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2003 Grand Caravan tire wear- bad what is causing this? #1322516
10/18/12 07:53 PM
10/18/12 07:53 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 699
Manassas, VA USA
Scamp451 Offline OP
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My wifes van has had new struts, sway bar bushings, sway bar links, four rack and pinions and going on the 3rd set of tires at 82k miles. Had it alined and checked by different shops, tires balanced everything is good I am told. Why are the tires wearing like this then? When braking for cruising speed the steering wheel shakes pretty bad. New brakes and rotors too which helped some but the shake will be back. Help.

Re: 2003 Grand Caravan tire wear- bad what is causing this? [Re: Scamp451] #1322517
10/18/12 08:06 PM
10/18/12 08:06 PM
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Manassas, VA USA
Scamp451 Offline OP
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Re: 2003 Grand Caravan tire wear- bad what is causing this? [Re: Scamp451] #1322518
10/18/12 08:08 PM
10/18/12 08:08 PM
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Manassas, VA USA
Scamp451 Offline OP
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Re: 2003 Grand Caravan tire wear- bad what is causing this? [Re: Scamp451] #1322519
10/18/12 08:23 PM
10/18/12 08:23 PM
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Texas
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Daty Rogers Offline
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Still think the alignment is bad, shaking may be caused by out of balance tires.

-Daty

Re: 2003 Grand Caravan tire wear- bad what is causing this? [Re: Daty Rogers] #1322520
10/18/12 11:58 PM
10/18/12 11:58 PM
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Ohio
Todd Offline
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Looks like a an alignment issue.
Get a print out of the results. You should have .1 degrees positive camber and .10 degrees toe in.
As for the brake shake get the rotors machined and check the run out on the hub flange.

Re: 2003 Grand Caravan tire wear- bad what is causing this? [Re: Todd] #1322521
10/19/12 08:09 AM
10/19/12 08:09 AM
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Niles , Ohio
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therocks Offline
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
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Niles , Ohio
I agree looks like bad alingment.When the struts are replaced you have to have either new adjustable bolts installed or grind out the piece thats made in the bolt hole to adjust them for camber.The shake when braking is bad rotors.Tire balance had nothing to do with it when braking only.Ive seen new rotors out of the box that were warped.That or someone over tightens the wheels and warps them.Thats why I either use torque sticks or my T wrench.Typically new rotors are so thin that there isnt enough meat to turn them before they hit discard or minimum machine.Ive had better luck in the last 30 years at the shop using the store brand rotors than the hi buck ones.Do you have a printout from the last alingment?Rocky


Chrysler Firepower
Re: 2003 Grand Caravan tire wear- bad what is causing this? [Re: therocks] #1322522
10/19/12 09:23 PM
10/19/12 09:23 PM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,193
NEW JERSEY
AARCONV Offline
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you didn't mention lower ball joints or tie rods...or even a wheel bearing...bearings will give you a shake as you described..when you changed the struts in the front...did you change the top strut mounts also? is it just the outside of that one tire or both sides?

Re: 2003 Grand Caravan tire wear- bad what is causing this? [Re: AARCONV] #1322523
10/19/12 10:06 PM
10/19/12 10:06 PM
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Balt. Md
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383man Offline
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Is that both front tires wearing the same ? If both front tires are wearing the same on inner or outer edges then its a toe issue. If only one side is wearing (one front tire not both) then its a chamber issue. One other thing I would see is from not rotating the tires. Does she have the tires rotated on a normal schedule like every other oil change ? You have to remember the front tires take alot of the weight when stopping and turning. It will cause the front tires to wear on the outer edges much more then the rear and if you dont rotate the tires about every 5000 to 7500 miles it will cause the front tires to wear much more then the rear. And if you never rotate them the rear tires will last about twice as long. But as was stated get the alignment printout and you can post it on here. Ron

