I have a 2006 Focus Estate with self levelling suspension as a company car. It has done just 16500 miles but is already on its third set of rear tyres. After the first set were replaced a complete four wheel realignment was done after the supplying dealer admitted that they may have failed to do this correctly after fitting the suspension (they fitted it because it was a mis build at the factory). At this point the car also handled a little erratically and the realignment corrected this. However 9000 miles on the rears were down to the legal limit again and have just been replaced (along with the fronts).
It is now about to go back to be looked at again - does anybody have any suggestions or comments on what might be the root cause. I have never known tyre wear like it.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 10/12/2007 at 19:25
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A proper '3D' four-wheel laser alignment on good equipment should highlight the problem. You should get a print-out showing 'before' and 'after' settings.
The current tyre wear pattern may indicate the nature of the problem. What is the wear pattern (inner/outer edge, feathering etc etc)?
Often, very little is adjustable on the rear suspension so it is possible that parts are bent or incorrectly fitted - the alignment should help pinpoint this.
One final thing - do you carry abnormally heavy loads or tow? This could be a factor...
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I occasionally carry some heavy (but not excessively so) equipment over a small distance. I happily used to do this in my previous Focus Mk1 Estate.
The wear is worst on the outer edge of the offside tyre - does this give any clues?
I will push to get the "before and after" print out as you suggest. It should be being looked at next week some time.
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SWMBO's Focus, admittedly a 3-door 1.6 hatchback (52 reg), is still on its original rear tyres (P6000s) at 53,000 miles.
Something must be radically wrong somewhere. Good luck - let us know what happens!
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Last year, to my surprise, my son's Focus failed its MoT. The rear suspension " tie bar" had been bent. When told this, it was easy to see the effect, one rear wheel was closer than the other to their respective door cill. The tie bar was distorted so that in effect it was sort of ~ shape instead of flat.
The MoT lads said it was not uncommon in Focus and Mondeo.
Both son and I could not recall an event to cause it but the lads said reversing into a kerb could be the reason.
Once repaired I did exactly as Aprilia says. A full laser 4 wheel alignment check and they did adjust the rear geometry and I have their full colour report of the settings before /after.
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Thanks everybody these are all useful tips. How can I ensure that what the leasing company arrange is a "full 3D laser alignment check"? - I believe that not that many places have the equipment to do this - what am I looking for?
A visual inspection reveals nothing obviously bent/broken/distorted to my untrained eye.
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Some specialist alloy wheel / tyre suppliers will have this gear. Also some performance tuning / competition preparation outfits. Best plan is to either google for one in your area, or go through Yellow Pages
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Or if you say where you are, someone may know somewhere nearby.
eg Ripon Farm Services in Ripon or NE Tyres & Exhasust in York.
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e.g Hunters is one of the kit suppliers.
www.alignmycar.co.uk/
I would expect at least a bay specially set up with the kit installed similar to the images in the above link.
There are other kits out there so happy hunting.
I had to smile at this dummies guide
www.videojug.com/film/how-to-tell-if-your-car-is-o...t
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I will be at the mercy of wherever the leasing company send me and let's just say they don't have a great track record. I am near Woking so assume I will be sent somewhere near there. At least I know what to look for now. I'm very impressed by the speedy and helpful nature of the responses on this forum. I'll let you know what happens next.
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Ah Woking. You would get more car knowledge at the Peacocks Panto than the tyre places in Woking. Try and get to Micheldever tyres at Micheldever station. They have all the kit.
But one thought
If the handling and ride is Ok, and the leasing company are paying for the tyres
whats the problem?
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< Ulla>
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Ah Woking.
If you venture near Hatton Cross, this is the company I have used for decades and provided my earlier link to Hunter alignment equipment.
They are on the A312 (The Causeway), south of the A30.
Their map is not very precise unlike their alignments skills ;-)
www.felthamtyre.co.uk/
I am just a satisfied customer.
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I do often venture in that direction (Hatton Cross) so I will try and encourage the leasing company to send me there.
Thanks
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Fair point but I am concerned that there might be an underlying problem that may cause a problem if I ever had to swerve, brake hard etc in "difficult driving conditions". Plus maybe the handling and ride could be even better.
Also it is inconvenient and the leasing company will only change them when they get very low...
