Raise or Roll - Seeking Advice

[beren]

Hi All,

Big decision. My car is lowered quite a bit, enough that I get some rubbing on the right front tire.



So the question is should I roll the fenders or raise it up a bit. The concept of hammers on my fenders has me a bit worried. Would appreciate some advice - has anyone else had their fenders rolled on an '80s 911? Happy with the results?

I'm leaning towards raising the car back up a bit.

[boss11]

great looking car! keep in mind you will need to get alignment done if you raise it..
the back looks really low, might look funny if you raise the front any more.
did you measure fender heights on both sides? are they even?
do you get bump steer at this height?
I would look at rolling fenders, I'm going to do mine but i have 17x7s, they look like 16x6s on yours...\
my opinion

[beren]

Thanks!

Yeah - alignment would be needed. I guess I would raise the whole car and not just the front. Rolling is not reversible so it has me a bit worried. Can always raise it look at it - if I hate it put it back and go for the roll.

[HarryD]

You need to see why you are rubbing. Too low? Not enough camber? Need more T-bar?

I had a similar issue which I solved by going to "turbo t bars" and a good performance alignment.

[porsche930dude]

cutting the lips down rather than rolling them is a better option IMo as it saves the paint

[boss11]

Raising the back is more involved than doing the front, if you are happy with ride height I would look at camber and fenders

[beren]

Thanks for all the great advice. I'm mostly leaning towards raising the car because I haven't found any pics of a similar year 911 with rolled fenders so I can see what it looks like. I think in this month's Eurocar magazine there is a pic of one, but hard to tell.

Rolling the fenders would also require a paint job on the fenders. Metal is too think to roll and needs to be hammered. Does that sound right?

[dad911]

Originally Posted by beren

Thanks for all the great advice. I'm mostly leaning towards raising the car because I haven't found any pics of a similar year 911 with rolled fenders so I can see what it looks like. I think in this month's Eurocar magazine there is a pic of one, but hard to tell.

Rolling the fenders would also require a paint job on the fenders. Metal is too think to roll and needs to be hammered. Does that sound right?

Rolled properly you won't need paint, and shouldn't notice the difference.

However, i'm probably one of the few around here that is not a fan of lowering street cars too much, especially if the rest of the suspension was not refreshed and stiffened. Driven too many cars that when lowered introduced unforeseen issues, like the front suspension bottoming out under aggressive braking, which becomes dangerous.

[will hung]

Originally Posted by beren

Thanks for all the great advice. I'm mostly leaning towards raising the car because I haven't found any pics of a similar year 911 with rolled fenders so I can see what it looks like. I think in this month's Eurocar magazine there is a pic of one, but hard to tell.

Rolling the fenders would also require a paint job on the fenders. Metal is too think to roll and needs to be hammered. Does that sound right?

When you roll the fenders, you use a bat or fender roller (any cylindrical object) and roll it against the inner lip of the fender to roll it up against the fender. The inner lip is usually what rubs on the tire. Rolling it provides more clearance. You could do it with a hammer, but there are roller rental options available. It isn't difficult to do, and if you take your time you won't have any issues with your paint. Pictures of similar aged cars with rolled fenders would be pointless because you can't tell the difference unless you are under the car looking up and out at the fender.

I rented a roller and rolled my fronts with no issues.

[Len 911]

I just rolled my fenders last week. I have 17x7 euromeisters on the front . I used a piece of 1-1/2" dia PVC plumbing pipe and a heat gun. I was dreding it but it went well no painting of the fenders. Very easy to do Just take it slow and you can see how the metal bends.. Slow and steady. Roll the fenders looks better lowered.

[Fly911]

I have used a wooden base ball bat on all my cars, with very good result. Get the bat between the whel and the fender, and roll the car back and forth, so the bat rolls between the tire and the fender. Adjust the angle of the bat to match the fender. To me it also seems like the whole fender (font and rear) is pulled out a bit, so it's not only the lip that is flattened. This makes even more room. Easy and cheap!
My '87 Carrera NB is lowered considerably, and I'm running 7.5x17ET35 w/225/45-17 and 9x17ET16 w/255/40-17, and with 22mm spacers on all four heels. No rubbin issues!

[redridge]

if its not a DD, how about some camber plates...

[BE911SC]

Originally Posted by beren

Thanks for all the great advice. I'm mostly leaning towards raising the car because I haven't found any pics of a similar year 911 with rolled fenders so I can see what it looks like. I think in this month's Eurocar magazine there is a pic of one, but hard to tell.

Rolling the fenders would also require a paint job on the fenders. Metal is too think to roll and needs to be hammered. Does that sound right?

I agree with simply raising it up some rather than getting into fender rolling, etc. It'll still look great raised a little.

Couldn't resist:

[kidrock]

What a coincidence, I just finished rolling my fender lips this afternoon. MUCH easier than I thought it would be, and I didn't even crack my paint. I only had to spring for a wooden bat, $12 at WalMart (or "Wally Martinez" in these parts).

I have a heat gun, so I warmed up the area that I was about to roll, then gently rolled in 4"-6" increments. VERY happy with the results.

I highly recommend 2 things:

1) Go to YouTube on DIY Fender Lip Rolling, and
2) Absolutely do not take a mallet to your fender lips.

[Unobtanium-inc]

Originally Posted by kidrock

... "Wally Martinez" in these parts.

Classy, very classy.

[timmy2]

Factory euro ride height works for me...

[dipso]

Your front doesn't look that low, the tires look too big to me.
Maybe smaller front tires would be a better choice.

What size front tires do you have on there?

[baimasanji]

I guess I would raise the whole car and not just the front.

[Trackrash]

+1^
Has the tire grabbed the fender lip and bent it? If so you may as well roll the fender lips.
Do your front shocks bottom out when you hit bumps? Then raise it up some.
Probably should address the alignment as well.
Also check the ball joints and suspension bushings. I had a loose ball joint which caused my tire to rub.
Good luck,

[dipso]

My car is pretty low. 24" all the way around. I'm on 6" fronts and 7" rears, 16" rims. I have 225/50 in the rear, 205/50 in the front.
No issues with rubbing.
I think you should check your front tire size. Maybe scale it down a bit.

I did get an occasional rubbing in the rear when I was at 23 3/4".