Need help diagnosing uneven tire wear!!

Okay so about 6-7 months ago I installed a lift: Fox 2.5" IFP non resi w/standard spring [700lbs I believe], DSM upper control arms, stock rims [powdercoated] with 255/85r16 BFG KM2's. Ever since the install I have been watching the tire wear very closely and have been alarmed with how fast uneven wear (Chopping) has been an issue. I have had the alignment done twice since installed and just had checked today for good measure. I can take more specific measurements from hub to fender or whatever you guys need.. I was just hoping to get some feedback from other people who are running this/similar set up. I'm kind of thinking this spring rate is too high causing the tires to chop (but this is the recommended coil over from DSM/FOX. I've always thought the truck rode super rough since the lift but just assumed it was going to a load range tire (I say this because of the bucking sensation I have at any speed.. I'm only running 2.25" up front). After recently rotating the tires only 3k after install, the tires have already exhibited signs of uneven wear (only 1,000 after rotation). I'm hoping someone can chime in with some personal experience with a similar set up. I'd hate to blow a $1k+ set of tires because of something that may be easy to fix. I've taken it to two seperate shops who have checked out: wheel bearings, lower ball joints, upper control arm bushings, ect.. to try and figure out what the heck is going on with no concerns of worn components. Here are the alignment specs from today.. According to several other threads the camber and toe are close to ideal and the caster could be tweaked a little closer to 2.5-3*. Does anyone have any advice? !

 

Anyone?

 

My experience is large tires on lifted trucks don't wear like stock tires on nonlifted trucks. You got to pay to play?

 

Before I can give you ANY suggestions, you would need to explain in more detail on the tire wear. Feathering? chopping? center wear? Outer wear? Inner wear? Outer wear? Each on can be a different thing.

 

I'd run a little more towards the positive side on the right side camber. The toe could get a little closer to minimize the feathering of the inner edge. If you have chopping across the entire tread it is either a balance issue or shock issue. I would assume that your shocks are good. Try to get the wheels/tires balanced again. It would make a bunch of rhythmic noise if it was chopped across the whole tire.

 

Bama why are we usually saying the same thing ha. Most of the time anyway.

 

Because we are both Marines. And fucked up people have the same mindset. lmao. I am assuming my package hasn't arrived to you yet?

 

Haha. I love my fellow devil dogs. I have not gotten the package yet. Not trying to jack the thread ha. More info is always a great thing. Details!!

 

Okay well I know the balance isn't the issue because I can at least do that myself at work and it's only on the front tires where I'm having issues. It seems to be chopping across the tread and are increasingly noisy. I know they are Mud terrains but I have a friend who had a 2001 spacer lifted with KM2's that wore dead even.. no problems. I'm kind of thinking it could be something to do with the shocks. I guess I'll give DSM a call Monday and get their opinion. I've thought the truck rode extra rough since installing the lift but just assumed it was because I was used to my stock ride. Thanks for the input

 

Chopping across the tread is typically one or more of the following:

Incorrect toe (either in or out)
Bad/worn tie rods (inner or outer)
Bad/worn steering rack bushings
Bad/worn wheel bearings
Bad/worn ball joints

So I would look at the above possibilities first.

 

The camber is a little negative (leaning in at the top) but not bad enough to show quick wear. The toe is a little in (which could cause feathering) but it's not that bad to me. I would really check all front end parts to see if there is any play causing these numbers to rise during driving. When the lift was installed were the components tightened with the truck sitting at rest on the ground or with it in the air( you said it road rough so mayb the components aren't cycling properly)? What psi are you running? Those are pretty heavy duty tires if they were on mine I would run prob 30psi. Our trucks come with P metric tires(4 ply) those are at least a 6 ply(stiffer). Also how many miles on the tires? Anything more aggressive than a regular all terrain I recommend rotating every 3K.

 

Make sure it is all tight.

 

I have noticed an alarming clunk coming from the steering rack but after researching it on our beloved site, most have come to the conclusion that it is normal for our trucks.. maybe TRD OR specific..? The truck only has 32xxx miles on it so I highly doubt it is wheel bearing/tie rods. According to a master tech at a suspension shop he seemed to think everything was on point (no issues with wheel bearings, tie rods, alignment, nor ball joints. THE ONLY concern I have with the ball joints is the boot on each side was torn but according to three separate shops they didn't suspect that as a cause for any uneven wear since they are still solid and greased.. I've done the tests to check for play for both ball joint and wheel bearings and they seem solid.

