Just exactly what do I need to bring the bottom end of my front wheels in to proper alignment? I know there's a proper name,,,but, I think you got the message.
The inside of my tires are wearing out nice & even, but, too soon.
The outside still has good tread.
I replaced the lower control arms maybe six months ago & had things aligned then.
I know it's good for racing, but, Rosallina is my daily driver, ya know?
Thanx in advance,,,,Greg
The word is camber. Tops of the tires/wheels leaning in/out.
Problem is struts, suspension parts, springs/shocks (lowered or stock) not being real adjustable from the factory. You do want some factory spec camber, which makes burning the inside tread faster a done deal.
Depending upon how much you drive, my tires burn more years than rubber. If it gets to it I'll swap the tires side for side.
Contrary to popular belief, toe, not camber, is what causes wear on the inside/outside of the tire. And that is the one adjustment that can normally be made. If the insides of the tires are wearing, you have too much toe out, the wheels are pointed out in front. Conversely if the outsides are wearing, you have too much toe in. You should have just a little toe in, 1/16 to 1/8", measured at the rim, not the tire.
What happens when toe is incorrect is the tire is dragging, scrubbing, instead of rolling.
Mike W.
02 525ita. Wife's, aka grocery getter
02 530i. New to the fleet, 3 pedals.
03 QX4, AKA the Datsun. Finally got the 4WD vacationmoble to stop smoking.
07 Xterra. Still on the DL, a purchase from hell.
Thanx Guys!
The first thing, for me, is to switch tires. I've got this insanely great
minimum wage job on Catalina Island, so, I hope I can get back to the mainland in time.
Tom, I have to drive every day to the Balboa Peninsula to catch the boat
To Catalina! Twenty-seven miles down PCH; and then, find free parking!
The good part is, I'm hangin' out with the vacationers & cuties!
I admit to not having a degree in steering geometry, and no desire to annoy an expert. Especially El Guru Mike W. the great.
So no disagreement with toe in being important. The part that blows me away is the 1/16", as in oh boy wow, that's teeny, considering all the bushings, parts and pieces that had better be up to new specs to get it.
Still, my car(s) have lower springs, shock settings that increase the camber. It's visible, with not much to do about it without serious monkeying with the suspension components.
Using my logic, the front and rear tires going straight down the road, riding, leaning largely on the inside tread, is contributing to the inside tread wearing more than the outside.
T.Hanson wrote:
So no disagreement with toe in being important. The part that blows me away is the 1/16", as in oh boy wow, that's teeny, considering all the bushings, parts and pieces that had better be up to new specs to get it.
Yes it is and that's why it's so difficult to do well at home. It's also why shops will refuse to align a worn out front end. Or a front end with a major component that's worn out.
But toe is key when it comes to tire wear.
Mike W.
02 525ita. Wife's, aka grocery getter
02 530i. New to the fleet, 3 pedals.
03 QX4, AKA the Datsun. Finally got the 4WD vacationmoble to stop smoking.
07 Xterra. Still on the DL, a purchase from hell.
