Need help w/ offroad tires use on my brat

[brat1709]

Need the boards help with tires on my application. I have a 1984 subaru brat w/ a 4" lift and running Peugeot 14" alloys and BFG All terrain tires 27-8.5-14.I cut the fenders and still they rub in the rear. I should emphasize, that they rub in the rear, only when carring a load. I usually pull a trailer with two quads, and have gone as far as placing a smaller 3rd quad in the bed. Now for the rubbing problem. It only occurs when the suspension bottoms out. I am currenly building another brat. I would like to utilize the lift kit, minus the cutting of fenders. While taking into consideration, the bottoming out of the suspension. What tires would work best? I'm hoping to get all of the board members opinions, w/ hopefully liftkits, but also those who have tried tires with the Peugeot tires, and have had success with the wheels. Again, I say, without cutting the fenders. I have a set of Peugeot 14" & 15" . Leaning toward utilizing the 15", secondary to more choice of tires.I've read many suggestions on the board on what will clear, but no one has ever addressed the issue of tires clearing, with a load in the back. You'll soon learn if you utilize the brat to carry heavy loads. Attatched is a pic of the brat with the weight I carry, just to give you an idea.

http://www.sell4cash1709.com/Subaru/San%20Felipe%20brat%20Trailer.jpg

Thanks for all your help in advance................................Hugo/ So. CA

[JWX]

theres a new fourm for this

[chef_tim]

Hugo, there is just so much that a suspention can handle, I think you've found that point. You could go to a solid axle and probably get a little better, but that poor tortion bar under your Brat is really suffering. Sorry, I know it's not much help, but the car wasn't designed to haul like that. Later, Tim

[Rallywagon]

Air shocks can be used to stiffen up your Brat's rear when loaded, but it will ride really rough when they are pumped up.

 

http://www.shockshopusa.com/adjustable-air-shocks.html

 

You will have to investigate to find a set to fit. I do not use them.

[Qman]

Very true TIm, but there is an option. If you carry a load most of the time you can adjust the tension of the torsion bar to max. Or you can also reclock the torsion bar. The down side to this is the it will cause the rear end to be much higher when it is empty. I ran a clocked torsion bar for years in the Hatch and the Brat with out trimming the rear wheel wells. Try taking off the rear mud flaps to verify if they are rubbing on them and not the fender.

[DaveAP]

my ,78 brat has a 3' lift (already installed when I bought it),with 205-14's. I had 1,000 lbs. of premix in it once. Tires didn't rub. I think the torsion bar was "clocked",but they welded a new shock mount to the rear drum (about an inch higher). I only rub in the front, but slightly. I didn't do any trimming or beating on the wheel well.

[brat1709]

Thanks DaveAP,Qman,Rallywagon, and chef_timfor the response. I know I a bit crazy. I've been running Subaru's since 1976. It is a mild engine, with some torque, which is excited by the 4 speed Hi/Lo tranny. I like testing my vehicle to the max. If it breaks, I'll fix it. I like to know what these subarus can do. I've run other engines, but by far, I've had the greatest success with the brat. It is a very hard to die vehicle. I've only been able to blow 2 head gaskets, but more than likely the gaskets themselvel were old. The radiator where always replaced or had the rodded out. I've gone as far as modifying the E-81 w/ reground/ higher lift and duration cam, out of both the stock e-E-81 and the Turbo e-81. I think I liked the Turbo cam better. Raised the compression to 10:1, and still had a dependible mtr. The last thing that happend to me, twice, was I'd bent a push rod twice, secondary to me utilizing the stock pushrods and adjusting screw set to near max(Leaving me near the end of the threads). And still the brat has bean able to make it home, limping. I just did some concrete work, and went as hight as 1200 lb of concrete mix. Also did a shovel of sand and Home Depot, in the center of the bed. I wouldn't recommed traveling far with this kind of load, since the front wheels have a tendency to wander, and speed is increased.I know some of you guys might think this is cruel to the brat, but I like testing the limits. I know I've reached them, but them again, I know what I can expect of this loyal brat. I have to say its one of the most cost effective, dependible drivers, and its 4 wheel drive system is very dependible. Anyways, thanks a bunch for all your imput in this matter, and if other have other tires that they have tried, let me know. I read the recent tire thread, but just doesn't center on my particular application. Its the full travel of the wheel, with a load, I'm worried about.

 

Hi Qman. I think you may be correct. It was hitting the head of the bolt, of the rear mudflap. I remember seeing a thread, that lead to a thread, regarding tire formulas, giving the total tire circumfrance, etc. Does anyone have that link. Thanks again..............................................Hugo/ So. CA

[s'ko]

Yo. Good to see you on the board.

 

Not sure if this is what you are looking for but it converts metric sizes to inch sizes.

 

We need to talk so I can drop off that tranny to you.

 

BW

[chef_tim]

This is the best converter I've found. Takes inches to metric and vise a versa..........http://www.dakota-truck.net/TIRECALC/tirecalc.html

[brat1709]

Many thanks Chef Tim. I'll start with this and info I have. I will get this right......

 

Hugo/ So. CA

This is the best converter I've found. Takes inches to metric and vise a versa..........http://www.dakota-truck.net/TIRECALC/tirecalc.html