Ice and snow collecting in wheel wells

[Sheldon]

I have a '07 Outback. For a car that is supposed to go everywhere through
everything, I've never had a car collect so much ice and snow in the wheel
wells. Even my old Subie wasn't this bad. Any solutions or preventions?
There's just enough room in there for the tire to spin -- sometimes.
Otherwise it makes some very interesting noises when driving.

Thanks.

Sheldon

 

[eachcornerpulling]

I have a '07 Outback. For a car that is supposed to go everywhere through
everything, I've never had a car collect so much ice and snow in the wheel
wells. Even my old Subie wasn't this bad. Any solutions or preventions?
There's just enough room in there for the tire to spin -- sometimes.
Otherwise it makes some very interesting noises when driving.

It depends far more on the weather/road/snow/slush/temperature than
the car. Some years my Subaru wheel wells get really clogged up, other
years they don't. This year was really bad here in BC.

 

[isquat]

I have a '07 Outback. For a car that is supposed to go everywhere through
everything, I've never had a car collect so much ice and snow in the wheel
wells. Even my old Subie wasn't this bad. Any solutions or preventions?

Short of peeing into the wheel wells periodically I suggest
to think about aftermarket winter wheels. I think the latter would
be a more elegant (if more expensive) solution than the former.
I also think your oem wheels are 17" and aftermaket 16" or 15"s would
probably clear the brake calipers. The wheel selection on tirerack
should help.If you go with the smaller wheels I think you can increase
the clearance between the tire and the wheel well covers if you
are creative with the tire sizing. I think the tire load ratings
would probably drop along with the sidewall height if you stay
within the same wheels diameter.

As a plug for 05OBS I should say that the car has gobs
of clearance in the front. It had a lot in the back also,
but STI springs cured that :-]

 

[JohnO]

Short of peeing into the wheel wells periodically I suggest
to think about aftermarket winter wheels. I think the latter would
be a more elegant (if more expensive) solution than the former.
I also think your oem wheels are 17" and aftermaket 16" or 15"s would
probably clear the brake calipers. The wheel selection on tirerack
should help.If you go with the smaller wheels I think you can increase
the clearance between the tire and the wheel well covers if you
are creative with the tire sizing. I think the tire load ratings
would probably drop along with the sidewall height if you stay
within the same wheels diameter.

IMO that just makes room for more snow. Heck, we've had five feet
since the end of January, a pile more on the way tonight. I had to hit
a car wash just to clean out the wells. I tend to agree that this is
just a bad winter for that, no temperature cycling...just friggin
cold.

-John O
brrrrr

 

[bgd]

Year doesn't matter.
unless its a year for alot of sticky snow. Even american trucks with no use
for wheel wells trying to kill us all gets some build up. Those times get
all the subes as well.
Filling them in with bigger wheels is not a bad thing. Grinding away at a
build up is a fast build up to be grinding. Chunks falling off of wheel
wells not filled in really suck for people behind the chunk dropping bomber.
In fact, I am putting 16's on my old sube for this. The 13's have a whole
lot of wheel well space to build bombs up.

 

[vjc]

My 07 Forester had the same problem this winter. I have never had a car
collect so much ice before. I thought I broke a shock the car made so much
noise. Gas milage was down almost 4 mpg with all the added weight.

 

[QX]

I have a '07 Outback. For a car that is supposed to go everywhere through
everything, I've never had a car collect so much ice and snow in the wheel
wells. Even my old Subie wasn't this bad. Any solutions or preventions?
There's just enough room in there for the tire to spin -- sometimes.
Otherwise it makes some very interesting noises when driving.

Thanks.

Sheldon

I have heard of folks cleaning the wheel wells with a pressure spray
at the car wash, letting it dry completely, and spraying the plastic
wheel well liner with one of the following: silicon spray, spray wax,
or even something like "PAM" in there to make the surface slicker.
Supposedly it stops the ice/snow from sticking. Haven't tried it
though.

 

[S]

Hi Sheldon!

I have a '07 Outback. For a car that is supposed to go everywhere through
everything, I've never had a car collect so much ice and snow in the wheel
wells.

They all will, given the right combination of slop and low
temperature. Your best bet is to frequent the high pressure car wash,
or use a home pressure-washer and hot water, or a Hotsy if you're
fortunate enough to have access to one. Get it _before_ it becomes
jammed tight, and it shouldn't take heroic efforts to keep things
cleaned up.
I had to take an ice axe to my GL after our last ice rally-cross
event, but that's hardly the cars fault . . . That old axe was a
popular tool that afternoon

ByeBye! S.

Steve Jernigan KG0MB
Laboratory Manager
Microelectronics Research
University of Colorado
(719) 262-3101

 

[JohnO]

I had to take an ice axe to my GL

Gosh, I usually just swear at my car.



-John O

 

[S]

Hi John!

Gosh, I usually just swear at my car.

Well, yea; there was a fair bit of _that_ when the poor ol' thing
absolutely refused to move from where I'd parked it after coming off
the ice from my final run . . .

ByeBye! S.
Steve Jernigan KG0MB
Laboratory Manager
Microelectronics Research
University of Colorado
(719) 262-3101

 

[Sheldon]

My 07 Forester had the same problem this winter. I have never had a car
collect so much ice before. I thought I broke a shock the car made so
much noise. Gas milage was down almost 4 mpg with all the added weight.

When it really builds up, it's like having the brakes on all the time.