Extreme/uneven tyre wear

[Bill Edwards]

I'm looking at a '93 Mercedes 310D van which has very extreme tyre wear on the front nearside tyre. The tyre is very good but is showing more tread on the inside than the middle and a serious loss of tread at the extreme outer.
The other tyre is slightly more worn on the outer but not by much, and doesn't have the extreme wear on the shoulder.

The kingpin was replaced in January, a little before that that side leaf spring was replaced. The wheel bearing doesn't have an excessive amount of play, nor do the steering joints. The spring doesn't appear to be broken, the axle doesn't appear to be in the wrong place (forwards/backwards). The camber doesn't appear to be wrong by eye (no gauges to hand). The vehicle appears slightly higher to that side, but not by much and is probably the leaf spring (or an uneven load, or where it is parked as the ground may not be 100% level).

Any thoughts?

 

[Badger1bear]

tracking

 

[Mick - Ford Focus]

Yep Tracking.

M

 

[711jrp]

Do you tend to tear around in it? doubt it's tracking as it's just the NS

 

[the snooper]

tracking doesn't usually effect the centre of the tyre, usually one edge on any one tyre ie toe in toe out, wear to centre of tyre only is usually over inflated, I would check the pressure if its too high then as said above tracking if not to high, keep looking for a problem

 

[BrokenBiker]

loads of roundabouts with a heavy right foot?

 

[711jrp]

^^^^That's what I was thinking.....

 

[Bill Edwards]

The middle aged female owner/driver doesn't drive it as slowly as I would, but not quite like a sports car. As far as is known, this wear is fairly recent. She's had it for perhaps 2 years without this trouble.

I discounted tracking as I've always known it to affect both tyres.
I suspect both tyre pressures are slightly low but haven't had chance to check them yet - but again, I've always known this to affect both edges of the tyre, not just one. And this wear is very serious, far more than you'd expect to see from under inflation. To run that flat would have almost certainly ruined the tyre and should be obvious to see too.

 

[Badger1bear]

We have this problem from time to time at work with our trucks, there are times where they will hit a curb on the front nearside which can alter the tracking, because you get accustomed to the position you hold your hands on the steering wheel, the offside tyre will still be driven in a straight line whereas the nearside one will be scrubbing

 

[Bill Edwards]

Wouldn't that cause the vehicle to drive to one side, requiring the driver to have to (automatically) alter the wheel to keep the vehicle straight? Surely a vehicle must travel with both wheels pointing the same way (e.g toe in) by the same amount otherwise it'd be trying to alter course?
I could be wrong as I don't work on vans/trucks for a living, it just doesn't seem possible to have only one wheel pointing in the wrong direction.

 

[Mick - Ford Focus]

We have this problem from time to time at work with our trucks, there are times where they will hit a curb on the front nearside which can alter the tracking, because you get accustomed to the position you hold your hands on the steering wheel, the offside tyre will still be driven in a straight line whereas the nearside one will be scrubbing

Well Put.

M

 

[711jrp]

We have this problem from time to time at work with our trucks, there are times where they will hit a curb on the front nearside which can alter the tracking, because you get accustomed to the position you hold your hands on the steering wheel, the offside tyre will still be driven in a straight line whereas the nearside one will be scrubbing

imposable scenario....if you kept the wheel where you are accustomed to the thrust forces will just equalize and the truck will wander off course.

 

[brightspark]

not being an expert but i hit the left front wheel on the kerb and knocked the tracking out and it rubbed the tire off in no time. right hand side was ok though .in other words the wheels didnt centralise just take it in and get it checked problem solved

 

[Bill Edwards]

Ah, it's where to take it that is the issue.
I know there are a few garages in Scarborough that I've yet to have any dealings with, some of the smaller places can't fit in the full size van which makes it harder, but I've only found two that are trustworthy, one of whom doesn't do tracking and the other tends to leave you wondering if they've tightened things up after them. Hence, I do most jobs.

 

[711jrp]

If it's not speed related I would have to guess it's to do with the king pin replacement, not sure if there is any caster adjustment but that's where I would look first.As bright said might be easier to run it in and get it checked.

 

[the snooper]

I think I would look at it a little more closely check the bushes make sure nothings bent from an accident or hitting the curbs when pulling up next to them, a lot of places will check tracking and only charge if it needs adjusting

 

[Bill Edwards]

If it's not speed related I would have to guess it's to do with the king pin replacement, not sure if there is any caster adjustment but that's where I would look first.As bright said might be easier to run it in and get it checked.

No adjustments of any kind. The whole thing is fixed and a simple case of slide the old one out (OK, with heat, pullers and cursing) - but nothing that could bend anything - and stick a new one in. Nothing can be altered as it's all part of the axle or hub assembly.

 

[brightspark]

im an expert at ruining tyres. being under inflated and absolutly hoofing it . bending track control arms and tracking

 

[Tman]

Could be just tracking out, with two different makes of tyres on the same axel. Branded one won't wear as quick as a budget. You said the other side was showing slight wear could be a harder wearing tyre.

 

[brightspark]

its about 20 quid round our way heres one for scarbrough http://www.tirewarehouse.net/local/Wheel-Alignment/ME/Scarborough