Rear end rub with new radials on 1956. | Ford Thunderbird club group 1955-2005 T-Bird models

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Rear end rub with new radials on 1956.

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fadler

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Thunderbird Year
1956
I have a 1956 with the continental kit. I just put Coker recommended 225 75 15 BF Goodrich radials on it and the back end must be sagging because on turns it rubs on the skirts I believe. SO, I read the recommendation to fix up the rear leaf springs and the shocks. I found rear leaf spring kits at shocks2springs.com (kit 42-211, OEM#B7X5560a waiting for quote but less some parts $449 per pair) and gas shocks H1148 ($259.95 per pair). Is that my best alternative? Thank you.

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have '65 that right front tire would rub inner edge of fender when wheel turned left . installed one helper leaf spring to left rear spring. Uses clamp/bolt on set up. Car sagged a little bit on left side. possibly from spending most of it's life with only driver alone in car.Helper springs are used usually to increase load capacity in car or truck, and raising it. . I installed at setting for lowest impact and not actually lift car. Purchased from O'Reilly Auto Parts: Superior RideEFFEX leaf spring helper #111020. Already installed new rear shocks.
 
Do you know where on the skirts the rubbing takes place? It might not be down to a soft rear suspension. Last year I also put on new tyres all-round and got some dark rubbing marks on the new whitewalls. Then I remembered that a couple of year earlier I had painted the locating handle on the skirt matt black in order to make it less noticable. On taking the skirt off, sure enough, the paint on one part of the handle had been rubbed away. I ended up glueing a small triangle of hard rubber to the inside lip of the skirt and that pushes the handle that bit bit further away from the tyre.
 
The correct radial replacement tire is 195 or a 205 maximum size. The 195 is a replacement for original 6 x 70 x15. I believe that you will continue to have rubbing issues as a 225 is a radial size and equates to a 800 x 14 or 15 bias tire that were used on the 1958-1966 Thunderbirds.
 
225 is to big! I had big issues with the 57 tyres rubbing the skirt clips with America Classic tyres. We rerest the rear springs up 20 mm and had an extra leaf fitted. This required new spring shackles. Then fitted KYB gas adjust shock absorbers. Much better ! We have now fitted new steel wheels with 90 mm back spacing, this totally solves the problem. 225 is to big for the 55 rear tub space as Lance says the it’s the big bird size which have bigger wheel tubs.
 
I am not aware that radials are "recommended" for our 70 year old birds. During the 38 years I've owned my 55 Bird, I used Coker radials for one of my tire changes. I was very disappointed with the tires. Driving felt fishy and not solid. Our old Birds were not designed for suspension to work with Radial tires, in my humble opinion. I find it a joy to drive my old bird the way it came out of the box in 1955 (but I have made upgrades that do not change appearance or original driving experience). Who needs air shocks on a 70 year old car that a new 6 cylinder Toyota can out perform. Face it, we don't own these Birds for their high performance. Keep it stock to enjoy before they go into museums when they are not allowed on the roads after we are gone.
 
SHA BOP said:
I am not aware that radials are "recommended" for our 70 year old birds. During the 38 years I've owned my 55 Bird, I used Coker radials for one of my tire changes. I was very disappointed with the tires. Driving felt fishy and not solid. Our old Birds were not designed for suspension to work with Radial tires, in my humble opinion. I find it a joy to drive my old bird the way it came out of the box in 1955 (but I have made upgrades that do not change appearance or original driving experience). Who needs air shocks on a 70 year old car that a new 6 cylinder Toyota can out perform. Face it, we don't own these Birds for their high performance. Keep it stock to enjoy before they go into museums when they are not allowed on the roads after we are gone.
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I guess it’s each to his own. Re tyres etc. my upgrades would be hard to spot but it the safety benefit is huge. I’m also a bit of keep it looking original. Our 57.20250909_152812 Copy Copy.jpeg
 
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