Misdby1

Hey guys.

I posted a while ago about my 01 Cl-s wearing out the inside and outsides of the front tires. The driver side seemed to be worse and the insides worse than the outside. The middle of the tire is wearing uniformly. I am sitting on B&G shocks and springs and 215/35/19's.

I took this picture of what my front tire looked like on 4/24/10, BEFORE B&G springs and shocks and my road trip.



My after picture is coming soon, but the inside is worn to the nylon and the outsides are almost smooth. The middle has maybe an 1/8" over the wear bars.

Now before you jump to conclusions, my stock setup did this as well though not as fast. I had the car aligned on the stock setup and it was well within specs. I also had the car aligned with the 19's and they were still in specs. I have an appointment to get the car aligned this afternoon.

Regardless, there isn't an adjustable alignment condition that will wear out the tires this way - this fast. The car ate through those fronts in LESS than 2500 miles.

My car also has 166k+ miles. I am now in Texas and would appreciate help in the form of recommendations to shops in the N Dallas area, cheap tire shops, suggestions or specifications for the new suspension setup and suggestions on what to do next other than get it aligned.

Thanks!

richardparker

iTrader: (7)

how low are you ?
Sounds like you need a front camber kit or your toe is off.

Before I had a camber kit and a correct alignment my tires got smoked off down to the wires on both in less than 1k miles

Misdby1

B&G says a little over an 1 1/2" but i'm more like 2" dropped.

richardparker

iTrader: (7)

I was on eibach's lowered 2", with stock upper balljoints.
Time to price some adjustable upper balljoints or plan on new tires every couple months.

Misdby1

where did you get yours?

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

It should be able to be corrected with a proper alignment. Also, your tire inflation can contribute to this as well.

If both of those don't help, you have other problems with the car. Have you been in an accident? Has the car been wrecked before? Hopefully you don't have any frame damage.

richardparker

iTrader: (7)

Don't rememberwhere I got my spc's but, ebay on my cheap one's.
Go to ebay and put "acura cl camber" in the search box.
Then look for the fronts.

richardparker

iTrader: (7)

Your not going to be able to get the front setting out of the red with the 2" drop OP said with no camber adjustment.
It's not going to happen.

Misdby1

I agree. With 160k+ on the odometer, I assume something somewhere is worn out in the front end. How about any bushings, etc?

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

Understood. But, with a PROPER alignment, his tires WILL NOT wear like that. Hence why I asked whether the car's been wrecked or not?

Misdby1

No, the car has not been in an accident.

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

If you are absolutely positive of that, and have adjusted the tire pressures properly when cold, then the only thing left is a proper alignment.

I ask about car damage because if the car was hit in a certain way, even with proper alignment, you won't be able to get within specs.

Maybe you can ask for a printout next time you get an alignment?

richardparker

iTrader: (7)

Lift both front wheels and give all componets a shake down for play.
then buy whats needed including the front camber kit and get a new line up.

Misdby1

I'm positive it hasn't been in a wreck and i am constantly monitoring the air pressure - especially on my recent 1900 mile roadtrip.

I've received the printout the last 2 alignments i've gotten. Having worked for a tire shop and performed alignments through college, I know how to read them as well.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

Try a camber kit. 2" drop should have 1 anyway for good measure. Maybe this is something that only will get out of spec while driving & doesn't show up on the lift while the alignment is done. Have you replaced your ball joints? I don't remember from the other thread.
With 160K miles & lowered I'm sure they are due.

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

Got it. You should know better than myself what to look out for!

Good suggestion.

RooEng

So what's the camber according to the printout? And is that before or after you lowered it. If it was before, lowering changes both camber and toe.

Misdby1

Okay - got it aligned this afternoon. Should have done it before my road trip but with moving 1900 miles I just didn't have time - and am going to pay for it.
Front:
-0.9 degrees camber left, -0.9 degrees right - tolerance is -1 to 1 degree. Toe -.42 degrees left, -.38 degrees right - tolerance is -.08 to .08.
Rear: -1.9 degrees camber left -2.0 degrees camber right - tolerance -1 to 0. .12 degrees toe left, .20 degrees right - tolerance 0 - .16 degrees.

bottom line: toe'd out a ton and cambered in caused wicked tire wear. I am sure this couple with 166k+ mile old suspension aggravated the situation. I did the shake down with the mechanic and he thought everything was still pretty tight.

I'm going to get the camber kits front and rear as well as upper ball joints. I bought the lifetime alignment package today and want to get my money's worth.

Excelerate sent me the information on the rear camber kit, where do I get the front? And I apologize for sounding like a jerk about reading the specs, i'm exhausted after being up all night with the baby.

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

No worries. Josh should stock the front camber kit as well.

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

Honestly, I wouldnt even get the front camber kit. Toe kills tires, not camber. And you're still within specs for camber. I got the rear Ingalls kit and I love it. You can adjust camber and toe with it. Each "kit" is one side though. There are two arms per side. So when ordering, make sure you get two. Unless you get it from eBay, where some of the sellers do a package deal for both sides.

gnuts

iTrader: (1)

don't mean to de-rail this thread, but what's the difference to getting adjustable ball joints instead of camber kit? My front upper joints are done so i thought i'd just get the ingalls adjustables and fix my camber at the same time.

richardparker

iTrader: (7)

Adjustable ball joints are a front camber kit.

ThegreatGATHby

I agree with the toe issue. The camber looks good, you usually want ~0.5 negative camber as it helps in cornering. For a non-track car you want ZERO toe.

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

Misdby1

Well, considering the inner edge of the front tires consistently wear out faster than the rest of the tires on my car - regardless of stock setup up or current setup - I'd like the camber to zero out.

Misdby1

I hit a curb last night and destroyed this rim, but it gave me an excellent opportunity to share a picture of the tire wear.

This picture was today: Notice the angle on the right side compared to the left.



compared to this one taken at the end of April.

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

ur toe is off. toe will eat tires like crazy. and u have some chamber, so get an alignment and let us know the specs.

chamber doesnt eat through tires fast. toes kills them