I have a possible strut problem. I am currently running a V7 STi suspension. I bought the suspension about 30,000 miles ago and it was used from Gruppe-S. My wheel/tire combo is 17x8 Rota Torques with 235/45 Kumho MX's. My problem is that I've been getting some tire rub on the driver's side rear lately. It first started a couple weeks ago when I loaded my car down and moved up to Mississippi from Florida. I had about 450 pounds in the car, but it was evenly dispersed throughout the car. Whenever I would go over bumps on the highway, the tire would rub. I thought maybe it was because of the stuff in my car. It didn't happen again until tonight. Me and two buddies were going to the movies, and the guy in the back was sitting behind me. I took an on ramp a little hard and the driver's side rear rubbed again. Also, I went over a bump in town and it rubbed again. Thinking back, I've been getting some occilation in my suspension for a few months now. I had a sinking feeling that it was the struts, but I hoped that I was wrong.
I recently ordered the Mad Dad Road Hugga springs, because they are supposed to work well with the STi inverted struts. However, it now appears that I'll have to get some new struts also. I am pretty sure that I am going to get a set of KYB/AGX adjustables.
Now to the actual questions. Are my struts blown? Are my springs sagging? Will the Mad Dad Road Hugga springs work well with the KYB/AGX struts? Will that spring/strut combo work with the wheel/tire combo that I have?
Thanks for all the help guys. I really appreciate it.

psycho

 

Rubbing is due to tire size and wheel width and offset. It has little or nothing to do with the condition of your dampers. You need to figure out where the rubbing is taking place and address that. What you may need is new wheels, not new suspension.

Cars are designed to provide tire clearance in all non-abusive conditions. If you were to REMOVE the springs and allow the suspension to sit on the jounce bumpers on a stock vehicle, there would be plenty of tire clearance to the body. During a pothole event, strut vehicles typically generate between 6 and 8 times that much force at the strut tower.

 

I'll have to disagree. Many WRX's are running the same size wheel/tire combination that I am running. Also, they have lowering springs and absolutely no rubbing issues. I'm at stock ride height, and I'm getting rubbing.

 

It's not from a lack of damping.