keeper goes over that and an m8? nut fits it, trapping the lines together. If the lines themselves aren't turned right where they connect to the thermostat it will be hard to line them up so the bolt pokes out right between the lines to fit the keeper.
I'd rig something up to verify that's the issue.
There's also a chance that the bolt itself is gone or broke off

[jbrinkley]

not my car, but here it is

[Howard M]

On my narrow body '76 I have to use a 5/16 spacer in the rear to clear my oversized oil lines (1" ID braided SS) with modest 205/50-15 on stock 6X15 rims. Tuck the lines in tight and consider a spacer. Of course, you have to also watch the fender lip with a spacer. Test each improvement with duct tape on the lines.

[tedder]

I just heard back from the PO and the wheels and tires on the car (which do have spacers already btw) did used to run with the stock oil lines so it looks like the problem is that either the bracket is missing or it is not properly restraining the lines.

Time to call the shop... Thanks to all for the help.

[Chuck Moreland]

If the bracket is missing, that is of course the problem and the shop shouldn't have let the car go without it. You need the bracket and related rubber spacers and you should expect to pay for them.

You also mentioned the car has spacers. I therefore assume you have non-stock wheels with non-stock backspacing. You likely have the wrong thickness of spacer because 255 should fit fine - close but fine.

However, it is perfectly normal for the stock lines to be off the wheel well by 1/4 inch or so. When fitting oversize tires the lines sometimes need massaging to better hug the chassis. If this is required, you should expect to pay your shop extra for this work.

After all you have non-stock tires, non-stock spacers, and (sounds like) non-stock wheels. You should expect to pay your shop for any extra work required to accomodate these changes.

[tedder]

Happy resolution!

Took it back to the shop and they fixed the interference problem and didn't take me up on the "So what do I owe you for this".

The clip holding the lines was present after all. What they did is to slightly flatten the oil line (pound with a little sledge) which they say they have done before to their racing cars which have the really big rubber. When that didn't get quite enough, added a very thin spacer to the wheel (~1-2mm).

I thought for a moment that the oil line flattening (make it D section instead of O section) may cut oil flow a bit but I don't track or DE (yet at least) so I let it go. They also said the spacer wouldn't affect the feel and I can't tell any difference, so unless anyone wants to yell out that I am risking something here, I think I am good to go again until the salt hits the road.

Shop was Autobahn performance in Peabody MA btw. Very friendly guys.

Ted