Tire Wear Pattern Question

Maintenance/Repairs
21

It is a weird concept that people can understand somethings well and not other things huh. I just happen to understand the suspension system more than the engine components. Its not a hard concept to grasp.

22

I would consider a bent strut or control arm to be a major accident. But the owner should know their car best if they’ve owned it outright from new.

23

Not to mention that strings have stretch, their length depends on how tightly you pull them. Some strings have less stretch than others but they all stretch and when you’re talking tolerances for alignments, it can be significant.

I have done all my own alignments when necessary and use the string method. You just have to be aware of the risks and limitations and be willing to settle for less than perfect results :grinning:

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24

You can hit a pothole and bend a strut or control arm or even a curb
 NOT a major accident, and a slightly (visibly hard to see) bent strut or control arm can through the alignment way out of spec


25

Or you can just brush a curb and push the components in their mountings enough to throw off alignment. Or by hitting a pothole.

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26

Yup!
That is exactly what happened to a friend of mine, who turned a corner just a bit too fast during the winter. He slid into the curb, and called me when he saw how much “off” his steering wheel was after the curb hit.

I told him that I suspected a bent control arm, and his mechanic confirmed it. What I didn’t expect–and what his mechanic didn’t detect–was that the wheel bearing was also damaged, and the bearing had to be replaced a month or so later. This all resulted from something that was definitely not a “major accident”.

27

I agree that hitting the potholes can bend a suspension part. Personally, I wouldn’t care much unless the car was now noticebly pulling or vibrating due to the hit. Its alot of work to just get down under the suspension to check for any bent part and then theres the cost of the alignment. I would let the tires wear enough to where I can see the type of wear.

28

Me thinks someone may be related to the snowman
 :man_facepalming:

2 Likes
29

Maybe “the snowman” has yet another screen name.
:thinking:

2 Likes