Mk3 Squareback Arches - Hammer or Grind??

Steve_O · Post by **Steve_O** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 12:25 pm

Sorry mods - this is kinda technical - but it's pretty important!!

Basically, I drove to Manchester for the weekend and picked up a couple of friends on the way up. However, with 3 of us in the car and a bit of luggage in the boot - the rear nearside tyre started scrubbing like a b***h - with the lip of the arch scraping against the sidewall of the tyre. I got round it by swapping for the spare wheel which is a lot narrower.

Anyway - I need to sort this out pronto - so what should I do??

I was thinking of either grinding or hammering the lip. Grinding was my first choice so as not to risk deforming the arch by hammering. However, as I suspected, the lip is a double skin of metal - presumably the bodyshell and the wheelarch. I think it should still be ok to grind the lip down a few millimetres, but I thought I'd just see if anyone has any better ideas, or any hints and tips??

Ta!!

ste mk1lx · Post by **ste mk1lx** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 12:31 pm

speak to a bodyshop and get them rolled proffesionaly.grinding near the fuel tank! not safe.

Steve_O · Post by **Steve_O** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 12:51 pm

Can you roll square arches?? I thought they used a tool which attaches to your wheel hub - and then they 'roll' it along the rim to flatten it. Obviously most wheel arches won't be perfectly concentric to the hub - but i'm thinking square ones would be a b***h!! If i'm not barking up the wrong tree of course!!

Steve_O · Post by **Steve_O** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 12:52 pm

Haha!! - I never realised how often I say the word b***h!!

Loonball · Post by **Loonball** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 10:59 pm

tools required:-

*Rubber Mallet (not of comedy size)
*Rubber Block (like a wedge of cheese, but rubber)
*A Jack
*A Wheel Brace
*Patience
*and if you dont want to crack the paint, a hair dryer.

Jack the car up and remove wheel with the wheel brace, place the block on the outside of the arch and tap inside lip up over but dont go mental, gradually work your way backwards and forwards from where the bumper meets the arch to where it starts to curve at the front. Keep going till the desired effect is achieved. If it feels like the paint might crack simply gradually heat with the hair dryer.

I know this works as have seen the evidence, if you take your time and have patience.

I am having the same problem with mine at the mo as have just purchased some new wheels which are fatter.

Hope this helps

Steve_O · Post by **Steve_O** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 12:25 am

Yeah - the hair dryer idea did occur to me - after the paint split!!

Lack of patience has let me down once again!!

Loonball · Post by **Loonball** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 10:42 am

i've cracked my paint too as didn't have a hairdryer with me at the time! Doh i'll have to remember another thing to fit in my handbag for emergencies now????