Helllppp!. Alignment....or subframe....??

[Cruez]

Ok, had the clutch replaced back in March...along with some other stuff...

New tires also.... took the car a day later to have it aligned...a couple of months later I notice the drivers tire wearing on the inside quite a bit... Took it to the alignment shop and they showed me that it was in spec...so they did a little adjusting again....

Friday I noticed the passenger side tire (inside)has worn through the belts.... (about 15000 miles on 60,000 mile tires....)

But the alignment hasn't changed...

Could it be the subframe alignment??? dunno if that was done correctly....

Also the machine that they are using doesn't have the SHO listed.... is it the same settings as a SLO ?? ('91)

 

[twr]

What do they consider in "spec" You need to get a copy of the numbers.

 

[Cruez]

They showed me the machine that aligns it... and I have it wrote down at work..

They had a 90-91 Taurus on the screen to set the alignment... and most of them were in the green... except for the camber.... it doesn't have anymore adjustment to it...

This is all on stock suspension also...

but the inner sides of each front tire is wearing very fast....

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Did they drill the welds at the top of the strut tower to set the camber? That's the usual way camber is adjusted on these cars (and a LOT of places won't do it). According to the shop manual the alignment procedures and specs are the same for all Taurii.

I'm wondering if your springs and/or struts are contributing to the wear.

 

[Bizzy]

Well, first off...let's consider the entire picture. Suspension as well as alignment. You can have the alignment done quite often and it will do no good if your suspension is shot.

After my recent problems with my subframe bushings it helped to correct some of my tire wear issues, so if they are in need of changing...do it.

Also a very important item for inspection are the springs. If your springs are bad you will get a negative camber (wheels tipped like this / - \ ) which will cause wear on the inside if the tires like mine. I keep my car's steering aligned which at the current moment is doing some compensation for my camber negativity, but the wear on my tires is and will continue be ****** until my springs are changed. Have those checked out along with your subframe bushings and perhaps it will help. While you're in there, make sure they check out the other steering components such as tie rods (inner and outer), end links, struts and the like. Never can be too safe with these things and an ounce of prevention will save you many headaches down the road.

<small>[ October 07, 2002, 07:25 PM: Message edited by: Bizzy ]</small>

 

[Cruez]

Ok, before the clutch replacement the alignment was ok...no bad wear.. But I did replace the tie rod ends... Everything else seems to be ok.

Since that work was done, thats when the wear started occurring...

Would the springs be dead after just turning 100,000 miles???

here is what it is set at now

L............R
-.8..........-1.2 Camber
4.5...........5.0 Caster

Total toe in .30

 

[SHODWN]

you must have something bent. those specs are not bad. I have more camber than that and I dont wear tires. Try another shop.. Caster is a little bit off, it appears from your numbers that the subframe is a bit forward. you can do this your self, with some help from a freind. Jack it up and loosen your sub frame bolts, you will see some holes in the front of your subframe, install a big drift pin through the subframe into the frame and get it even.

 

[Bizzy]

Cruez:
Would the springs be dead after just turning 100,000 miles???

It's possible..my springs have been bad for some time now. But I think every car may vary depending on loads carried, etc.

Ford made their springs for our cars and each one was heated (there is a term for this, but I can't think of it) just before it was fit into the car. Each one could have been done by a different person or to different temps as this was all done by hand. That's why some last longer than others. Mine could be very poor compared to yours so it's hard to speculate.

 

[ManySHOs]

Cruez:
Ok, before the clutch replacement the alignment was ok...no bad wear.. But I did replace the tie rod ends... Everything else seems to be ok.

Since that work was done, thats when the wear started occurring...

Would the springs be dead after just turning 100,000 miles???

here is what it is set at now

L............R
-.8..........-1.2 Camber
4.5...........5.0 Caster

Total toe in .30

If I recall correctly, camber specs are -.1 to -1.1 for the front wheels. -1.2 is out of spec but not by much. Most alingment shops only adjust the toe...
I don't recall what the castor specs are offhand..

Ian
-1.9 driver's
-1.1 passenger
way out of spec for now

 

[RStalveyARFF]

yeah, there is a caster split, , which I would solve by trying to move the left front of the subframe forward. Diagnally left. That should lessen you right front camber, and increase the left front caster. Also, have them set a neutral total toe. The specs for total toe are -.23" to .15, so that total toe of -.3 is giving you tire wear.