Last edited by 383man; 10/19/12 10:09 PM.
Re: 2003 Grand Caravan tire wear- bad what is causing this? [Re: AARCONV] #1322524
10/19/12 10:10 PM
10/19/12 10:10 PM
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ST clair shores MI
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moretoys Offline
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I'd like to see some alignment reading. lets say static alignment is ok. then other possibilities could be.do you ever rotate tires?? make sure tire psi is ok. Low tire psi causes positive camber to happen and rapid tire wear. the other possibility is in/out of tight spaces,wheels turned to full lock causes tires to lean out at the top.+ low tire pressure.= outside tire wear. does it handle ok?even in wet road conditions? alignment off will usually cause some instability. cheapy tires will also cause premature wear. some cheap tires have a real soft sidewall,tires kinda roll over on themselves on turns. Front tires will always wear on the outside edge.it's the leaning over on turns.
is there extra weight in the back that isn't there when you have it aligned?squatting in the rear takes weight from the front,& the tires will lean out at the top.
The shaking when braking is most likely warped rotor. Just because there new doesn't mean a thing. I've had some bad right out of the box. problem is getting worse.aftermarket parts in general are iffy.

Re: 2003 Grand Caravan tire wear- bad what is causing this? [Re: Scamp451] #1322525
10/20/12 07:36 AM
10/20/12 07:36 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,050
Niles , Ohio
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therocks Offline
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
therocks  Offline
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
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Niles , Ohio
Ron I forgot about tire rotation.Most people dont rotate them.I also read 4 racks.Man where are you getting them.Plus a lot of brakes.Ive found for the most part Quick Struts are the way to go.They can be installed in what 1/2 hour and everything is new.My wifes PT has 125 and only on the second set of brakes.She drives hard.My brother and nephew have Caravans and no way do they go thru that many tires or brakes.They both drive hard also and my brothers is usually loaded.As said cheap tires will also wear odd and fast.Rocky


Chrysler Firepower
Re: 2003 Grand Caravan tire wear- bad what is causing this? [Re: AARCONV] #1322526
10/20/12 09:34 AM
10/20/12 09:34 AM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 738
TN
'84 D150 Shorty Offline
Pickup Man
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Quote:

you didn't mention lower ball joints or tie rods...or even a wheel bearing...bearings will give you a shake as you described..when you changed the struts in the front...did you change the top strut mounts also? is it just the outside of that one tire or both sides?



I would check wheel hubs for play...

Re: 2003 Grand Caravan tire wear- bad what is causing this? [Re: '84 D150 Shorty] #1322527
10/20/12 09:50 AM
10/20/12 09:50 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,421
Balt. Md
3
383man Offline
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Balt. Md
Quote:

Quote:

you didn't mention lower ball joints or tie rods...or even a wheel bearing...bearings will give you a shake as you described..when you changed the struts in the front...did you change the top strut mounts also? is it just the outside of that one tire or both sides?



I would check wheel hubs for play...





That is true but since it was aligned a few times they should (the shops that did the alignments) have checked all the front end parts before aligning it. But SHOULD is the big player here. Ron

Re: 2003 Grand Caravan tire wear- bad what is causing this? [Re: '84 D150 Shorty] #1322528
10/20/12 09:52 AM
10/20/12 09:52 AM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,377
Ohio
Todd Offline
pro stock
Todd  Offline
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Ohio
Quote:

Quote:

you didn't mention lower ball joints or tie rods...or even a wheel bearing...bearings will give you a shake as you described..when you changed the struts in the front...did you change the top strut mounts also? is it just the outside of that one tire or both sides?



I would check wheel hubs for play...



Any reputable alignment shop would have found those issues even before hanging the heads.
If I find any problems with worn parts like that it gets fixed before the alignment. I don't want it coming back if it does I get to do it for free.

Re: 2003 Grand Caravan tire wear- bad what is causing this? [Re: Todd] #1322529
10/20/12 10:39 AM
10/20/12 10:39 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,421
Balt. Md
3
383man Offline
Too Many Posts
383man  Offline
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Balt. Md
Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

you didn't mention lower ball joints or tie rods...or even a wheel bearing...bearings will give you a shake as you described..when you changed the struts in the front...did you change the top strut mounts also? is it just the outside of that one tire or both sides?



I would check wheel hubs for play...



Any reputable alignment shop would have found those issues even before hanging the heads.
If I find any problems with worn parts like that it gets fixed before the alignment. I don't want it coming back if it does I get to do it for free.






Thats basically what I was saying as I was in the same boat where we would be doing it for free if it came back and we missed worn front end parts when doing a front end alignment. Ron

Last edited by 383man; 10/20/12 10:40 AM.
Re: 2003 Grand Caravan tire wear- bad what is causing this? [Re: 383man] #1322530
10/20/12 08:16 PM
10/20/12 08:16 PM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,377
Ohio
Todd Offline
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Todd  Offline
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Ohio
Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

you didn't mention lower ball joints or tie rods...or even a wheel bearing...bearings will give you a shake as you described..when you changed the struts in the front...did you change the top strut mounts also? is it just the outside of that one tire or both sides?



