Tires on 5er wearing unevenly

[BigMike]

Getting ready to take a long, 3000 mile, trip later this month, so was out yesterday checking out my 5er. I noticed one of the tires on the rear axle was worn very badly on the inside. Talked to a number of tire/axle folks who told me it was out of alignment. Could be a bent axle, worn bearing races etc. Just had bearing checked last spring. Anyway, finding a place that can check all the possible causes and fixing, including straightening an axle, is a problem. Would appreciate any suggestions regarding my wear problem and possible solutions. Don't have time to fix right now, so will put spare on for trip.



Thanks, BigMike

 

[KevinSmith]

Les Shwab can usually get you in and out pretty quick. A definate fix would be to order a new axle from Six States Distrbuting in Portland.

 

[BigMike]

Talked to Les Shwab in Lapine yesterday. They couldn't help. Directed me to a place in Bend. Called them. My 5er is too big!

 

[RNash]

BigMike, I am having the same problem. The axle can be fixed if you find a shop that can handle it. In Phoenix I found a shop called SpecTrac that says they can do it. They do it with the axle in place & bend it. Check with RV dealers to get a line on one.

 

[ScottLewis]

The last set of tires on my 5er also wore very unevenly, and rapidly. The worst wear was on the curb side. I had tried a set of bias belts because that was all the tire shop had at the time and I found a bulged tire the day I was starting a trip. Someone suggested to me that they wore differently because the sidewalls were not as flexible as the radials so the edges wear faster on turns.



I replaced them with radials of the same rating, the same type tires I had previously been using. So far they are wearing evenly so I have to assume that the bias belts were at fault.



Your axle(s) may very well be bent but I certainly would have them checked before buying any.



Dan

 

[Duane Stuart]

I had a simular problem, watch how you load. You don't have to take everything but the kitchen sink. Shop along the way. Put your RV on the scales when your loaded ready to travel it will be shock you how easy it is to over load. Most C load range tires are only rated for 55mph. I have gone to D rated.

 

[duckcarvr]

I had uneven tire wear on my rear tires. one side much worse than the other. my hanger that goes from frame to leaf springs broke at the weld on frame. three people looked for the problem before it was found. it caused a crabing effect and that wore the tires. it was hard to see because the hanger just sliped farther up the frame, but it allowed it to flex. robert

 

[RedRamer]

If you can't get the axle straightened out, best rotate them tires frequently.

They always wear the rears faster than the fronts anyways and s/b rotated 4-5 times a set... in my case about every 10,000klics.

 

[MMeilicke]

I had a problem with a tire that was wearing unevenly. Went to a truck axle and alignment center which had heavy equipment. They measured the alignment of the axles and bent the proper axle. Problem fixed. Usually tires shops and RV dealers are not capable of bending axles. Just look in the yellow pages for heavy duty axles places, and I think you will be home.

 

[Grizzly]

If the axles are precambered, they can not be bent to aligned. I had that done at a heavy duty truck shop in Fairbanks, Alaska in 1995 on my then 88 Holiday Rambler 5er. They only bent back to the way they were by the time we got to Anchorage. I had to have both axles replaced in Canada on the way home. Another possible problem could be that the bushing on the hangers are wore out. If the axles are not bent and the bushings are okay, I would then consider replacing the tires with 16" Michelin XPS Rib, Load Range 'E' LT tires.

 

[K5IP]

Often the uneven tire wear problem is due to the suspension. 5 bolts go through nylon bushings on the springs and hangers and these bushings go away making things sloppy. If you have a Dexter axel (most do), a heavy duty suspension kit is available with greaseable fittings on bronze bushings.

Not expensive, I think I paid $125 for all the repair parts. Jack it up and wiggle everything. If loose, Dexter has a website with order info. Not a big job.

Rog

 

[Grizzly]

Often the uneven tire wear problem is due to the suspension. 5 bolts go through nylon bushings on the springs and hangers and these bushings go away making things sloppy. If you have a Dexter axel (most do), a heavy duty suspension kit is available with greaseable fittings on bronze bushings.

Not expensive, I think I paid $125 for all the repair parts. Jack it up and wiggle everything. If loose, Dexter has a website with order info. Not a big job.

Rog

I support the idea of a HD suspension kit.

 

[MLee]

As has been mentioned check the Spring shakles and the Equalizer that the shackles attach to for wear. mine was doing as you mentioned, and I new that I had not hit any thing to bend the components. Jack up each axle and lift the tire with a handle up and down, and look for movement. there should be NONE. easy to do your self. Replace pieces, components. These are wear items and over looked.

Marv.