Ball Joints? Pics of tire wear.

[dordtrecht5]

I am having a problem with my front end. I replaced both front hubs not too long ago. I think it might have something to do with either tie rods or ball joints. Tell me what you think here guys.

The driver's inside tire is the worst. If you look closely, you can see how the tread is worn at an angle on the inside tread. The downhill slope is to the rear and the highest side is toward the front of the truck.

 

[Chevy1925]

Ive noticed over the years GM trucks like to eat the inner edges of the tires more than the outer. ive tried correcting it on my truck by adding 1* postive of camber but still the inner wears faster. teh factory spec is -1* to -3*s. a cranked up truck will make this issue worst due to the steep a-arm angles.

Best thing to do is lift one tire off the ground, take a pry bar and put it under the tire. Lift the pry bar to the tire and try to pick the tire up. if the upper ball joint is shot you will feel a "clunk". to check the lower one, the best way i found to do it was by putting the jack under the LCA so that when you jacked the front end up, the UCA was not sitting on its bump stop. then use the pry bar and put it between the outer CV and the ball joint top. try to then pry the CV up away from the ball joint, if you see any movement more than a 1/32 of an inch, it needs to be replaces.

Tie rods you check by lifting one tire again, grab the tire at 9 and 3 o clock and try to turn the tires left and right in a "shaking" motion (jsut dont do it violently ) and see if you see the centerlink twisting up and down or if you see the inner tie rod moving in and out or the outer tie rods case moving up and down while the stud doesnt move.

if all is well, try another alignment to make sure its all good and still in spec.

 

[02greysixer]

A computerized front end alignment will be a lot better too. When my dad got his tires the shop used a computerized alignment rack and they wear perfectly flat. When I got mine the shop I used did the alignment the old fashion way, my truck drives perfect but I've got to rotate the tires every oil change or they'll wear like yours.


Sint frum tha orijinul smert fone

 

[billdunn83]

I just replaced the drivers side upper ball joint on mine. the way you can tell it is bad is when you have it of the ground grab it at 12 and 6 o'clock then try to push it. there should be little to no movement... mine was so bad from the PO that I could move it a solid inch. only took me about 30 min to change though.

 

[dmaxlover]

What did you find with your tire wear? My dually is wearing the same as yours.

 

[Mike_S]

When the lugs are worn at a slope, ie front of lug high and back of lug low (also known as cupping), this is usually caused by improper toe adjustment. Can be caused by worn parts or by crummy alignment. Lift the front end off the ground and feel for play, up down in out and left right. If anything gives much play, replace it and have the truck realigned at a reputable shop. I dont recomend les schwab.