12 replies to this topic

[LumpyVR4]

Last night I was rotating my tyres and noticed a horrible groove worn on the inside edge of the rears. It wasn't there last time I looked which would have been when the diff was rebuilt and the rear sway bar was changed. Would I be right in guessing that because I didn't even think to get the rear end aligned after that work I have killed the tyres?

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[unhuman]

The fast that the groove is concave would sugest that something has been rubbing on it?

[LumpyVR4]

I had that thought too, but it hasn't happened before this and I had a really good look in the wheel well and could not see anything its been rubbing on. I ran my hands around the tyre when the car was on the ground and there isn't anything near it. The symptom is the same on both sides, but more pronounced on the drivers side.

[jack be nimble]

If that was alignment, you would be able to see it. If you stand behind car and sight along edge of tyre, your rear tyres should align with the fronts (or slightly toed in) maybe 5mm inside edge.

Also, the tyre should be standing pretty much straight up and down. You can sight it against a spirit level- but move the level forward of the buldge at the bottom of tyre.

[JayRome]

no chunks of rubber missing... would suggest that it was rubbing on something smooth... any rub marks on the inner fenders?

[BYBY5L]

Rubbing on the bottom of the strut?
I dont know vr4s too well so I could be way off

[evo-gsr]

Agreed...that been rubbing on something. Which should be nicely polished by now!

[Evo-00x]

That's an alignment issue as I've seen it before on cars that haven't been aligned properly and on cars that have had dodgey ball joints that they wheel gets excessive play.

If that was rubbing on something there would be chucks in it, grazes, cuts, obviously noise that the driver could hear and rubber debris inside the wheel arches.

[LumpyVR4]

Well I feel like a tool for not noticing sooner. After work yesterday I got myself about 5 meters or so from the back of the car and crouched down for a look. The rear alignment is all over the place. Camber and toe is different between the the wheels. As stated getting an alignment done after having the rear end in bits didn't cross my mind. duh.

 

I'll just chalk it up to an expensive lesson, seeing as the tyres had maybe another 15 - 20k in them. Won't be forgetting this in the future.

[jack be nimble]

Wear on the inside doesnt count.
eye adjust your alignments and keep going.

[LumpyVR4]

Alignment done, by eye anyway, using the carpenter app on my phone to check myself. According to it, which admittedly I don't trust to be gospel, I have +0.5 on both sides. Which is fine by me given how screwed the inside of my tyres are at the mo. I eyeballed the toe while I was there too. Gave them both what looks like a tiny bit of toe in. I know that's not right, but again I'm trying to spare the inside edges. I'll just keep a close eye on how they are wearing and adjust if necessary.

[Evo-00x]

Or, why not take the car to get a proper front and rear alignment done professionally? It'll cost you less than the price of one tyre.

[LumpyVR4]

I've got a 23mm front bar to fit to compliment the 26 in the rear. Once I've done that I am going to get an full alignment done.