Bad Tire Wear on 5100's

Any good alignment shop won't do an alignment without checking key components first. If they don't, they won't be in business for long.

 

Technically to be considered an "expert" you need to spend more than ten-thousand hours doing something. I'm sure most of us on here have spent more than that driving automobiles. Therefore; WE'RE ALL EXPERTS!

 

Wonder how many hrs. I got in my taco alone with 282,000.

 

That really depends on how fast you drive! if you spend the entire time on the highway, like 4700 hours. I'm assuming its miles.. Because everyone on here seems to be from the states, I forgot to check

 

Guessing average speed at 45 mph

 

Approximately 6300 hours!

When you think about it, a full time job is considered anything over 40 hours a week, so about 2000 hours a year. you've been driving your truck 3 years of full time work hahah long ass time. Too bad you didn't get paid to roll around in your Taco eh?

 

Hobbyists!? I am insulted sir!

That said, yeah I'm a hobbyist.
None the less I'm here having breakfast @ a Holiday Inn so I'm more than qualified.

Shocks: everyone gave you good advice on parts that will effect alignment and can create issues with tire wear. You asked about the shocks.

When shocks wear out, they allow the spring to oscillate too much. Tires will become out of round, or deliver choppy wear. Much like an out of balance tire. If you see shock damage, damaged body, bent piston, bent mount, the shock can bind, creating similar behavior. How does it ride? The tires will create a rough ride right now, but on a soft dirt road, do you find yourself bouncing? Or is it controlled.

Tires tell the tale. If it is even wear all around the circumference of the tire, then I would suspect the alignment, along with any parts that can effect that.

 

I have been self-employed for 20 yrs so some miles were paid for while driving. Clock starts when I leave until I get back home!(depending on distance).
Sorry op

 

I am quite jealous!

 

My bfg's did the same with my lift.

 

A lot of the BFG ats I've seen so this. The one on my silverado did the ones on my partners taco did aswell

 

Thanks for the replies everyone. I ordered OEM LBJ assemblies for both sides today. I will start there and then will probably go straight to alignment based on the input here.

The immediate conclusions that if was the shocks/struts is really what perplexed me knowing that they only have 50k miles on them....

 

Be sure to follow-up after you get your answer. GL

 

When was the last time you rotated your tires too? If its been 50,000 miles then that is a likely culprit contributing to it along with the ball joints.

 

Update - New OEM LBJ's are in today. Mechanic indicates the LCA bushings are shot and suggests replacement. Should I just replace the whole LCA with OEM? He said the labor will be more if I just do the bushings because of having to have them pressed. I got the LBJs online at Camelback. I'm gonna check their pricing on the LCA's and compare to bushings alone....

 

Lbj does not need to be press. 4 lower bolts and a castle nut on top. Only one that does need to be press is the ubj, using any ball joint tool.

 

the lca bushings do have to be pressed out. So it would make it easier for everyone if you can just get new lca's. BUT if you have the time to do the job yourself it would save a couple hundred to press them out and install new bushings

 

LCAs from Camelback run about $187 ea. My LCA bushings are shot as well. I'm researching my options but I have new poly bushings sitting on the bench thinking about being installed.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1s...replace-upper-lower-control-arm-bushings.html

 

Bottom line. If you use your mechanic , you are at his mercy. If you decide to do it yourself or with a local mod group to help, you have options. Would make me nervous that he doesn't know about your truck.