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Hmmm leasing companies and tyres indeed. Ours will not change till they reach the legal 1.6mm limit. If you are very lucky, and bleat very loudly to senior management about health and safety, they will change at 2mm.
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< Ulla>
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Ours would change at 2mm's but they tyre places seem terrified of leasing companies - only the other day a tyre place measured the tyres on my daughter's car at 3mm and they were worn flush to the treadwear indicators! So of course there then followed a huge row with the maint controller!
On our company cars the lease company would *never* pay for wheel alignment - my Peugeot dealer used to do it if necessary on the 406's I had (the rear tyres used to wear like wedges if it was out) but didn't get paid.
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Friend with a company car complained of aches in arm due to steering wheel vibration on long journeys- Lease company said to get alignment checked/ wheels rebalanced. When there is a possibility of a health issue, then they move more quickly.
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Well the leasing company want me to take it to Dagenham Motors in Byfleet on Tuesday morning - anybody got any idea of whether they have the right equipment there? I was told that they do but I'm not 100% convinced. Apparently they will "assess it while I wait".
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That will be the Oyster Lane service dept, dont know if they have a four wheel laser rig though it is a big place.
Seems to me that a mistake must have been made when the s/l suspension was retrofitted, it could be simply alighnment or could be wrong parts.
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I'm pretty sure your theory is correct cheddar - shame the original dealer didn't fix it the first time this came to light. It will be interesting to see if Dagenham Motors get to the bottom of it this time.
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I seem to recall they have a pretty good body shop. They might have the correct stuff.
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< Ulla>
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anybody got any idea of whether they have the right equipment there? I was told that they do but I'm not 100% convinced.
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Ask to see it and have a chat to the "operator".
IIRC a bay is required that has the kit permanently installed similar to my earlier link to the Hunter kit.
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Well - guess what - Dagenham Motors can't do four wheel laser alignment. Currently waiting for the leasing company to come up with somewhere that can. They did adjust the "toe in" on the front and rear but that was barely out. They had no theories as to why the tyres are wearing out either. Bit of a waste of my time really although they were helpful and apologetic.
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Car now booked into Inchcape Ford Guildford who will take it to a 4 wheel alignment place and also do a "brake vacuum recall" and fix the dimming rear view mirror that no longer dims. Won't be until the 9th Jan though.......
Another mystery is that since the tyres were changed the average MPG on the "computer" (which has always been fairly accurate compared to "brim to brim" measurement) has dropped - too early to say whether this is really a drop or not (haven't driven much in the last week). The tyres are Michelin Primacy HP so I would expect it to improve. I have checked the pressures by the way.
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surely this is a warrenty issue and as such should be sorted by the dealer at no expense to the lease company in fact if it was my lease company i would be jumping up and down like a sparrow on a twig for them to sort it, third set of tyre's in 16k is extreme
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On my Mondeo the rear tyres wore excessively at one time. It was caused by the rear suspension being damaged, probably by driving in Wellingborough. (an obstacle course)
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That was my suspicion too - although every dealer that's had it up on the ramps maintains that there is no damage. Interestingly Dagenham Motors said that they had "seen unusual rear tyre wear on Mondeos before but never on a Focus".
On the question of the leasing company jumping up and down - I wish that they would on my behalf - they seem fairly apathetic about the whole thing. Will see what Inchcape come up with - I will try and chat to the service manager when I go in. They might be more inclined to help as we buy and service my wife's cars from there.
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>>Interestingly Dagenham Motors said that they had "seen unusual rear tyre wear on Mondeos before but never on a Focus".
My 98 Mondeo had the rear set corrected when laser checked.
My sons Focus had rear suspension damage ( suggested reversing into a kerb)
I had it checked out and it needed adjusting after the suspension was fixed.
My Indie said this rear suspension damage was fairly common on Mondeos and Focus.
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In defence of companies and company vehicles I have to say my company, Dolphin Bathrooms, are brilliant when it comes to vehicles.
I have a superb VW Transporter T30i LWB and if there is any problem of any sort the van is straight into VW and if there is no courtesy van available they ensure I have a hire van waiting at the dealer to drive away in.
For tyres we have an account a large fast fit outlet and that again could not be easier.
Just thought it was worth flagging up that not all companies are skinflints : o )
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