Tire Wear/Road Crowns

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MFNG

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I’ve been battling what I though was an alignment issue, but appears to be a tire wear issue.

My 2014 Gen1 seems to want to pull to the right slightly after an alignment. I figured it was because it had a front right wreck before I got it, but the frame was checked and ok’d before purchase.

Next I thought maybe the cams were slipping. The last alignment came back as within spec, but the truck now fades hard right 2k miles after last alignment.

After swapping the two front tires the truck stays mostly straight, with a slight preference to the right.

My question to you is: Do you think since the stance is wider that it is causing abnormal wear on tires due to them not riding in grooves created by most passenger vehicles? Has anyone else experienced this themselves with these or other trucks with a wider than normal stance?

Caveat: I live in IL and our roads, like the rest of our state, are complete garbage.
 

FordTechOne

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I’ve been battling what I though was an alignment issue, but appears to be a tire wear issue.

My 2014 Gen1 seems to want to pull to the right slightly after an alignment. I figured it was because it had a front right wreck before I got it, but the frame was checked and ok’d before purchase.

Next I thought maybe the cams were slipping. The last alignment came back as within spec, but the truck now fades hard right 2k miles after last alignment.

After swapping the two front tires the truck stays mostly straight, with a slight preference to the right.

My question to you is: Do you think since the stance is wider that it is causing abnormal wear on tires due to them not riding in grooves created by most passenger vehicles? Has anyone else experienced this themselves with these or other trucks with a wider than normal stance?

Caveat: I live in IL and our roads, like the rest of our state, are complete garbage.

Was the frame inspected on a frame alignment machine?

If you have your alignment specs, check the Steering Axis Inclination (SAI) reading. If SAI is out of spec or there is a variance of more than a couple tenths of a degree between sides, the frame or a suspension component is bent.
 
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MFNG

MFNG

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Was the frame inspected on a frame alignment machine?

If you have your alignment specs, check the Steering Axis Inclination (SAI) reading. If SAI is out of spec or there is a variance of more than a couple tenths of a degree between sides, the frame or a suspension component is bent.

Thanks, I will have to look at the paperwork from the last alignment and let you know about the SAI.

The frame was not put on an alignment machine that I am aware of, but it was lifted and thoroughly inspected by my local race shop. No other signs of hard use were observed at the time of inspection either.
 
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MFNG

MFNG

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Was the frame inspected on a frame alignment machine?

If you have your alignment specs, check the Steering Axis Inclination (SAI) reading. If SAI is out of spec or there is a variance of more than a couple tenths of a degree between sides, the frame or a suspension component is bent.

Looks like SAI is .2 between the two. What is normal? Is 14 a high or low number?

A1571382-D181-49F6-BCDA-9902E119A872.jpeg
 

FordTechOne

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Looks like SAI is .2 between the two. What is normal? Is 14 a high or low number?

View attachment 151245

There is no spec for SAI, but a cross SAI of 0.2 degrees is not a concern.

Do your tires have abnormal wear patterns? If the truck was driven out of alignment for a while, the tires may be the cause of the pull, especially since you noted that the pull changed when you rotated tires.
 
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MFNG

MFNG

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There is no spec for SAI, but a cross SAI of 0.2 degrees is not a concern.

Do your tires have abnormal wear patterns? If the truck was driven out of alignment for a while, the tires may be the cause of the pull, especially since you noted that the pull changed when you rotated tires.

There is no noticeable abnormal wear pattern that I can see personally. I don’t have a lift so it’s difficult to say for sure when it’s grounded.

The alignment was done a few months ago and when inspected the other day was still in, but the pull to right was still increasing regardless.

Still searching for the cause of the right pull...for now I’m assuming riding outside of the set road grooves is causing the abnormal wear?
 
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@FordTechOne Found the problem, if you could call it that.

Left side had a HD cam kit from SPC installed but the right didn’t.

It was used when I got it and I am assuming that the minor front right wreck on the car fax indicates that the lower arm was replaced or removed and the kit never made it back on.

I would hope that someone wouldn’t only put it on one side, but stranger things...
 

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@FordTechOne Found the problem, if you could call it that.

Left side had a HD cam kit from SPC installed but the right didn’t.

It was used when I got it and I am assuming that the minor front right wreck on the car fax indicates that the lower arm was replaced or removed and the kit never made it back on.

I would hope that someone wouldn’t only put it on one side, but stranger things...
Fighting a similar issue...

replaced a ton of things but hadn't done an alignment once I did an alignment and subsequent alignments all are dead on machine wise (per 3 different shops)

however Same right 2-3 degree pull
- small but annoying as all H$)).

Where would I look for the cam kit?

- Similar Story
purchased used - haven't pushed it much for 30k but at 95k now

rebuilt pretty much entire front end and did front shock rebuild to end the noise slight clunks I could hear.
- UCAs probably only thing not replaced - but they're in decent shape.

have swapped front left with front right - no change - rear to front and swap again no difference
tires probably only have ~3k on them and don't have any MAJOR wear of cupping
 

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I don't think the cam kit is the issue, if the alignment is dialed and doesn't get knocked out they won't help. They do make it a lot easier to get it into alignment. The kits are sold by SPC but also under the doorman brand (the doorman ones have the SPC stampings on them). They are a good idea, they help the tech and help the geometry stay as desired.

If you are getting a pull to the right ask the alignment tech to dial in a little more caster on the right side, that should solve it. But first, make sure your tire pressures are correct and even side to side (can be different front to rear). Different roads also have different crown, surface streets are different from highway, so you may have a car that drives perfect on one but pulls a little on the other.

If you have ever crashed the truck or hit a jump real hard it is possible you have a bent control arm or spindle which can cause that too.

Another possibility is bent or worn leaf springs or bushings, causing dog tracking, could be a bent rear axle as well, if the truck has been in an accident.
 
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