Tire wear?

[MickeyT]

I've got excessive tire wear on the outside edge of my right front tire only. Where should I look first?

 

[Kurt in NJ]

Check toe, don't drive so fast in parking garages

 

[Frank Miller]

Kurt,
If the toe were off wouldn't the outside of both front tires wear out?

 

[Patrick L.]

Does the top of the right tire seem to set farther out than the left ?


Most vehicles use positive camber, including our Model A's. However these cars tend to use too much of it[ which was fine for the old road conditions of the time]. Plus over time the axle can become bent requiring usually an older alignment shop to bend the axle back to where it should be.

 

[Synchro909]

I'd say the camber is out on that wheel. Axle will need straightening if so.

 

[MickeyT]

Can a front end alignment confirm a bent axel?

 

[Synchro909]

Can a front end alignment confirm a bent axel?

Yes. It is better if the king pins are in good condition and wheel bearings well adjusted.

 

[Frank Miller]

Yes. It is better if the king pins are in good condition and wheel bearings well adjusted.

Good point. Check the king pins first.

 

[OL JENNY]

I had a front tire suddenly wear excessive only to determine the wheel bearing had failed. I had not noticed anything different in driving, but replacing the bearing and tire resulted in no abnormal wear in 4000 miles.

 

[MickeyT]

Appreciate all the help. There is a slight amount of movement when checking the wheel top to bottom but not sure it's enough to result in tire wear. I can see the movement at the king pin. The left wheel has almost no movement. I wish there was a way to check for a bent axel at home. Some measurement??

 

[bettlesr]

I had a similar problem with right front tire wearing on the out side edge. Turned out to be a bent spindle. With the bent one next to a good one, the tip of the bent spindle was about 1/2" lower than the other.

 

[JonC]

Take it to a shop that does a lot of trucks with straight axles, they have seen bent or twisted axles before and know how to deal with it.

 

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

Take a large square and check how much camber is in each front wheel. That’s the tilt out on top. Then compare the two. I’m sure someone can find the specs, or even the article in the restorer regarding this “Home” check.