I Keep Ripping My Arches Off!

Posted 08 July 2010 - 10:03 PM

What does everyone one who's got a lowered Mini on special arches do to prevent the arches being ripped off when the wheels catch going round corners? I wouldn't say I've slammed it but I'm having real problems with the wheels catching. I seem to be the only one driving with gaffa tape holding the rear arches in place so I guess there's a solution to this

It's on standard cones, standard shocks, adjusta rides and 12x5.5 superlights.

Edited by jbj, 08 July 2010 - 10:04 PM.

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Posted 08 July 2010 - 10:05 PM

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Posted 08 July 2010 - 10:08 PM

Nope, I've not done any cutting. Is that what I need to do?

Don't really want to put them any higher as kind of defies the point of lowering it

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Posted 08 July 2010 - 10:09 PM

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Posted 08 July 2010 - 10:15 PM

i dont mean move the whole arch, just the front bit(is the front that catches??), when i had my 12x6 wheels on with the standard arches i cut the inside bit of the plastic arch out and it was all good, then came the group 5 euro arches

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Posted 08 July 2010 - 10:17 PM

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Posted 08 July 2010 - 10:17 PM

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Posted 08 July 2010 - 10:18 PM

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Posted 08 July 2010 - 10:19 PM

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Posted 08 July 2010 - 10:39 PM

OK, looks like I'll be getting myself some new shocks and taking the dremel to my new arches!

Have you tubbed the arches or is it just lowered on standard arches?

It's just lowered on standard arches. This will sound a bit thick, but I have no idea what it means to tub the arches... please explain

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Posted 08 July 2010 - 10:41 PM

I thought I'd mentioned it already but all my problems are at the rear, no clearance issues whatsoever at the front

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Posted 08 July 2010 - 11:01 PM

ok i thought it was the front. as its the back cutting the arches wont be necessary. tubbing the arches is when u cut the rear quarter panel in line with the inner arch and put a single sheet in so there is no edge to cut into the wheel and u can go realllllly low, generally a fairly big mod done to a car!

*edit: just read u'r first post again and yea u said the rear, sorry i misread it

Edited by danie garry, 08 July 2010 - 11:03 PM.

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Posted 10 July 2010 - 01:56 PM

I have the same size wheels, and lowered with special arches. I cut my wings, and have fitted the arches bit kinda bent the front so it fits the new shape.. it means the front of the arch sits further forward and the arch isn't quite as round as it should be, but unless you sit another standard mini next to it, I don't think it's obvious. It still hits now and again on full lock and with peeps in the car, but generally it's all good. Here's a picture..

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Posted 10 July 2010 - 05:30 PM

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Posted 11 July 2010 - 10:32 AM

A 'lowered shock' is just a shock that is shorter (internally) to prevent the suspension from rebounding too much (and of course the shocker from butting out).

This can be neccesary, since with lowering the rubber springs loose a fair bit of pre-load and might fall out or twist if you p.e. hit a potthole or - simply - jack up the car. Jack up a lowered car with Hilos and std. dampers and grab the Hilos - you'll see what I'm about And yes, I've seen cars where the hilos (or shortened trumpets in that case) almost fell out and canted.

And fitting stiffer dampers to prevent body roll & rubbing is not the way to go! It might work, yes - but in my opinion it's a bodge. The way to go is to remove what's in the way. A little trick with the std. arches is to cut away the 'inner' lip of the arch. This gives room for modifications on the wings, without the arch getting in the way. Like this: http://img580.images...545/cutarch.jpg - also works on the rear. Though on the rear it's a bit more complicated to modifie the body.

I just readjusted the height to 'stock' height, it's more comfy, the suspension actually starts to work again and everything feels better.

Edited by Asphalt, 11 July 2010 - 10:35 AM.

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