tire feathering & chirping question

[adrock]

Hey guys, I have a '97 5.0 AWD Ex. I put new tires on 1.5 yrs ago, last alignment was at that time, but I rotated them in the spring. I put on new brake pads and rotors about a year ago.

I just noticed fairly bad feathering on the inside edges of both front tires. In the last month or so, I've also noticed my tires chirping at me when I slow down going about 10 or 15mph. It also happens when I turn a corner at the same speed occasionally. It's usually a single small chirp like the brakes locking up for a split second.

PS - I put new lower ball joints and upper control arms in when I bought it about two yrs ago, but when I took it to a shop for something else maybe 6 months ago, they told me the ball joints were bad. I assume they don't know how to check them correctly.

Anyway, I'll be taking it for an alignment check, but why would it not hold alignment? fyi - I have 31x10.5 tires, so they are slightly oversize.

Thanks!

 

[osduck5]

Mine wears out the inside of the tires really fast. I have had the front aligned and double checked but the alignment shows good. The shop told me that there is a shim kit that can be put in the front to keep the tires from wearing the insides and I am going to have that done in a few weeks. I have seen the front tires on mine when someone else was driving it and I was in another vehicle. When driving at highway speeds, it looks as if the front tires are leaning inward at the top. Ball joints and everything checked out ok. Supposedly, this is a common thing with IFS vehicles.

 

[my98nnj]

I put new lower ball joints and upper control arms in when I bought it about two yrs ago, but when I took it to a shop for something else maybe 6 months ago, they told me the ball joints were bad. I assume they don't know how to check them correctly.

So a mechanic told you the ball joints were bad, yet you don't believe them because you had replaced them a short while ago? You are running oversize tires, not that it should matter that much, but it's not uncommon for ball joints to fail prematurely. Seems you're having alignment issues as your tires are wearing unevenly and squealing around corners. All points to something not right with the front end.

I'll be taking it for an alignment check, but why would it not hold alignment?

Because most likely your ball joints have failed.