Rear tyre wear

[Phil]

Have had severe wear on the outside rear left tyre on my 05 OBW. I talked to
the dealer who said it could be a wheel alignment problem. However, I would
think that if it were, I would see it first on the front tyres, but they
both have normal wear. I have since heard that there is an adjustment that
can be made on the rear wheels of these vehicles because of the AWD or some
such reason.

Has anyone experienced this problem before, and is there an adjustment for
the rear wheels? Would appreciate any input, thanks. We drive on the left
hand side here in Australia so I guess the camber of the road would be
steeper for that particular tyre than one on the other side. Don't know if
that makes a difference or not.

 

[Ben Olsen]

Have had severe wear on the outside rear left tyre on my 05 OBW. I talked
to the dealer who said it could be a wheel alignment problem. However, I
would think that if it were, I would see it first on the front tyres, but
they both have normal wear. I have since heard that there is an adjustment
that can be made on the rear wheels of these vehicles because of the AWD
or some such reason.

Has anyone experienced this problem before, and is there an adjustment for
the rear wheels? Would appreciate any input, thanks. We drive on the left
hand side here in Australia so I guess the camber of the road would be
steeper for that particular tyre than one on the other side. Don't know if
that makes a difference or not.

Hi Phil
I have an 02 OBW and it was stressed to me to ensure that wheelalignment
were carried out on both front and back and to have the wheels rotated
every service interval (12500Km) in order to maintain good tyre wear, also I
use 38Psi all round.
Ben (Oz)

 

[Michael Pardee]

Have had severe wear on the outside rear left tyre on my 05 OBW. I talked
to the dealer who said it could be a wheel alignment problem. However, I
would think that if it were, I would see it first on the front tyres, but
they both have normal wear. I have since heard that there is an adjustment
that can be made on the rear wheels of these vehicles because of the AWD
or some such reason.

Has anyone experienced this problem before, and is there an adjustment for
the rear wheels? Would appreciate any input, thanks. We drive on the left
hand side here in Australia so I guess the camber of the road would be
steeper for that particular tyre than one on the other side. Don't know if
that makes a difference or not.

More than I know... FWD cars need what is often called "thrust alignment"
here in the states; it is some sort of 4-wheel alignment. The explanation
makes sense if the rear angles are adjustable, since that's what I'd expect
from excessive toe-in on that wheel.

I'm told the alignment is different for LHD cars than for RHD cars because
of the crown of the road. Since you drive on the wrong side of the road the
alignment has to neutralize a slight pull to the left, whereas we drive on
the other wrong side of the road and ours have to neutralize a slight pull
to the right.

Mike

 

[Jay Alperson]

Why 38 psi? Sounds higher than the manual recommends.

 

[Edward Hayes]

My Forester was delivered "out of alignment" The rear tires showed
much wear at ~ 7,000 miles while the fronts looked as new. The dealer
provided a free realignment and a We're sorry comment. I assume you
run close to recommended pressure and rotation interval?

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Have had severe wear on the outside rear left tyre on my 05 OBW. I talked to
the dealer who said it could be a wheel alignment problem. However, I would
think that if it were, I would see it first on the front tyres, but they
both have normal wear. I have since heard that there is an adjustment that
can be made on the rear wheels of these vehicles because of the AWD or some
such reason.

Has anyone experienced this problem before, and is there an adjustment for
the rear wheels? Would appreciate any input, thanks. We drive on the left
hand side here in Australia so I guess the camber of the road would be
steeper for that particular tyre than one on the other side. Don't know if
that makes a difference or not.

OK - just to cover the bases, I'll suggest a coupla outside possibilties
to keep in mind. Are you the only driver? Have you closely examined the
rim to see if it 'tagged' a curb, possibly while operated by another
driver? Also, though rare, I have heard of dealers wrecking a car on the
lot or transporting it, reparing the damage, then selling it as new.

just fyi

Carl

 

[Stephen H]

More than I know... FWD cars need what is often called "thrust alignment"
here in the states; it is some sort of 4-wheel alignment. The explanation
makes sense if the rear angles are adjustable, since that's what I'd
expect from excessive toe-in on that wheel.

