21S32 performed and my tires are junk!

[atilla137]

I have a 2014 Explorer LTD with 4WD. Two weeks ago the rear toe links were replaced at my local Ford dealership under recall 21S32. My wife drives the Explorer so it wasn't used much until this Saturday when we drove 5 hours to a cabin in Northern Ontario. The Explorer is(4 pics) always loud on the highway but I noticed a definite howl near the end of our journey. While unloading I noticed a black "dust" on the back that I realized was rubber. Then I noticed ny rear tires were almost completely bald on the outer 3 inches of the tread!

On Monday I contacted the service manager and he has arranged to have the vehicle inspected tomorrow, at a dealership 45 minutes away from the cabin. He says the alignment was within specs when it came in and when it left.

Any thoughts on what might have happened? Was it just not aligned properly and/or is something loose or broken back there? I'm worried about just driving to the dealership tomorrow and I'm 5 hours from home!

I figure they owe me, at least, 2 new tires and a proper alignment.

Thanks for any advice you can provide,

Doug

 

[Mbrooks420]

Take it to a non-dealer for a 4 wheel alignment check.

It’s not right if it’s putting out rubber dust. How long did they look at it?

 

[atilla137]

Take it to a non-dealer for a 4 wheel alignment check.

It’s not right if it’s putting out rubber dust. How long did they look at it?

For the original recall? I waited and it was just over a hour.

 

[Turdle]

For the original recall? I waited and it was just over a hour.

Not enough time to do what they said. Alignment check before and after means loading on an alignment machine. Setup takes almost an hour each time.

 

[peterk9]

I have a 2014 Explorer LTD with 4WD. Two weeks ago the rear toe links were replaced at my local Ford dealership under recall 21S32. My wife drives the Explorer so it wasn't used much until this Saturday when we drove 5 hours to a cabin in Northern Ontario. The Explorer is(4 pics) always loud on the highway but I noticed a definite howl near the end of our journey. While unloading I noticed a black "dust" on the back that I realized was rubber. Then I noticed ny rear tires were almost completely bald on the outer 3 inches of the tread!

On Monday I contacted the service manager and he has arranged to have the vehicle inspected tomorrow, at a dealership 45 minutes away from the cabin. He says the alignment was within specs when it came in and when it left.

Any thoughts on what might have happened? Was it just not aligned properly and/or is something loose or broken back there? I'm worried about just driving to the dealership tomorrow and I'm 5 hours from home!

I figure they owe me, at least, 2 new tires and a proper alignment.

Thanks for any advice you can provide,

Doug

Hi Doug. Did they give you the alignment printout? My dealer does it every time I go in for service regardless of whether an alignment was done or not. There could be problems with adding just 2 new tires to an AWD vehicle depending on the wear of the other 2.

Peter

 

[atilla137]

Hi Doug. Did they give you the alignment printout? My dealer does it every time I go in for service regardless of whether an alignment was done or not. There could be problems with adding just 2 new tires to an AWD vehicle depending on the wear of the other 2.

Peter

They did not give me the alignment printout.
Is it an AWD? I actually didn't realize that. I just thought it was 4WD.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

They did not give me the alignment printout.
Is it an AWD? I actually didn't realize that. I just thought it was 4WD.

yes its an awd even though ford sells it as a 4wd. 4wd means having low range and its a 50/50 split. the awd will send power around is my understanding

that bein said i looked at ya pics and that doesnt look anywhere near normal probably out of alignment easily. ubless on ya drive ya really wiggled something loose id say thats on the dealer imo

 

[Mbrooks420]

Typically if you can run both axles on dry pavement, it’s AWD.

The way you’re scrubbing the tires the alignment is certain to be way out of spec.

 

[atilla137]

yes its an awd even though ford sells it as a 4wd. 4wd means having low range and its a 50/50 split. the awd will send power around is my understanding

that bein said i looked at ya pics and that doesnt look anywhere near normal probably out of alignment easily. ubless on ya drive ya really wiggled something loose id say thats on the dealer imo

UPDATE!!!
I'm at the dealership now and they just checked the alignment and the tow is way out and there is nothing loose.
They are speaking with the original service manager about tire prices and what they have available.
The first tech must have completely skipped, or badly botched, the alignment.

 

[peterk9]

UPDATE!!!
I'm at the dealership now and they just checked the alignment and the tow is way out and there is nothing loose.
They are speaking with the original service manager about tire prices and what they have available.
The first tech must have completely skipped, or badly botched, the alignment.

My guess is that he never bothered checking the alignment. When they redo it, ask them for a printout.

Peter

 

[atilla137]

My guess is that he never bothered checking the alignment. When they redo it, ask them for a printout.

Peter

Will do.
Thanks Peter.
The original dealership is fully covering the alignment and the 2 new tires. And they are not cheap tires...

 

[peterk9]

Will do.
Thanks Peter.
The original dealership is fully covering the alignment and the 2 new tires. And they are not cheap tires...

What is the wear on the front ones? You don't want a big difference compared to the new tires.

 

[PowerHogHP]

The new toe links no longer use an adjustment sleeve in the center like the originals, rather they just use a pinch bolt and a slot on the outer portion at the knuckle. The only thing keeping your alignment where they set it is the torque on that outer fastener that is rather difficult to adjust and tighten on the alignment rack. I would suspect the fastener was not tight enough and on one of your braking events, the force pushed the toe in to their minimum portion of the slot which can be nearly 2 degrees toe-in, quickly eating the tires. And if the front tires are worn more than 2/32 from new, you should replace all 4 tires.

 

[J_C]

Unfortunately I agree with others, that even if your front tires are nearly new with full tread, if the rears they replace aren't same make/model (same real circumference), you will need to do something about the front, or rear, to make them match.

One option instead of replacing the front is have the new rears, shaved down to same circumference.

 

[atilla137]

Unfortunately I agree with others, that even if your front tires are nearly new with full tread, if the rears they replace aren't same make/model (same real circumference), you will need to do something about the front, or rear, to make them match.

One option instead of replacing the front is have the new rears, shaved down to same circumference.

In the owners manual it states:
"Major dissimilar tire sizes between the front and rear axles
could cause the 4WD system to stop functioning and default to
front-wheel drive or damage the 4WD system."

Also:
"If the mini-spare tire
is installed, the 4WD system may disable automatically and enter
front-wheel drive only mode to protect driveline components."

The older fronts and new rears are all P[FONT=-apple-system, HelveticaNeue]255/50R20. It doesn't seem to me that this can be "Major dissimilar tire sizes", such as the diffence between the mini spare tire and the other tires.[/FONT]

 

[peterk9]

It's not the actual tire size printed on the tire that is the issue here. It is the tread depth differences between the new rear tires and the worn front tires. When the tire wears, the overall diameter changes somewhat because the tread is worn down.

Should You Replace All Four Tires on Your AWD Vehicle? - Les Schwab

When replacing the tires on an AWD (all-wheel drive) vehicle, it may be necessary to replace all four at the same time. Learn why.

www.lesschwab.com

Peter