Unusual Tyre Wear On My Fabia VRS

[switchblad3]

Hi all,

 

At the end of January i had two brand new goodyear eagle f1 tyres fitted at the front and i had a 4 wheel laser alignment done aswell.

 

A few days later i took it back as the steering wheel wasn't central, it was much better but not 100%.

 

Since then, around 6wks later i noticed the front N/S was showing unusual wear to the outside edge, it was also fluffing up the rubber like it was dragging across the tyre, also the O/S/F tyre has worn uneven and excessive too. After i asked a guy from a different company to look at it and give me his opinion on what could cause the problem where he said the tracking looks out so i returned to the original tyre specialist and showed them the problem. 

 

The owner got it back on the ramp and came back with a print out and said the tracking was out which they adjusted for me but also the camber was out on the N/S/F. He said they don't adjust camber and i'd need to get this done.

 

I, as recently as yesterday, had a major service carried out inc cambelt and asked for the garage i use to get the camber sorted ready for new set of tyres, i was then told that the camber isn't adjustable on the Fabia.

 

So, my problem now is my camber is slightly out on the N/S, does anybody know what could be causing this, if say i had hit a big pot hole could it of been put out by this and if so what could be replaced of adjusted to put it back into tolerance.

 

I'm trying to keep the costs down at the moment so i am hoping i can get a good idea on what the obvious candidates are that are causing it.

 

Anybody recommend someone who knows about these things in the Newbury area as that's where i work.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Dave

[Gobsheene]

i had a 4 wheel laser alignment done aswell.

 

Some one else that's a touch more mechanical can feel free to correct me here but I believe the above may be the start of the issue.

 

The Fabia has nothing adjustable at the back to allow a 4 wheel alignment. There's a fixed rear beam & hubs with no camber, toe or caster adjustment. 

So if everything is OK at the back, they'll only use them as a base to get your front wheels straight. Likewise If you have a bent or damaged rear axle, it'll throw the front alignment out of kilter if its not picked up by the technician. 

 

I'd personally take it to another garage or specialist, and see if they can take a look at it to see if its ok. 

Edited 18 March, 2014 by Gobsheene

[Lofty79]

Sounds like you may have a bush away, console bush may be likely. Kick front of the tyre and see if it wobles. If not you may have a bent strut, or a bent hub.

ive had a few hubs buckle when someone changing a bearing has been a bit heavy with the mallet.

i would say in my mind a bent strut may be the problem, jack her up and get someone tto go lock to lock, it may show to the eye

[Lofty79]

Oh yes and another issue is a pattern wishbone, non genuine stuff can be made wrong length and cause it.

the camber is adjustable a little by loosening the 3 bolts for the ball joint and pushing it in, then retightening

and as above front wheel alignment is all you need to do really on those

Edited 18 March, 2014 by Lofty79

[mannyo]

and as above front wheel alignment is all you need to do really on those

But there is no point in getting the fronts done if the rears are point the wrong direction, so it should go onto a 4WA machine anyway to at least make sure the backs are pointing the right way. You are correct in saying that its not adjustable, essentially if the back end is wrong then something is bent/worn out or broken.

[Lofty79]

this is true, 

 

working on the assumption that the rear axle was ok, my response was aimed at finding a front end issue, especially as there is a camber issue, rear axle issues wont cause camber problems on the front, so all im saying is my best guess would be............... these are cost free visual checks to try.

 

hers hoping its front end 

Edited 18 March, 2014 by Lofty79

[switchblad3]

Rear end on both tests reports are showing ok, tyre wear on the rear is minimal and even. 6wks apart looking at the reports there is an obvious change in the camber on the N/S/F.

 

Can the hub or anything be adjusted slightly to solve it, currently with it wearing the outta edge i assume it's running positive camber instead of slightly neg???

 

If i had hit a pot hole could something of shifted slightly to give me this positive camber???

 

Dave.

[switchblad3]

I could upload a picture tomorrow of the report showing the values if it helps anyone.

 

Dave.

[mannyo]

Report would be handy, positive camber would usually be caused by striking a kerb side on, I would expect negative camber from a pothole.

How do the front wheels look when you park with the steering straight ahead on a flat surface. Try measuring the distance between the wheel and back part of the wheel arch on both sides and see if they even.

[m4tt274]

sounds like its A. been in a crash and not exactly straight and true  or B. got a worn bush or pattern (cheap) wishbone/suspension component thats not quite as it should be.

 

I owned a mk5 zetec S fiesta that had this issue. tracking was straight and true, but the steering wheel would be ****ed, and it bald its inside edge on tires. ended up selling it as i couldn't find the fault and garages couldn't track it up as it was all out of alignment.  presumably had a bump when it was fairly new that wasn't recorded and the geomatry was out. 

[switchblad3]

Well as the camber has change in the last 6wks i can confirm it hasnt been in any sort of incident involving anything other than the ****ty pot holes everywhere at the moment that's the reason for the confusion.

 

Dave.

[vindaloo]

If it's had work done on the front end... front ARB or wishbone bushes, the consoles may have been removed. And/or the front subframe. The bolts are steel, the consoles alloy. It's not unknown for the threads in the consoles to strip or come out with the bolts, allowing movement.

 

Bolts are supposed to be replaced as they're coated to prevent steel/alloy electro-galvanic corrosion.

 

J.