tire wearing woes..

eunosads · Post by **eunosads** » December 9th, 2001, 5:11 am

This is an email I have sent to my local suspension specialist.. <A HREF="http://www.whiteline.com.au" TARGET=_blank>Whiteline</A> See if anyone has any other ideas... Thanks@ds <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> Hi All at Whiteline, I need some help!! I noticed something quite disturbing on my car the other day, the tires had worn VERY unevenly. From what I can see, it is only the front ones that are playing up. It's something I haven't seen before, the INSIDE of the passenger and the OUTSIDE of the drivers side tires are wearing. Wearing so badly, in fact, that there is at least 4mm of tread left on roughly 80% on both tires, except, obviously, where it has worn, unfortunately right down to the canvas on the passenger side, and quite severley on the drivers side (I don't know how I didn't notice before???). I'll give you a litte history as to what has happened with the car: April 2000 - Purchased car with 120,000kms on the clock(fully stock), now at 170,000. December 2000 - Accident with RAV4, damaging front end only (swiped across front from right to left, sitting in car) January 2001 - new rims (17"), tires (205/40), and springs (Pedders, lowered about 35mm) (was aligned twice afterwards to make sure) May 2001 - Whiteline front strut tower brace installed by Wojtek. December 2001 - Argh, worn tires!! I should also say that the car pulls (even after wheel alignment) quite heavily to the left, this was happening before the accident, and seemingly worse after the accident, and not necessarily when braking. Another thing it does (well used to do, I haven't noticed it for a while) is when pulling say left, into a driveway, there is/was a "knock" seeming to come from the drivers side front wheel area. I spoke with a wheel and tire expert who suggested the cause of the tires wearing may be a bent strut, or could be a number of other things and he would need to get it on the hoist to check it thoroughly (I didn't do this, lack of time), he also suggested that because I had had an accident that it may be a bent steering component and to take it back to the smash repairers where I had it fixed. This is what I did today. I went to the smash repairs suggesting all of the above, who got a wheel alignment done and checked all the steering and suspension components. These were his results, word for word, from the invoice: N/S & O/S Front Lower Control Arm Bushes Requires Camber Adjusters N/S & O/S Front and Rear O/S/R Shock absorber leaking Recommend shock absorbers all round Wheel alignment front and rear I guess there a few things I need your opinion on: A) Without looking at the car, does the above sound like a reasonable diagnosis? B) Would your diagnosis likely change if you were to look at the car? C) What are your recommendations on what I should do to have this rectified? D) What's the guarentee that whatever is done, will fix the problem(s), and ensure they won't happen again? E) Based on the likely diagnosis, what kind of costs am I looking at? From what I can gather, a lot of the above are things that I was looking at replacing soon anyway. Would I be best of giving the suspension a full overhaul? Although from looking at it, I guess this would be quite an overhaul anyway, right!?? Apologies for the long winded email, I wanted to make sure I got everything in, I don't think there is anything I have missed, but I will let you know if I have, and be sure to let me know if there is any further information you require. This is something I really want to have fixed up within the next week or so (at least before xmas), so please be sure to reply as soon as you can, thanks heaps in advance, you guys and girls are doing a great job there at Whiteline!! Thanks again, hear from you soon. Adam<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

ProtegeSTS · Post by **ProtegeSTS** » December 9th, 2001, 6:20 pm

like the guy you talked to said, it could be a number of things, but clearly, something is majorly wrong with either the suspension, steering, or frame itself. Id really bring it to a good chassis shop and have them take a look at it. It will definatly be worth it in the long run.

eunosads · Post by **eunosads** » December 17th, 2001, 8:19 am

I took it to the shop.. got a full wheel alignment etc.. the specs came out well...one thing the guy did suggest, after taking it for a drive, was that the engine mounts may be worn... he suggested this because when taking a hard right hand corner at speed the front left wheel would vibrate pretty heavily.. it even seemed like it was bouncing along the road.. I had noticed this before, and just presumed it was the shocks.. and when i got the money, I would just replace them. He seemed to think otherwise though.. he still recommends doing the shocks (which I was planning anyways, koni adjustables)however.. in writing this, I have just had the engine mounts replaced (one of which was damaged pretty badly, the others just worn) and it is still doing the vibrating thing.. what do you think it may be? I still think it would be the shocks, and I will have these replaced early next year.. but this guy, whom is very reputable, was so adamant that it's not the shocks.. and he would have no reason to BS me because he knew I was doing the shocks regardless...I am at a bit of a loss... because I want the problem fixed before I get new tires and stuff.. but I really think the next step in the process of elimination is to do the suspension stuff..what do you all think?

