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Sudden Outer Tread Wear On Rear Tires

zedbear

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zedbear Enthusiast

zedbear

Posted
Posted

This may seem strange but I had to pick up about a yard of mulch today so I inflated the air helper springs that came with the truck to about 15 PSI (no idea what brand they are). Once I arrived at the store, I noticed the OUTER tread area on both rear tires looked "freshly" scuffed up. I look at my tires all the time and didn't notice anything unusual until today. Once I arrived back home, they even seemed to show signs of light feathering or cupping.

 

Since the rear camber on a solid rear axle vehicle should presumably be "0" whether the ass end is sagging or jacked up high in the air, what could be happening here? Is the entire axle assembly distorting like an arch due to the air bags? I can't think of any other explanation. :seeya:

jrod332 Enthusiast

jrod332

Posted
Posted

The air springs shouldnt cause that unless they were installed wrong. I have air springs and have never had an issue like that at all.

Wires Enthusiast

Wires

Posted
Posted

If the rear diff is "locked" you can get that issue since the tires will be slipping on turns.

 

How does it steer at low speeds? Normal or does it feel like the truck wants to push forward?

 

I can't see air bags causing that. If the axle was bowed, you'd have a lot of other issues with the rearend.

zedbear Enthusiast

zedbear

Posted
  • Author
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Seems to be steering ok. I'll take it for a ride today and check it out more closely.

 

I dropped the airbags back down to 5 psi and will see if the scuffing on the tires goes away over the next few days.

RayGMC Enthusiast

RayGMC

Posted
Posted

Outer tread wear on tires is a direct indication of low air pressure. I run 40lbs in the front and 35lbs in the rear. You can test proper inflation with chalk. Draw a straight line with chalk on a flat surface and drive over it with the rear tire. If you have a consistent even line of chalk across your tire then they are properly inflated. If you have chalk on the outer edges and very little in the middle then the tire is under inflated. If you have chalk in the middle of the tire and very little on the edges then the tire is over inflated.

jblakeney Senior Enthusiast

jblakeney

Posted
Posted

High speed corning.

 

Spring Bushing wore.

 

Spring Bolt near breaking point and allowing slop in the bushing.

 

Loose axle U-bolts.

 

Tow Much?

 

What do the front tires look like? What about the insides tire edges?

 

Pull in any direction?

 

Jbo

zedbear Enthusiast

zedbear

Posted
  • Author
Posted
High speed corning.

 

Nope. It just started within the last couple days and I drive like grandma.

 

Spring Bushing wore.

 

Spring Bolt near breaking point and allowing slop in the bushing.

 

Loose axle U-bolts.

 

Besides the U-bolts, how would I check this? I could see one of the above possibly being the problem since I'm almost positive it started when I inflated the airbags to haul the mulch. Maybe the air bags caused something worn or loose to move.

 

Tow Much?

 

Never.

 

What do the front tires look like? What about the insides tire edges?

 

Front tires are fine. No inner wear on any of the tires.

 

Pull in any direction?

 

Nope.

 

Jbo

jblakeney Senior Enthusiast

jblakeney

Posted
Posted

Besides the U-bolts, how would I check this? I could see one of the above possibly being the problem since I'm almost positive it started when I inflated the airbags to haul the mulch. Maybe the air bags caused something worn or loose to move.

 

Only way to do it is to remove the bolts. When you use spring helpers that allow you to over LOAD the suspension past it's intended use. Things will begin to fail. If the bolts are wore (no longer the same diameter all the way down, you should replace them.

 

Also, just looking at the rubber inserts in the end of the springs will show bushing wear.

 

I have seen nearly new trucks wear bushings out (year old ones).

 

I have a tendency to tow more than the rated load capacity from time to time. Well nearly every time the trailer is connected to the truck. Bushings, bolts, and spring isolators, are my usual problems. I do not use any spring helpers bags or add-a-leafs. 170k Most of it connected to a trailer and no U-joints and no noise from them either, just spring problems (which I expect, along with the automatic transmission to give up, but it hasn't yet).

 

Jbo

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