|
Am I correct in thinking this?
If you had two new tyres put on the front wheels at the same time and after a while one of them is showing uneven wear, this is not a tie rods out of adjustment, but a worn steering part or suspension problem?
Edited by pullgees on 02/04/2016 at 11:34
|
|
Not necessarily.
"after a while", could cover any period of time from weeks for a high-mileage user, to 5 years for granny who goes to the shops twice a week.
In any event, mounting a kerb could knock the alignment out, leading to uneven wear. That could obviously happen at any time.
|
|
I no longer "just" have the front tracking done - my last two cars have benefitted from full 12-axis laser alignment, ie camber, castor and toe at both ends - OK, not everything is adjustable but it shows if any are out of tolerance and enables adjustment where possible.
It certainly makes subsequent sets of tyres last longer.
|
|
|
Not necessarily.
"after a while", could cover any period of time from weeks for a high-mileage user, to 5 years for granny who goes to the shops twice a week.
In any event, mounting a kerb could knock the alignment out, leading to uneven wear. That could obviously happen at any time.
I f you whack the kerb to upset the wheel alingment and caused one wheel to toe in or out more than the other, then that difference will always remain no matter how you adjust the tracking. Adjusting the track rod ends lengthens or shorten the tie rod and effects both wheels simultaneously irrespective of what side you are adjusting; at least that is how it was on my Fiesta. All you are doing is pushing or pulling the rack along. The only reason you adjust both side is to keep the steering wheel centred. Maybe on some cars you can adjust the wheels independently though.
|
|
Kerbing a rear wheel can cause mis-alignment that front tracking can never fix
|
|
TBH, while we can have a theoretical discussion on here, the OP's problem will only be solved by a thorough examination of the vehicle. That would of course include a proper account of the tyre damage and the age/mileage of the tyres concerend.
Our Berlingo, oddly for FWD, wears its rear tyres slightly faster than the fronts. Locally, folks also find the outer edges wear faster than inner and n/s tyre more than o/s. This is known as the 'Milton Keynes' effect due to the prevalence of roundabouts in that town and the weight shift due centrifugal force.
|
TBH, while we can have a theoretical discussion on here, the OP's problem will only be solved by a thorough examination of the vehicle. That would of course include a proper account of the tyre damage and the age/mileage of the tyres concerend.
No there is nothing wrong with my car, this is theoretical discussion as you put it.
|
|
Going back to your original question, yes there are other factors than can cause tyre wear other than front wheel tracking.
A worn shock absorber can cause irregular wear patterns on a tyre. Excessive positive or negative camber will cause wear on either the inner or outer edge of the tyre tread.
|
|
|
|
Locally, folks also find the outer edges wear faster than inner and n/s tyre more than o/s. This is known as the 'Milton Keynes' effect due to the prevalence of roundabouts in that town and the weight shift due centrifugal force.
I've always understood the N/S outer edge wears most quickly due to road camber.
Wear on both outer edges could probably be reduced by taking those roundabouts slower, or alternatively much faster thereby inducing oversteer and applying opposite lock. ;>)
|
|
|
|
|
I f you whack the kerb to upset the wheel alingment and caused one wheel to toe in or out more than the other, then that difference will always remain no matter how you adjust the tracking. Adjusting the track rod ends lengthens or shorten the tie rod and effects both wheels simultaneously irrespective of what side you are adjusting
I don't know what you're trying to say, but haven't you just contradicted yourself?
|
I don't know what you're trying to say, but haven't you just contradicted yourself?
Essentially it's this. I f you whack the kerb to upset the wheel alignment and caused one wheel to toe in or out more than the other, then that difference will always remain no matter how you adjust the tracking.
|
|
You say: " I f you whack the kerb to upset the wheel alignment and caused one wheel to toe in or out more than the other, then that difference will always remain no matter how you adjust the tracking."
But previously: "Adjusting the track rod ends lengthens or shorten the tie rod and effects both wheels simultaneously irrespective of what side you are adjusting"
?
|
|
Correct. If you toe in on one side the other side toes in also the same amount. If you toe out on one side the other side toes out also the same amount. Therefore the damage the "kerbing" caused will always remain - one wheel will sit different to the other.
|
Incorrect, if you toe in the LH side by 1 degree you will in effect create 1/2 degree toe in each side.
If however, as mentioned previously, you damage a suspension arm for example, that distortion will persist no matter how many times you alter your tracking.
Toe in will induce wear on the outer edges of the tyres and toe out on the inner.
|
Incorrect, if you toe in the LH side by 1 degree you will in effect create 1/2 degree toe in each side. If however, as mentioned previously, you damage a suspension arm for example, that distortion will persist no matter how many times you alter your tracking. Toe in will induce wear on the outer edges of the tyres and toe out on the inner.
Thank you even better explained than myself. I had such a distortion on a Fiesta I had - it always drifted to one side - and wasted about £100 in various tyre bays. None of them suggested that I had damage but were only to willing to take my money.
|
|
My car has a problem that the near side front wheel always scrubs the outside of the tyre. It's not this vehicle only, I noticed it on the first Subaru Legacy that I bought and I'm now on my third. I'm told that it is called 'four wheel drive scrub'. I've taken the car to many experts with the latest machinery but whatever adjustments that they have made the problem persists.
|
My car has a problem that the near side front wheel always scrubs the outside of the tyre. It's not this vehicle only, I noticed it on the first Subaru Legacy that I bought and I'm now on my third. I'm told that it is called 'four wheel drive scrub'. I've taken the car to many experts with the latest machinery but whatever adjustments that they have made the problem persists.
My Outback had strange tyre wear issues - but full 12-axis laser alignment cured it - the technicians suggested it was a common issue with cars being shipped halfway round the world because they get strapped down so tightly for the voyage that their suspension hasn't settled properly before re-adjustment at the UK port of entry - similar thing happened with a Korean-built Hyundai.
|
|
Lashing on ships shouldn't cause any problems on a Subaru, which have proper tie down points on all four corners.
Can't say i've noticed any scrubbing on our Outback, which is now 115k and 14 years old.
|
My car has a problem that the near side front wheel always scrubs the outside of the tyre.
Probably due to the camber of the road (assuming you're in the UK). This pulls the car to the left, which you correct by applying a little 'right hand down a bit'. That puts a load on the outside of the front nearside tyre, causing it to wear.
That wear pattern means that tyre adopts the shape of a truncated cone of smaller diameter at the outside edge. That in turn makes that wheel pull to the left, further exacerbating the problem.
The cure is to swap the front wheels from side to side, unless the tyres are rotational dependant. In which case swapping the front to rears may help.
|
|
|
|
|
