Tire Rub Trimming

2.5" lift... running 285/75/16, and 1.25" wheel spacers
Have slight rub at full turn (either direction, both sides, same place on the inner fender wells).
I cut the plastic and trimmed down the vertical body metal where it rubs. Often referred to as the "pinch weld" but mine has a bolt there. I was too shy with the grinder and still rubbing.
Can I go ahead and cut beyond that bolt without causing trouble? I recall seeing threads that discuss this but it's a hard one to dig up on the search feature. Planning to address this again today.

2021-06-14_08-26-52 by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

2021-06-14_08-26-52 by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

 

@Darkness normally has some tips for this.

 

Paint it black and it will rub too fast for you to notice.



I cut mine fairly aggressively many years ago. If I could go back I would have beat it inwards with a mini sledge. You can beat it just about flat and that will give you clearance without sacrificing much structure.

Curious, what is the width and backspace of your wheels? The further out you push the wheels to avoid frame, the deeper into the pinch weld your tires will go.

 

Factory backspacing, no change there.
So, you suggest... leave the bolt in there and maybe getting an inward bend started with a channel lock or vise grip then hammer time? Cuz that would actually be much easier than the cutoff wheel.

 

I cut just around the bolt on mine, it is the spacers causing the rubbing for you. I just took a grinder to mine and cut it without care and added black paint.

I added spacers also but had them on for about 5min. Had to cut way more to run them. Looks like you are running methods with 0 offset, plus the spacer that -38 offset. ( same as me)

I just live with the frame rub at full lock to the left.

You also have to worry about compressed left and right turns, those will make you fell like the fenders falling off.

are you running aftermarket UCA?

 

Yeah if you can get the bend started with pliers of some kind then hammer it home that would work. I would use a 3 or 4 pound hammer and swing gently to keep control of the bend, let the hammer do the work. Swing too hard and bad mangler stuff might happen.

Leave the bolt in, it shouldn't hurt anything. When I cut mine out I cut beyond the bolts and put new bolts in place on what was left. I wish I had seen the hammer method at the time, I would have done that.

 

Thank you Jerry. Ironically, I purchased the spacers to try and mitigate the rub.
Running SPC UCAs.

 

I'm gonna try bending them. What's the worst that could happen? (don't answer that)

 

I did the same thing as you, thought it would help. But I ignored all the threads about it not working and just told myself I would cut more off.

turns out the more off is more than I can do.

I talked to a guy that owns an off-road shop and he said they can trim it back and weld it to make it safe. Then they throw seam sealer on it to make it pretty. I might just do it because it would solve my frame issue.

Added a photo and you can see the rub mark and cut,

 

I've been meaning to ask you for advice on this. I didn't need to do anything to my pinchweld with my last shocks and I don't have frame rub, but with my current setup I'm starting to get occasional rub here when I huck it or compress the shock in off-camber sections now.

I was thinking of taking a flat piece of metal and hammering against it to flatten this out because I'm almost positive that's what I'm hearing rub.

 

Jerry, from your pics it looks like you're getting some tire rub on the frame rail (chassis) too?

 

Checkout @2006Tundra build, post number 5.

he crushed his pinch weld and it looks nice.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/2006-double-cab-tundra.67978/

 

yeah, frame rub at full lock to the left only. That’s what made me buy the spacers to push the wheel out. But ran into the same issue with pinch weld rubbing.

I just live with the frame rubbing. It’s been 6 months

 

Are you running the same size tire as me?

 

Almost, I’m on methods 17 inch, with 0 offset, 285 ko2. With 2.5 lift and camburg uca

 

Lools to me like he carved it out completely. I thought mine was cut aggressively but he went further.

 

Yeah, I like what he did there.

 

Pretty similar. I'm gonna move some steel today... by hammer, grinder, or both. I just need to get rid of that rub at full steer under normal driving conditions. This truck will only see light to moderate offroading, mostly hwy miles so not as worried about stuffing it on a sharp offroad turn. I've got a built Jeep for crawling or offroading duties. Tundra has earned primary duty now.

 

If he did cut it that far and didn't weld it back up he might have some trouble down the road. I haven't seen one split yet but I can imaging it happening.

@des2mtn what you plan to do is a good approach. The pinch weld flap that protrudes out should go flat if you beat it towards the frame. You might also hit the bottom area of fender that you outlined, thats a part I also hit but haven't bothered to do anything about because it won't cut my tires. I would prefer to beat that back rather than cut it. I have seen both methods and while cutting doesn't hurt structure there, beating looked cleaner.

 

I messaged him when I was having issues be said he had a local shop cut and weld it. Post #60

 

This is gonna be an adventure in mangling (is it Mangling Monday?). Stoked, I'll take pics!

 

Sounds good. When I tackle this I'll try to remember and document it here for other folks. I guess my main concern is getting things where it isn't going to cut my tires.

 

It is indeed mangling Monday. Give her hell brother!

 

Mangling accomplished.
Today's weapons of choice: BFH and a pair of Channel Locks. Safety glasses pictured in case any kids are watching.
2021-06-14_12-36-37 by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

Objective
2021-06-14_12-33-55 by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

I started a slight bend with the Channel Locks and used two hands on the BFH to mangle it into shape. Perfecto! The gray coloring is primer that I sprayed on yesterday after an attempted grinder mangling.
2021-06-14_12-36-06 by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

Look Ma, no rub! A little psshhht psshhht with bedliner and it's protected yet still maintains the moderately mangled look I like. Happier than a flea at the Westminster Dog Show! Speaking of which... I think the Samoyed should have won it all yesterday.
2021-06-14_12-37-12 by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr

 

I would suggest some seam sealer over the pinch weld after you beat it into submission. I knocked the paint off and thought that would protect it from it rusting out. I also used a heat gun to mold the fender liner to fit the new space. No more rubbing.

Edit* It looks like my comment was a little late. Looks like you got it handled nicely.

 

My Mangle Radar was picking up some activity. Had to check in and see. Doesn’t look too bad.

 

@Glock 40 It was cut, welded and smooth the welds. I don't rub in the back anymore but slightly on the front plastic's, going in reverse. I also have a 3" lift but I wish I can get another 1/2" to stop from rubbing.

 

Looks like more mangling is in order. While offroading... when creeping downhill, steep pitch braking at full steer.... getting a rub on the floor pan, driver's side. It's gonna have a date with the BFH. My previous manglings performed well on the inner fender wells. No rubbing there anymore.
Just need to address this:
2021-07-10_08-18-16 by GhostCreekMine, on Flickr