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Uneven tire wear... what's broken?

T

TedJ

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City, State
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Year, Model & Trim Level
'94 Sport
My left front tire looks like this (worn part is on the outside side)



I had radius arm bushings and wheel bearings replaced awhile ago, but the tire has been like this since i bought the truck, but I figured the problem was solved when I had the other parts replaced. Last week I snapped off the valve stem because it was old and dried out (with a sponge while washing it :confused: ).

But my spare started to look like that, after drving 5mi or so :eek:

There is about 1/8 of play if you grab the top and bottom of the tire and push/pull, are my balljoints bad / would that cause tire to look like that?

I want to fix this before I get new tires and ruin one. Thanks Ted.
 



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Check if there is play at you're upper balljoint when you push/pull youre tire.
If there is play you see or feel found the prob....

Ohterwise check your wheel bearings...
 






Since you feel play when holding the tire at the top and the bottom and rocking the tire, then your balljoints are bad. Get the balljoints replaced and then be sure to get an alignment afterwards. Did you get an alignment after replacing the radius arm bushings? Either way the tire is wearing like that because the wheels are out of alignment. It could be out of alignment because you didn't get an alignment after replacing the RABs or because the balljoints are worn.
 






It was aligned after doing the radius arm bushings. I just ordered ball joints and the spindle bearings, and new brakes. I will be going to harbor freight later for the ball joint press...

Is there a thread around here about doing alignment without the machine, I remember seeing something about that but I can't find it now?

Anything I should know about doing the ball joints, I know i have to remove the axles...
 






there is a pretty good how to on ball joints floating around here somewhere

you will also need a can of PB and snap ring pliers

probably also a 12 point 6mm(maybe an 8mm) socket

if i were you i would go ahead and get front u joints and replaced those while you have it all torn apart

could be your axle nut backing off as well if you have manual hubs, but thats not very likely
 






...Check Brooklynbay's "list of useful threads" in his signature, I think it is there...:scratch:
 


















Yes that's exactly what I needed, thanks tbars. I tried searching for like an hour and couldn't find anything useful...

People in those threads mentioned replacing the u-joints at the same time, I suppose I should but I didn't see anything besides someone who said they took it to a friend with a shop to press them out. Any hints about what to do to take them apart?
 






...This is the same way we change a front axle U-joint...(unless my X does it for me on trail...:D)
Dead Link Removed

...Using a smaller socket to punch them out helps, and pliers to pull the caps off..;)
 






Sweet that's perfect. I couldn't understand how they were held in before.. now I see.

Another question... is it OK to use air tools on the balljoint press? or should I just stick to the cheater bar?

I'm actually excited about doing this, cause I will have good brakes and be able to get new tires, but parts won't be here till middle of next week :(

And thanks again tbars
 






...I would not suggest air tools...What is outlined is tried and true...Air tools can get you in trouble real quick, and you don't want to order more parts...;)
 






I had similar outer tread wear for a loooong time...it turned out the toe-in was WAY too much. Check that the toe-in is only about a degree or so..anything more than 1/8" of toe-in is probably too much. The ball joints on my X are bad too (getting replaced shortly), but even with the bad ball joints, fixing the toe-in to spec seems to have eliminated the uneven treadwear.
 






Ok so air tools on press = bad. Got it.

I had an allignment, which i had verified at my school in the auto shop (by myself so I know it was ok) I will have it realigned after the work though, anything to save $500 in tires.

Some of my parts including the ball joints came today (ordered monday, rockauto is fast), but my rotors and pads wont be here until next week. Thanks everyone...
 






...Now that you have the info, get the camera ready and do a great writeup...:thumbsup:
 






I should... and would love to give back to EF. I've got a nice, new, shiny Canon rebel XTi here. I just need someone to take pics, greasy hands and shiny camera do not mix :nono: So it depends on getting an 2nd set of clean hands, if not I'll try to get at least some pics when I take breaks.
 












Job is now at a standstill, it turns out it's not e-torx but a 12pt metric size around 6mm. This does not exist in any of the 4 stores I tried, including sears. What a crappy day, I only got the rotor off and burned $10 in gas driving around in my dad's Bronco looking for tools. :mad:


Tomorrow I will call 5 more places, and if they don't have it then I'm gonna have to drive around 50 mi out to one of my friends who works at a shop if he has it... :( I hope this job goes better tomorrow, cause nothing worked out today. *sigh*...

If anyone has an idea where to find the $#(*# socket, I'd love to know...
 






TedJ said:
Job is now at a standstill, it turns out it's not e-torx but a 12pt metric size around 6mm. This does not exist in any of the 4 stores I tried, including sears. What a crappy day, I only got the rotor off and burned $10 in gas driving around in my dad's Bronco looking for tools. :mad:


Tomorrow I will call 5 more places, and if they don't have it then I'm gonna have to drive around 50 mi out to one of my friends who works at a shop if he has it... :( I hope this job goes better tomorrow, cause nothing worked out today. *sigh*...

If anyone has an idea where to find the $#(*# socket, I'd love to know...
Click to expand...

yeah i tried to tell you that in post #5, you should probably read this stuff

anyways i found a MAC 3/8 drive Deep well 12point 6mm fit perfectly

for some reason ford seems to through the random 12 point bolt in there
otherwise you can try sears, 12point stuff is hard to find just anywhere
 



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Atistang, you're right, *smacks self in forehead* you did tell me, the first time I looked (before I started) it didn't register what a wacko size it was, I have big sets of metric and standard sockets so I didn't really think about it. The way I figured it out was reading YOUR post, because after I had tried the e-torx I gave up and went looking online for the answer. And I tried TWO sears locations, one had down to 7mm in 12pt but no 6mm :confused:

So this morning, I took the phone book and called every autoparts place in there. I got some interesting responses, including one guy who thought I was retarded I think. Nobody had it, and the only place who said anything more than "we dont have it" had to order it, and he said it would be here after 5:30, so there went today...

Long story short, 5:30 rolls around, and I get a call from them that they sent the guy to the warehouse to pick it up, and it was CLOSED. :rolleyes: Now I have to wait for tomorrow morning...

Oh well I fixed a lawnmower today since I had nothing better to do, the explorer is making fun of me sitting there on the jacks....
 






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