2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Tire wear question

[n5ifi]

I seem to have a weird tire wear problem. My front drivers side tire is wearing on the outside edge in a feathering fashion. The vehicle pulls to the left when driving. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what the problem is? The tires are new Goodyears(235/85r16). The front end was aligned when the tires were put on about 5k miles ago. I just bought this truck(55k on truck) and I have to say that it wanders all over the road about as bad as any I've seen.

Any help would be appreciated,

Jimmy







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2002 Dodge 1 Ton Dually, Flatbed, 4x2, 5 Speed, 3. 55, K&N, Straight Pipes,

VanAaken V5

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[DF5152]

take it back and have it realigned. sound like the toe is out. also check the front end out very good the 2nd gen truck have a tendancy to do what ur talking about. do a search and see what u come up with there are lots of upgrades that people report help your problem

 

[Homicide]

I had a similar problem with the exception of excessive tire wear.



Get the front end re-aliigned with a dealer that works with Dodge trucks. solved 90-percent of my wandering problems.

 

[AKAMAC]

Feather wear is consistant with toe problem. Inside/ outside wear is camber. When the truck wanders it is a sign of camber or worn parts problems. These trucks have a bad rep because of the front-end alignment and fuel supply problems.

Jack the rig up and inspect the front-end for loose ball, track, or pittman arm wear. If your front end is tight then you need to find an alignment shop that will work with you on YOUR specifications.

Search for BRENTS alignment specs and give them to the Tech. My truck has 80,000 on the original front end and I only rotate the tires because the rear wear faster than the front. Mike

 

[n5ifi]

Thanks for the replies.

 

[rrausch]

Take it to an alignment shop which works on TRUCKS. Not to some generic tire shop where unskilled idiots are aligning imports all day long. I wouldn't bother to take it back to the tire shop, the chances are they don't know how to set the Toe In.



For anybody on the West side of L. A. who wants to take their truck to a great alignment place, that is Steve Parish's shop--Bee-Line at 2420 Lincoln Blvd, 310-396-6394 He's been in business at that location for 25 years, and his dad owned the place 40 years before him.

 

[cstone]

I had this problem. It wasn't the alignment. What it turned out to be was my ball joints. The slop in the joint caused my truck to wander around and the same tire wear that you describe. To check if you have excessive wear jack up the front of the truck to your tire is about 3 inches off of the ground. Then stick a pipe under the front tire and lift up putting pressure on the tire. Wiggle it up and down while looking at the ball joint. If it moves ever so slightly replace it. My lower ball joints were worn, while the uppers looked good. The repair job is expensive to have done, but you can do it yourself if you get a ball joint press. It takes a little doing, but is straight forward once you have the tools. The press I purchased at Napa for about $120. 00 or so. I didn't think that I would use it after the job, but I do pull it out every now and then. I saved about $600 doing it myself. By the way, I replaced the upper balljoints at the same time just because I had the front end all apart and they didn't cost too much. I bought the ball joints at Napa also. Hope this fixes your ailing front end. -Stoney