Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) '98 1 ton has bad tire wear on right front

[John - K5AWO]

Well, over the years I have complained and had the front end aligned so many times that the truck shivers in fright when I pull up to a tire shop.

The right front tire cups badly. Alignment is as near perfect as it can be. The cupping soon leads to tire bouncing if I exceed 63 mph. I have to replace the right front tire at least 3 times before the left front wears out: the LF wears smoothly all the way across.

Any of you front end alignment gurus out there got any ideas?

I'm going to replace the shocks just for drill, but don't have any faith that has a dimes worth of cause/effect on it.

I'm sort of thinking of the Bilsteins unless some one has a good reason to not use that brand??

Any ideas on what is happening here?

Might as well mention that most of the mileage on the truck is below 65 mph, averaging about 45 on city streets. I slow way down for corners and usually turn at 15 mph or less to minimize the scrubbing.

The rear duals are wearing flat as a board. No issues there.

 

[JApol]

could there be anything loose in the suspension steering? IE ball joints or tie rod ends?

If you put another rim on that side does it do the same thing?

 

[Forrest Nearing]

shocks was my first thought when I read the title of the post

 

[John - K5AWO]

I ordered up Bilsteins last night. The front end components are tight with the exception of the steering damper. My son (diesel mechanic) gave the truck a thorough going over for me and said to replace the front shocks and the damper, so I got that stuff on order.

I know that a bad shock will destroy a tire in short order, and I am very particular about tire balance.

I have taken the two best rims out of the six and selected them for the fronts. I do NOT practice six wheel rotation as I am a firm believer that is a good way to destroy the rears in short order as some of the tires will be dragging the ground because of height differences.

I used to rotate the front tires to opposite sides, and then next time flip them on the wheels. I just simply gave up on this last tire and left it where it is... . that has made the cupping very pronounced. It is going to be relegated to the spare tire position now.

I would really like to have a set of alloy rims, but the cost puts me off on getting them.