ProtegeSTS · Post by **ProtegeSTS** » December 17th, 2001, 2:05 pm

Hmm, once again without seeing it, its hard to figure out. Id say the struts, like you said, but thats out there already. Maybe bring it back to your guy and see what he thinks now. Since the alignment is in spec now, im kinda lost as to what it may be. Check the bushings in the suspension to make sure they are all still there and straight. As a sidenote....you guys in Aussi can get Koni adjustables for the MX-3!?!?! Single or double adjustable?? Are they the inserts or full struts?

eunosads · Post by **eunosads** » December 17th, 2001, 8:42 pm

yea.. I emailed him with the results.. he replied saying he will need to take it for another drive... and go from there.. I'll let you know what happens...and yes.. we can get them here.. they are single adjustable I think.. and they are inserts.. that's all I know...

ProtegeSTS · Post by **ProtegeSTS** » December 17th, 2001, 11:52 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by eunosads: and yes.. we can get them here.. they are single adjustable I think.. and they are inserts.. that's all I know...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Oh, ok, we can get the inserts here. Thanks, and good luck with the car.

eunosads · Post by **eunosads** » December 18th, 2001, 6:49 am

Thanks Jesse,I'm taking it back to my suspension guy tomorrow morning. Hopefully I will return with some better news this time.I will let you know.Ads

eunosads · Post by **eunosads** » December 20th, 2001, 3:47 am

ok.. been to the suspension guy.. he now reckons I gotta get my CVs checked out as he thinks one may be shot.. he was honest and said he really doesn't know what the problem is, but he did have his superior drive it and he thinks it may be the CVs as well. So I will get the CVs checked and speak with a Mazda service person, and see what they say.Once again, I'll let you know.Ads

ProtegeSTS · Post by **ProtegeSTS** » December 20th, 2001, 5:01 am

hmm, i dont see how the CVs would do it....but there isnt much else to check...so good luck.

eunosads · Post by **eunosads** » January 17th, 2002, 9:01 am

ok.. have another opinon now.. sounds a bit closer to the mark... my fifth opinion from a Mazda dealer/mechanic/suspension expert is that the left hand side drive shaft is not sitting in it's position (neares tthe engine) correctly, and, under load, is vibrating up and now in it's casing.. is it's casing the CV?To me it makes sense if that was it, by I am by no means positive, and still a little skeptical, will be around a $500 job to diagnose and replace if that is the case...what do you reckon Jesse? guys?Thanks heaps for your help on this one...@ds

ProtegeSTS · Post by **ProtegeSTS** » January 17th, 2002, 7:01 pm

Well, after the rest of the stuff you've had done.... ill say SURE its that....because i honestly dont know what else to tell you.Sorry, but if you have the cash, go for it, and hope for the best.

eunosads · Post by **eunosads** » January 22nd, 2002, 7:25 pm

it's in the shop this morning.. they're going to call me to let me know what the diagnosis is.. I will let you know...@ds

eunosads · Post by **eunosads** » January 23rd, 2002, 4:55 am

got it back from the shop.. they told me they had "no idea"...this wasn't just some crappy mechanic either... I went to a dealership...so.. if they can't diagnose it after 7 hours of testing.. what chance have I got...any other ideas? a shot in the dark maybe??I'm gettin desperate now..@ds

ProtegeSTS · Post by **ProtegeSTS** » January 23rd, 2002, 10:33 am

sorry

Mradio · Post by **Mradio** » January 23rd, 2002, 1:24 pm

wheel bearings maybe [img]shrug.gif"%20border="0[/img]

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tire wearing woes..

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