I have a rubbing noise only when I have four people in the car. IT happens over slight bumps. Right now the only indications of anything rubbing is the scrap marks on the exhaust canister. This is my set up.
1. TRD Lowering springs, TRD shocks and struts (checked wheel wells and everything is also tight)
2. Progress rear sway bar(no indication/ no scraps on the bar what so ever)
3. Rear trunk is dynomat'd and so is rear trunk lid
4. A sub box that probably weighs in at around 20-50lbs (I'm not sure on the weight but it can be moved/picked up fairly easily)

That's about it. My guess is that with all the extra weight in the back the xB sits lower then when only two people sit in it. What do you all think. I didn't have this problem before I did the Dynomat'd the trunk lid but I don't remember ever carrying around more then two people after it was dropped.

 

i think it's obvious why you're hearing a rubbing noise. your tires are rubbing the wheel wells.

 

I've checked three seperate times, I don't see any wear on the tires or the wheel wells. Otherwise I wouldn't have posted. It's really strange cause it's all the TRD suspension stuff and I am still on OEM steelies. I thought it was the wheel well too, but after checking it three times with the mechanic I work with neither one of us can see anything.

 

well sometimes it doesn't leave marks.

but it could be that you're rubbing somewhere else.

but before i installed my springs, i about 40 pounds on my roof rack, more camping gear up to the roof in the back, and 2 guys 280 lbs + with me [200 lbs] and another guy [160 lbs+] and my car was pretty low. not slammed and rubbing, but pretty low.

now with my tein springs, when i have more than 3 in my car, it's on the ground, lol

good luck with your problem man, let us know what it is when you figure it out

 

Thanks for the info, luckily I don't have more then one other person in my car most of the time. I just find it super strange to have the TRD stuff and OEM steelies and have this kinda issue. Hopefully I can figure out what it is. I'll post up if I ever find out.

 

I doubt its the rear tires rubbing anything. When I would drive around with my air suspension I could lower the rear of the car completely and ride down the road with it. The tires would be tucketd completely and nothing rubbed. This was also with an inch of the bumpstops cut out allowing it to go lower than your setup currently can, Gerald.

 

any ideas on what else I can check out?

 

you're not running any spacers?

 

nope, pretty much stock, with the TRD dealer offered shocks,springs, and struts. I did forget to mention I have a Strup ver. 2 exhaust. But it doesn't hang as low as the version 1.

 

i don't know what to suggest. maybe it's something in your spare tire area moving around?

 

Id have to hear it. Im pretty good at chasing down noises.

 

stock tires?

 

I have TRD 19's, lowering springs/struts, 15mm shims and carbon fiber Fender Flares. What you described happened to me with the inside edges of the two rear Fender Flares hitting the sidewalls of the the tires on the 19's. I trimmed the flare edges back and now they're OK even with 40 cases of soda in the back!

Have you shimmed the heck out of those wheels and pushed them out to where they can touch the fenders when loaded and hit a bump?

YABABY
RS1.0 #377
Annapolis

 

he said no shims on stock tires

 

I think I found the problem. A few months back I was rear ended. . . so starts the explaination.

The mudflap looking things behind the tires on the rear have two clips/bolts holding them in on one side and another clip on the other. Well, they had tire tread marks on them so I pushed them back and what do you know the popped back into what I assume is the right position. It'll be a little while before I get a bunch of people in the car so I'll post up once I have done a test drive. I do appriciate all the comments, I'll let you all know what's up in a bit.

 

Hopefully, the bumper insert thing is your problem.

If not...
...sounds like you may have seen your problem already. Stock exhaust? Stock, and most other mufflers hang slightly lower than the underside of the car. But with TRDs and the can scraping doesn't make sense. It shouldn't drop so low, unless there is a massive amount of weight back there.---you should take your backseat passengers and drop them off at Jenny Craig or something.

 

I think the scraping on the exhaust canister is from it hanging a little low and the speedbumps/potholes in the area. Hopefully those little plastic flap things are the cause. It really does sound like tire rub. I see tire tread marks on the flaps and they were a bit close but I'll have to see the next time I gotta bunch o people in the car.

No one in my family needs to lose weight, we're a small asian family. . . you figure we'd all fit in a geo metro comfortably. . .

 

Sorry. No rip intended...just making a little joke.

 

I know, just having fun. You know I seem to only get angry when I am driving otherwise I'm very mellow. . . sort of. . . damn traffic in dc . . .ha ha ha