RC body rubbing the tyres? Raise, trim or change offset
If the shell catches the tyres when the suspension compresses, raise the body posts first, then trim the wheel arches, then check wheel offset. Raise the body before you raise the car.
Why it happens
Drift shells are often styled low and wide, and many ship with arches sized for narrower setups. Once the suspension compresses or you fit wider offsets, the tyre reaches the shell.
Check in this order
- Body posts. Raise the body a few millimetres with the posts or body mounts before raising the car.
- Arches. Trim the wheel arches; most shells ship undersized for wider offsets.
- Wheel offset. A lower offset pulls the tyre into the arch. Use the offset the shell was designed for.
- Nose-down shells. A spacer under the front body mount levels a shell that sits nose-down.
- Steering lock. At full lock the front tyres can catch the inner arch; check with the suspension compressed.
Parts that fix it
- Body posts and mounts: Body Mounts
- Wheels in different offsets: Drift Wheels
- Spacers: Spacer & Shims
- Body tools for trimming: Body Tools
FAQ
Should I raise the car or the body if the shell rubs? The body first. Raising the car changes handling; raising the body doesn't.
What wheel offset should I use for my drift shell? The one the shell's arches are designed around. Check the shell's spec or measure the arch.
Is it OK to trim a polycarbonate shell's arches? Yes, with curved body scissors or a reamer. Trim a little at a time and test.