Odd steer tire wear, wobble in the front end over 50mph?

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by Gumper, Feb 8, 2019.

  1. Hulld

    Hulld Road Train Member

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    My believe you have a thrust angle problem in the rear.
    You have to steer against it keep the truck going straight and it causes that wear pattern.
     
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  3. Trucker2211

    Trucker2211 Light Load Member

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    Mar 3, 2015
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    Almost every single tire wear issue can be solved with 3 things...

    1) A true 3-axle alignment with print-outs of before & after readings once every 12 months

    2) Replace every single shock once a year, or 150k miles max

    3) Most importantly IMO- Install Centramatic wheel balancers on ALL wheel ends, especially on steer axle. I have no clue why new trucks don’t come with these from the factory. They cost about $200 per axle and will easily give you 35-60% longer tread life in addition to eliminating tire wear issues.
     
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  4. Gumper

    Gumper Road Train Member

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    I have been planning on getting centramatics when the budget allowed it. We’ll see what the alignment shop comes up with today.
     
  5. stillwurkin

    stillwurkin Road Train Member

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    Had a set of steers one time that were wearing off on one side. Kinda like your situation. All i did is replace tires with a different brand set problem solved. Not saying all axle alignment is not needed.. Centramatics i have had. All axles...when i purchased this truck..did not replace them. May work great for some. .but i can't tell one bit of difference.
     
  6. Hulld

    Hulld Road Train Member

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    Upstate NY
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    It will be interesting to see.
    My bet is your drive axel is forward on the driver side or back on the passenger side causing the truck to want to go to the right.
    The counter steering to the left to keep the truck straight gives that exact wear pattern.
     
  7. Gumper

    Gumper Road Train Member

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    It does pull to the right a bit. Anyone have luck with balance beads?
     
    Hulld Thanks this.
  8. Hulld

    Hulld Road Train Member

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    Upstate NY
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    I run balance beads and have had great luck with them but I don’t necessarily think you have a balance problem.
    I see the drag car in your avitar so you can relate to this.
    A few years ago I was having a bad problem with my drag car launching to the right and heading for the guardrail.
    Also my ETs were dropping off.
    What I found is on launching as soon as the front wheels came off the ground it would dart right and I would have to let off and get the wheels on the ground to steer out of it.
    I finally figured out with measuring that the ladder bar mount had gotten bent toward the rear on the passenger side from my buddy over tightening the winch cable on the hauler during tie down.
    This ####ed the reared in the car enough
    to change the thrust angle and it would drive to the right.
    I redid the mount and got the rear straight and no problem now.
     
    Gumper Thanks this.
  9. Gumper

    Gumper Road Train Member

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    Well the shop found everything to be just fine. Put two new Michelin steers on, and I guess we’ll see what happens.
    7C414AB9-55EF-4BCB-8844-0C1C381E7378.jpeg
     
  10. Expeditor

    Expeditor Medium Load Member

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    Mar 5, 2018
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    Might want to watch this video, there are three parts and explains must of the tire problems.
     
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  11. Working2party

    Working2party Medium Load Member

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    Feb 10, 2018
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    It’s all we run out of this shop.
    Few things rules that have to followed:
    1: The tire shop has to have dry air, ANY moisture will ball up the beads and have a negitive effect.
    2: make sure the beads are seated on the wheel/rim correctly.
    3: older trucks need to have the wheels mounted on them with a centering device. They make lug nuts with a centering feature, there are other ways though.
    4: heavier tires need more beads. For instance the Goodyear 399 /Dunlop 384 runout best with 10oz their heavier tires like the 287 and 751’s do better with 12 oz.

    If you have a good tire guy/ shop, MY experience, balance beads are the best way to go. The few trucks we used the centrimatic didn’t show enough improvement to pay for themselves.

    But that’s what I’ve found in 13 years watching this fleet.
     
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