scrub line

[34rat]

Ok dont knock me for asking a dumb ? but does this mean that nothing should be below this not even my frame? If I measure from my rim to the ground it is between 5-6" how low should I put my frame? Im getting ready to cut it up and this is probably important.

 

[dmw56]

Yes, illegal in most states. If you have a flat or blow out you don't want anything dragging on the ground if you do you will have no steering control. You will skid uncontrollably into that soccer mom's van with her 7 kids.

 

[34rat]

so I guess the trucks I see that there cabs are 4" off the ground probably have air bags to lift them back up?

 

[Gastrick]

so I guess the trucks I see that there cabs are 4" off the ground probably have air bags to lift them back up?

Not all of them. There are many scrub line violators out there, and even the examples that have air bags could be in trouble in the event of bag failure.

 

[42chevy]

I think that is one of the smartest questions you can ask. I think there are way too many cars built with no consideration to scrub line at all. Asking before you do the work is a good idea also. Handling a flat front tire at speed is not the time to find out your too low. That is hard enough to deal with when setup correctly.

 

[FlatBroke]

Very smart question.


Don't ever be afraid to ask any question related to cars around here.

 

[Sid]

That is a great question and I really never thought of it. I will take it into consideration now as I'm getting ready to build my frame.

Sid

 

[34rat]

thanks guys so I guess if I give myself an inch I should be ok? if that is the case my cab will be 7" of the ground. not as low as I wanted but safty first

 

[LOWANDRATY]

Im running into this problem now, when I set my body height I was measuring from the bottom of the doors, as the old rusty body had no rockers, after I made rockers and put a floor in it, and set it on the frame, now guess what, 5" from the rockers to the ground, now I need to cut the rear upper spring mounts out and make them taller, so I can get the rear end up another 2"

 

[kelseydum]

Sadly, in Ol' Skool Rodz magazine (I think) there was a rat truck that admitted his truck was a disaster waiting to happen "on the freeway". He claims he takes back roads when possible but does take it on the freeways sometimes. His truck is so low if he were to get a flat the cab would get ripped off the frame and send him flying. Apparently he is okay with that and apparently thinks it will never happen to him. Point being, his truck was cool enough to make it in a magazine but at what price... will we read an article within the next five years about how some "rat rodder" flipped his truck and died? this is definitely an important thing that I think a lot of rat rodders don't think about.

 

[Sam_Fear]

Scrub line. First I figure it by one blown tire (and bag) on one corner. And I try to keep in mind what would happen if I blew both tires on one side. I figure it's fairly possible that a blown tire could throw shrapnel into the bag too. The front tires are a bigger concern than the rears.

Really, if you blow one tire, your cab is not going to drop all that far - it's the front axle that's gonna drop the most, and even then, only on the one side. Flatten one of your tires and see if anything is on the ground. I doubt it. A blown tire is going to drop that corner likely 5-6". That means the center of the axle is going to drop 2-1/2" to 3". Same with the cab.

Again - flatten a tire a see if anything hit ground.

 

[CR55]

I thought the scrub line was anything below the rims. That way if you have a flat nothing will become damaged....is this correct?...CR

 

[dyce51]

Ok dont knock me for asking a dumb ? but does this mean that nothing should be below this not even my frame? If I measure from my rim to the ground it is between 5-6" how low should I put my frame? Im getting ready to cut it up and this is probably important.

Not a dumb question at all. I often wondered the same thing!

 

[Sam_Fear]

I thought the scrub line was anything below the rims. That way if you have a flat nothing will become damaged....is this correct?...CR

That may be 'technically' correct, but if, say, your driveshaft loop was 1" below the scrub line, you'd have to blow all 4 tires before it would hit. What are the odds?

 

[DJ3100]

That may be 'technically' correct, but if, say, your driveshaft loop was 1" below the scrub line, you'd have to blow all 4 tires before it would hit. What are the odds?

There was a guy that dropped a 50 pound box of roofing nails on I-10 during rush hour a while back. Lots of flat tires, a few beat up fenders from trying to avoid the nails, but I don't think anyone lost all 4 tires (I was happy to have Uniroyal self sealing tires that day).

Maybe a Cop stop strip would do it, that's the only thing I can imagine.

Ah, you are paying attention to the expiration dates on your tires -right.

 

[Sam_Fear]

To tell the truth, I was in a car that flattened all 4 tires at once. 4 Guys in my buddy's Escort. He thought he'd be funny, hit the e-brake, and slid it sideways. Rolled all 4 tires off the rims! Ship of Fools/Car Load of Idiots.

I'd forgotten about that. Good times.

 

[dyce51]

To tell the truth, I was in a car that flattened all 4 tires at once. 4 Guys in my buddy's Escort. He thought he'd be funny, hit the e-brake, and slid it sideways. Rolled all 4 tires off the rims! Ship of Fools/Car Load of Idiots.

I'd forgotten about that. Good times.

Good God ...do I know you?/ Did we grow up together?? My buddies and I used to to do the same stuff!!!! LMAO

What I wouldn't do to be that young again and having fun like that......

 

[Sam_Fear]

Good God ...do I know you?/ Did we grow up together?? My buddies and I used to to do the same stuff!!!! LMAO

What I wouldn't do to be that young again and having fun like that......

Well, you have to be young and stupid, and young is optional.

 

[likes_2_tinker]

glad you brought up the question cause i never heard of a scrub line or even though of blowing a tire so thanks

 

[34rat]

Scrub line. First I figure it by one blown tire (and bag) on one corner. And I try to keep in mind what would happen if I blew both tires on one side. I figure it's fairly possible that a blown tire could throw shrapnel into the bag too. The front tires are a bigger concern than the rears.

Really, if you blow one tire, your cab is not going to drop all that far - it's the front axle that's gonna drop the most, and even then, only on the one side. Flatten one of your tires and see if anything is on the ground. I doubt it. A blown tire is going to drop that corner likely 5-6". That means the center of the axle is going to drop 2-1/2" to 3". Same with the cab.

Again - flatten a tire a see if anything hit ground.

So if I have 6" from the rim to ground then were should I put my frame. I know the chances are slim to have 2 front flats,but If I have one how much would that corner drop?