30 psi sounds extremely low.. I have been running them at 35/38 rear. I had to rotate them at 3k due to this weird wear so that won't be an issue lol. As far as the torque in air versus on ground I torqued everything with the truck on the ground and weight on the components. I have a sneaking suspicion it could possibly be the shock not cycling properly but dunno.. Would it help anyone if I threw a go pro underneath sometime this week?

I re-torqued everything 500 miles after install and again 1000 miles after.

 

OP remember our trucks aren't that heavy, and that's a heavy duty tire. I can't recall factory air but its around 28 psi with stock p metric tires so an extra stiff tire will ride rougher with the same air much less more air. a clunk means something is wrong and not normal no matter what package is on the truck. Were the shocks new? Possibly bent shaft causing rough ride/cycling issue. Try your air at 30 front and 28 rear, if you feel that is too low try 32 fr and 30 rear( that access cab is light in the back compaired to the front with the engine). Figure out that clunk does it happen when stopping, turning, speed bumps, ect. Coming from front or rear? How does the truck drive? Is it touchy or sluggish to respond?

 

I'll drop the pressure a little and see how that goes. The shocks were brand new. The cluck comes from the steering rack when you turn the wheel (only in drive). It very well could be this but several people have had the dealership tell them it's normal. The suspension shop didn't seem to think it was loose or the bushings were bad but had never had an issue like that. I'm finding it hard to find the time to really research this clunk in depth though. If anyone else has any leads I'd appreciate it. And thanks for the input already guys.

 

There was a rack bushing thread somewhere on here. If they are too soft, those heavy tires could be amplifying it possibly.

 

OP, there is also a thread on a chalk method to determine the propper air pressure for your set up. I haven't used it myself but others seem to like it. Any updates?

 

Hey thanks for the interest. I have been so swamped with school and work I haven't had time to post anything up. I have a few concerns about the front end and will try to get some pictures and videos up in the next week.. I've been watching the tire wear a little more and it seems to be feathering evenly across the tread. Meaning: each tread block is higher (towards to front of the truck) and lower (going towards the back of the truck). I also have some weird wear on the RF tire outside tread block (very minuscule.. but still of concern)- On the outer tread block there seems to be uneven wear going towards the inside of the tire.. along with the overall feathering. I will try and get the chalk test going. I did mean to do that.

With further investigation (and this is where the pictures/vids will come to play; I just don't know how things should be in comparison to how my truck is..). There seems to be a little play on my steering column where it meets the firewall. There also seems to be a little play on the CV axles coming from the gearbox (?). The rubber sleeves on the steering rack have a little bit of grease accumulated only on the lower portion of the boots. Not sure if I mentioned the weird noise but-- Only when I am in drive with the parking brake on does it make noise/creak that comes from the steering rack.. Finally it appears as though my RF UCA ball joint seems to be bad.. When I grab a hold of it and move it up and down there is a slight creak.


In total: there is a lot a have questions.. but hopefully not a lot of problems to fix. I will take pictures and videos when I can (hopefully this week). I have a test tomorrow and a paper due Wednesday and will be out of the country for a week starting Thursday.. so.. the likelihood of me getting around to all this is slim.. but just bare with me!

 

If you can move any part by hand or make it make a creek imagine what the weight of the vehicle can do going over bumps. That ball joint might be the whole problem. Good luck on the tests!

 

Okay folks! Sorry for the delay.. I have several pics and videos to illustrate my concerns.. First of all; can anyone tell me where the hell I would check the nitrogen level on my style coilovers? haha The tire wear is only on the outer tread blocks where my fingers are. The outermost block (pointer finger) is higher than the one going towards the inside (middle finger). Is this just caused by misalignment? ^^See above for aligment specs^^ I couldn't figure out how to add videos so I just uploaded them to youtube. There are descriptions to each one.. The last is the one I'm very concerned about though. Just to recap.. I had a front end collision with a large metal pole while dicking around on a fire service road. I can't help but think there wasn't more damage done aside from replacing the radiator. Any thoughts? http://youtu.be/cBNdr_vK3vI http://youtu.be/7iJ6dt-CGzk http://youtu.be/nqdXOMFOHTE Edit: Forgot to mention.. My power steering fluid is at the minimum when cold.. In the last video do y'all see how the boot to the steerer has a bunch of gunk on the bottom half? Could I have potentially messed up something with that which caused a leak and in turn that sketchy noise when turning in drive?