2018 LC200 rubbing on 285/65R18

[LC2018]

I need some help:

I installed an OME 2" lift up front and 0.75" lift in the rear (coils and shocks). After the lift I replaced the stock tires with a set of 285/65R18 BFG KO2s on the stock wheels.

This morning my wife called me saying there's a loud noise when she turns full to one side like the tires are rubbing on something.

I hadn't heard of any rubbing with 285/65R18 on stock wheels. All MUD members that were running this setup had told me they weren't experiencing any rubbing. Where should I look first? Any easy fix?

 

[LC2018]

 

[indycole]

My 2016 also rubbed on the front fender liner with that tire size on stock and aftermarket wheels. It may be correctable via alignment... definitely so if you moved to aftermarket UCAs.

 

[LC2018]

I did get an alignment after installing the new tires on the wheels. The tire shop does a mandatory alignment when installing new tires so that you start on a correct alignment with new tires. Not sure how they could correct the rubbing with an alignment.

 

[indycole]

I did get an alignment after installing the new tires on the wheels. The tire shop does a mandatory alignment when installing new tires so that you start on a correct alignment with new tires. Not sure how they could correct the rubbing with an alignment.

With adjustable UCAs you can move the position of the wheel in the well. Rubbing in the back? Move it forward. Rubbing in the front? Move it backward.

 

[TeCKis300]

I would say poke your head around the fender liner and look for the witness marks. The rub points should be obvious where there's contact. There might be minor 2016+ differences here. Check the very front of the liner, and very back. The rubbing is likely so minor, on plastic parts that easily give, that it's likely not a real issue however.

On the alignment to make clearance... My philosophy is that the alignment is to serve alignment first. Not sure I'd ever use alignment to make clearance. Especially in this case, clearance can easily be gained via minor tweaking of the liner.

 

[LC2018]

With adjustable UCAs you can move the position of the wheel in the well. Rubbing in the back? Move it forward. Rubbing in the front? Move it backward.

Got it. Don’t have adjustable UCAs

 

[LC2018]

I would say poke your head around the fender liner and look for the witness marks. The rub points should be obvious where there's contact. There might be minor 2016+ differences here. Check the very front of the liner, and very back. The rubbing is likely so minor, on plastic parts that easily give, that it's likely not a real issue however.

On the alignment to make clearance... My philosophy is that the alignment is to serve alignment first. Not sure I'd ever use alignment to make clearance. Especially in this case, clearance can easily be gained via minor tweaking of the liner.

Thanks for the advice. I’ll go get the LC from my wife and poke around.

 

[Bomar]

I bet the mud flaps..

 

[LC2018]

Well, it took me a while but with your help/advice I figured it out. It would not rub on anything on a flat surface but our driveway is uphill.

Pulling out of the garage and on a full right turn, as the rear wheels started getting higher above the front wheels I guess the front suspension takes more weight and compresses. This caused the outer edge of the front/right tire to slightly (very slightly) rub against the liner, particularly against a small tab at the bottom (not sure what it's for).

All it took was some slight bending of the liner inwards and now there is no rubbing. Flat, uphill, downhill... Nada.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[LC2018]

It was this thing:

 

[cruiser100]

You can take those off. Just put the bolts back in the holes and you're good to go.

 

[tarheel40]

@LC2018 - your 200 looks great, glad you figured out the rubbing! Do you know the actual numbers of the front and rear springs that were installed? What do you think of the ride compared to the stock suspension?

 

[LC2018]

@LC2018 - your 200 looks great, glad you figured out the rubbing! Do you know the actual numbers of the front and rear springs that were installed? What do you think of the ride compared to the stock suspension?

2722 rear springs & 2702 front springs

The ride is significantly better than stock: eliminated the nose dive on breaking and reduced significantly the body roll on tight/fast turns. I like it better now with the 285/65R18 KO2s at 40 PSI. It is form but not harsh.

 

[tarheel40]

2722 rear springs & 2702 front springs

The ride is significantly better than stock: eliminated the nose dive on breaking and reduced significantly the body roll on tight/fast turns. I like it better now with the 285/65R18 KO2s at 40 PSI. It is form but not harsh.

Awesome, thank you for the details! I’ve got experience with OME coils/springs on a 3rd gen 4runner and now my 80 series but curious how they felt on a new 200 - thinking about a lift for my 2016. The picture you posted makes the rake look pretty minimal, now that the suspension has settled some how much higher is the rear than the front if you had to guess?

 

[LC2018]

Measured 37” front and 38” rear from the ground to the wheel well across the center of the wheel.

 

[LC2018]

Here’s another side pic

 

[tarheel40]

@LC2018 - Thanks, very helpful! I’ve got the 1” Toyota front coil a pacers installed right now, I may use those with the 2702 front springs if I end up with more rake than I want.