Bizarre trailer tire wear

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by JPenn, Mar 12, 2014.

  1. JPenn

    JPenn Road Train Member

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    Mar 5, 2008
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    I'm totally at a loss here, so I'll throw this out and see what you guys think. Trailer is a 2007 Utility reefer, 53' sliding tandems with duals, Hendrickson Vantraax with air pins, ex Roadrunner fleet trailer. Brand new brakes including drums, fresh hub oil, bearings good (according to the last guy that looked at them), fresh hub oil. Tires are a hodgepodge.

    I'm getting incredibly short tire life and an absolutely bizarre wear pattern, on ONE tire. I replaced the tire about 4000 miles ago and it's dead bald, but only on one side. Half of the circumference of the tire has tread, half doesn't. Thought the rim was out of round, replaced with a brand new steel rim, still happened. This is the outside tire, the inside one is wearing normally and shows no such pattern.

    Any ideas?
     

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  3. wonderdog24

    wonderdog24 Medium Load Member

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    Had something similar happen to my trailer.... Been hooked up to a different tractor the last few months n it stopped doing it....... Doesn't help much... Just wanted to throw out it isn't always the trailer that causes this...
     
  4. kwswan

    kwswan Road Train Member

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    I have a step deck that did the same thing & found out that the spindle was bent.
     
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  5. x#1

    x#1 Road Train Member

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    Cherokee County, Alabama
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    get that trailer aligned man and have them go over the spindles.hodge podge tires could have been already wearing improperly before you mounted them.i've picked used tires out that looked good to go yet they developed bizarre wear patterns after 2 weeks.I do keep mine aired properly and stay on top of the alignments to the best of my ability.
     
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  6. JPenn

    JPenn Road Train Member

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    I would have thought alignment issues would be a little more apparent. It tracks dead straight, anyway. Tires are an assortment of drives, steers and trailer tires, All kept at 105psi rigorously. No one of the other tires is wearing unevenly, but this position shreds them.

    Wouldn't a bent spindle wreck the inside tire as well?

    Edit: the shredded tire in question was a new all position 4000 miles ago.
     
  7. Hurricane69

    Hurricane69 Road Train Member

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    Look at the suspension bushings. From your picture it looks like the washer on the suspension bolt has been moving up and down.

    There is a shiny half circle under the washer.
     
  8. magoo68

    magoo68 Road Train Member

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    st malo mb canada
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    bushings worn ,bent spindle ,or inside tire slightly larger than outside causing it to drag possibly .
     
  9. JPenn

    JPenn Road Train Member

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    Bushings appear tight, the lighter mark underneath in the pic posted is mud. No evidence of the washer moving.
     
  10. Hurricane69

    Hurricane69 Road Train Member

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    The cheap quick way to check the bushings is measure from the trailing arm where the bushing goes to the bottom of the mount.

    Measure all four and compare. I usually do it loaded because it shows up more but even empty you can see if they are real bad.

    Best way is jack it up and pry with a bar.
     
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