I would check wheel hubs for play...



Any reputable alignment shop would have found those issues even before hanging the heads.
If I find any problems with worn parts like that it gets fixed before the alignment. I don't want it coming back if it does I get to do it for free.






Thats basically what I was saying as I was in the same boat where we would be doing it for free if it came back and we missed worn front end parts when doing a front end alignment. Ron



You treed me by 2 minutes. I'm a slow typer.

Re: 2003 Grand Caravan tire wear- bad what is causing this? [Re: Scamp451] #1322531
10/21/12 09:17 AM
10/21/12 09:17 AM
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Posts: 9,791
MI, usa
dvw Offline
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Quote:

Pic



If your talking about cupping on the edges it has more to do with tread design than alignment. Assuming the alignment is correct. Cross rotating the tires from left to right so they rotate in the opposite direction is the ONLY cure. If done during normal intervals they will stay like new. If the cupping is already severe it will help but the damage has been done. Old theory suggested never to cross radials. This is not true with today's tires. I worked as a dealer tech for 27 years doing alignments.
Doug

Re: 2003 Grand Caravan tire wear- bad what is causing this? [Re: Scamp451] #1322532
10/21/12 10:24 AM
10/21/12 10:24 AM
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dennismopar73 Offline
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WOW,, bet that drives like a car on poly glass tires on a rain slick muddy country road!!
You need some one else doing front end alignment and repairs!!!
I have seen alot of 'so called' repairs done to cars that where never done !
What a shame,
I have seen dealers tell a customer that had brought their van in 3 x over growling in the front end,, brakes wore plum into the rotor so bad you would not believe!!,, Then tell the customer , yeah we drove it and everything is fine! charge her $100 each time 'for nothing wrong' !!
On the 4 try I took it in I all ready looked at it knew the issue,
the service manager(yeah right), drove it, came back , said , " it needs new tires and shocks "!
gave us a price,, on cost to repair @ $1000,, That's when I stepped up,, said , Look dum dum, it just need brakes,!! and now rotors!!
He looked at me, said are you ASE certfied mechanic??, YES I AM !!!
He goes , well you put on the pads and rotors , when that don't fix it, you come on back we will fix it!!
Would not take a pedal car to a dealer!!

Re: 2003 Grand Caravan tire wear- bad what is causing this? [Re: dennismopar73] #1322533
10/21/12 01:24 PM
10/21/12 01:24 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,050
Niles , Ohio
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therocks Offline
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
therocks  Offline
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
T

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,050
Niles , Ohio
I cant believe the people that bring cars in for an alingnment because it has a shake in the front end.That and the ones that had bad parts that wanted an one done anyway.Id just tell them it wont fix a wobble.The ones with bad parts were told no also.Some really insisted.The Favorite saying was I know it needs TR or etc but do it anyway.I wont complain when its still bad.Politley told them either fix it or leave.Rocky


Chrysler Firepower
Re: 2003 Grand Caravan tire wear- bad what is causing this? [Re: Scamp451] #1322534
10/21/12 01:53 PM
10/21/12 01:53 PM
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Alton, IL
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Dakota_Don Offline
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ck the run-out on the wheel bearings, turn replace rotor and have alignment re-checked... ck tire ballance to.. make sure all the LCA bushings are good.....

Re: 2003 Grand Caravan tire wear- bad what is causing this? [Re: therocks] #1322535
10/21/12 02:30 PM
10/21/12 02:30 PM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,377
Ohio
Todd Offline
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Ohio
Quote:

I cant believe the people that bring cars in for an alingnment because it has a shake in the front end.That and the ones that had bad parts that wanted an one done anyway.Id just tell them it wont fix a wobble.The ones with bad parts were told no also.Some really insisted.The Favorite saying was I know it needs TR or etc but do it anyway.I wont complain when its still bad.Politley told them either fix it or leave.Rocky



I run into that all the time.
I get the repair order and it says, customer states has vibration wants alignment checked.
I then have to ask do you want the vibration fixed or just the alignment checked.
I guess some people just don't understand.

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