Tire wear, how important is trailer ride height?

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by Joeziah, Jul 19, 2024.

  1. Joeziah

    Joeziah Light Load Member

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    Truck rides a bit high, long story, custom engine mounts on a repower were not done correctly *I think* to reduce vibration I run the truck a little high on ride height to get the shafts strait as possible. Truck also runs 22Rs on the back, low pro on the front as well to help straiten stuff out.

    Anyhow, my trailer has low pros and standard ride height but I've been getting some heavy vibration, almost like the tires are wildly out of balance. I have tire wear patters pictured in the attached files. Truck bobtail is very smooth.

    The pattered one is the front, inside, passenger side dual. The one with cupping on the inside is the rear, inside, driver side.

    Would I be able to fix this by leveling the truck and trailer by raising my trailer's ride height? I have a hard time believing the trailer is out of alignment too much, it only started this issue when I purchased the trailer and started using it. Before that it had been used for years by a truck with low pros and I suspect perfect right height from the factory.
     

    Attached Files:

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  3. Big Road Skateboard

    Big Road Skateboard Road Train Member

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    In degrees, what is your driveline angle?
     
  4. Joeziah

    Joeziah Light Load Member

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    No idea, don't have and don't know what tools to buy to even get that, I eye balled it and through trial and error adjusted the ride height on my tandems till I found one without vibration or oscillating vibration, for the most part.

    Sometimes you can feel a little vibration on a hard pull while grossing 70k but for the most part its smooth.

    I know the engine is probably not mounted correctly, they had to custom build mounts and I'm not sure how skilled the guy was who did it.
     
  5. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    I wouldn't think trailer ride height would have much bearing on its tire wear. Its not really altering any of the parameters that traditionally cause tire wear.
     
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  6. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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  7. Joeziah

    Joeziah Light Load Member

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    The shocks are definitely due for replacement, they look original (2019) surprised that would be the cause of that kind of wear though.

    It has to be alignment...
     
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  8. goga

    goga Heavy Load Member

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    I see there are nice shiny shock absorbers under the fresh coat of 5 years old rust. Why bother asking why jumping tire ware if there is nothing stopping those tires from jumping?
     
  9. Joeziah

    Joeziah Light Load Member

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    Trailer had been in use for many months before I bought it and latched onto it, rather odd that it all the sudden started doing this so the only thing I could think is ride height.
     
  10. goga

    goga Heavy Load Member

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    Height can be lowered to "test drive" if it is the issue. Have positive guess against it was performed.
     
  11. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    That and I wouldn't go over 13'6" anyway. Vibration is almost always tires.
     
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