Always balance a toe setting with the other wheel on that axle. if your rr
tire was out, then both rear tires would get 1/4 wear effect on them, the
car would have a slight offset in the rear of the car. it could/would be
compensated by the front tires setting and in many cases you could never see
or feel it. The "thrust" alignment insures that the rear axles are true with
the car then we set the front axles true and now the car is driving
perfectly straight down the road. You could still have a pull issue, but the
car is pointing correctly.
http://www.familycar.com/Alignment.htm a good alignment definition page
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=4



--
Stephen W. Hansen
ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
ASE Automobile Advanced Engine Performance
ASE Undercar Specialist

http://autorepair.about.com/cs/troubleshooting/l/bl_obd_main.htm
http://www.troublecodes.net/technical/

 

[Rick Courtright]

the dealer who said it could be a wheel alignment problem. However, I > would think that if it were, I would see it first on the front tyres, > but they both have normal wear. I have since heard that there is an > adjustment

Hi,

Not at all unusual to have a rear alignment problem w/o a similar
problem on the front. If your car has an adjustable rear end, a good
alignment guy should be able to take care of it for you. Earlier models
like my Loyale didn't always have adjustments, but I think Subaru's
learned that lesson. Just for comparison to your problem, the front
tires on mine wear "like they were turned on a lathe" to quote a friend,
while it absolutely EATS rears due to excessive toe-in (takes off the
outer edge in no time.) Alignment guys throw up their hands cuz there's
no adjustment built in.

Sometimes you have to go thru a few alignment guys to find the one who
"has the touch" required to fix your problem. Expensive, yes, but you
want to keep that guy when you find him!

Rick

 

[S]

Hi Phil!

Has anyone experienced this problem before, and is there an adjustment for
the rear wheels?

Common problem. There is an adjustment for rear toe, but not (unless
it's something added in the last couple years) rear camber. Rear toe
adjusts with an eccentric bolt at the inside of one of the rear arms.
Front camber adjustment is an eccentric bolt where the strut meets the
hub, the top one, usually. In either case there will usually be
reference lines stamped into the bolt head and corresponding assembly.
..
Pretty easy to DIY if you're so inclined; takes a couple lengths of
string, a ruler, and 4 jackstands or whatever to tie the string to.
Search the web, and/or check out the SmartStrings owners manual, which
can be found here: <http://www.smartracingproducts.com/alignment.htm>,
for the procedure.

Generically, set the front toe to around 2-3mm total toe in, the rear
as close to 0 as you can. I like a fairly sporty feel, so I will set
the front camber to max negative (probably a degree or so on the
Soobies), again there isn't an adjustment on the back AFAIK. You can
purchase and install something called a "crash bolt" from an alignment
supply store that will give a couple degrees of adjustment in similar
fashion to the front adjuster. Camber is kinda tough to measure w/o a
special tool, but you can at least get an idea with a plumb line held
against the top of the rim. You want at least a little negative camber
(top of wheel closer to car c/l than bottom) in most situations.

Hope this is helpful.

ByeBye! S.


Steve Jernigan KG0MB
Laboratory Manager
Microelectronics Research
University of Colorado
(719) 262-3101

 

[Phil]

good enough, Rick, appreciate the info. Now the search begins......

 

[Losiho]

Why 38 psi? Sounds higher than the manual recommends.

Try running the 28-29psi in your tyres that Subaru recommend and see how
long your tyres last......

 

[number 9]

Yes, that happend to me The little woman used to drive fast little
cars,
and consistently gently nudged the outer part of the tire on the curbs with
the longer(?) Forester. Didn't hurt the wheels though.

After rotating the tires as recommended, at 31k it became very apparent
both right side tires was nearing their useful life. Alignment and frame
tested out fine...

H.

 

[kaboom]

Try running the 28-29psi in your tyres that Subaru recommend and see how
long your tyres last......

**True. I had my tires at 31-32 front and 29 in the back, just like it
said in the manual (05 Impreza RS). I noticed the back tire losing air
and since I was bringing it in for an oil change, I asked them to look
at it. They pulled a nail and the supervisor said to keep all the
tires at the higher psi *not* 29psi on the rear like the book. He said
that your tires will last longer and wear correctly. Well, alrighty

kaboomie