Cupped / scalloped tires , looked at suspension and found this

Tire started cupping at 7/32s(newer as old one wasnt repairable and had warranty) Other tires on their way out at 3/32 so I’m replacing soon and getting alignment. I’m dumb and haven’t got an alignment in 40k miles. I did a Quick Look and these were my findings.2019 with 86k miles.

I found this rubber gasket looks a little off on driver side. Also found greasy tie rod boot on driver side. Not sure if from road or rod. The CV axle has a little play and a squeak. Next, both tires in front have the same amount of lateral play. It’s small so not sure if tie rods with how good the outer end looks. Didn’t have time today to check inner due to apartment manager driving by and telling me no car work.

I also run 265/75/16 with 16x8 6-139.7 0 offset black MR701 with factory setting alignment when I go. From my research this should be fine and has been fine for the 50k miles I put on the truck.

Any help appreciated!

here’s a video

https://youtube.com/shorts/58AOvEvShNo?si=lh21ArdjExPf6HNg

 

all looks normal to me

 

The top of the spring coil isn't flat, so the rubber isolator will always look like that.

You have a leaking steering rack but that is common.

 

Unless CV play indicates failing bearings, may not be the issue. CO's rely on the alignment and arms + spindle arcing in a path they determine for it so it wouldn't make a wear issue happen with the tires unless everything else was perfect and they were completely destroyed somehow. That's a ton of play in the tires/wheels. Tie rods usually account for left to right play when shaking the tire and up and down play usually means bearings / ball joints / multiple things. I'd re-inspect the tie rods.

 

Even the left and right play on tire looks normal?

 

The clunk when rocking the wheel left/right is the only thing that stands out as a possible concern to me... (check the tie rod & end, wheel bearing, ball joints, control arm bushings, steering rack bushings, steering rack itself)
The play in the CV joint, the crooked rubber spring isolater, oily steering boots etc. are all very typical on these trucks.

 

whats weird is it’s exactly the same on both front tires

 

Ask your tire shop (hope you use a good tire shop not a place that also sells groceries) and ask for the manager for their opinion when you get tires. They're the experts.

 

I use America tires (discount tire in ca) but they don’t do suspension work. I’m gonna look more into and if I don’t find anything, ask the people that do my alignment

 

I'd put more focus on the rack bushings, rack itself, and steering column shaft in that case.
It's also quite possible this could simply be the steering wheel moving back & forth against the internal steering wheel lock in the column, in which case it's nothing of concern (attach a bungee cord around the steering wheel to the door frame or something to keep it from moving just to rule that out).

 

Good copy, I have help tomorrow so I’ll have him hold my steering wheel. thanks for the help, I’ll update findings tomorrow

 

mines done same since new. "feels" like play but nothing actually is. just the feel of the rack insternals itself. not saying yours doesn't have something worn tho.

 

Check the shock/strut as well. Bad shock or strut can also lead to a tire cupping issue.

 

The only thing I see as abnormal, and I don't really see it because you do not show it in either pictures or video is the tire cupping. That seems to be your only complaint.

Since you haven't had an alignment done, I'm going to be a bit pompous and ask, have you rotated the tires regularly? Aggressive tires need very regular rotations, and any defects get larger at the end of tire life. So does tire noise increase at low thread depth.

I did see non-stock sway bar links (they are greaseable). My 2021 does not have greaseable links. Unclear if early MYs had them.

I've not held my CV boot and moved the internals of the joint - so that is a mystery to me. I did see the movement of the CV where it enters the differential move quite a bit, but that too is normal if you still have the roller bearings in there instead of the bushing.

Also did not see a wheel bearing test with the hands on the tires at 6 & 12 o'clock positions.

My initial guess is there is nothing wrong.

 

Update for anyone following, the play on the wheels seems normal, you can see the steering wheel move for lateral movement and if you hold the wheel like @4x4junkie said, there is no movement. After more inspection it looks like it’s the driver side bearing that’s donezo. I didn’t notice y axis movement yesterday but found it today, and considering the cupped tire was on that wheel before my last rotation, that’s gotta be it. Looked into bearings and gonna go with @05Taco4x4 pressed hub and bearing kit. Thanks to all that replied!

 

Totally didn’t process that you had both wheels in the air. Much easier to tell bearing and ball joint wear with only one wheel in the air. Glad you found it out.

 

It was the bearing. Replaced and everything good now. New tires being installed as we speak and alignment tomorrow

 

What did that run you?

 

I got the both hubs and bearings pressed from @05Taco4x4 for $350 even. Had all the tools I needed aside from a 35mm socket I got for $8 on Amazon. Knocked it out in 2.5 hours so no labor charges. Not sure if he sells only 1 but if you do it I’d say just knock them both out.