Thought I would ask you guys too....

Below is something I wrote for the Tire Forum, thought I would let my diesel friends have a crack at it too... Sorry I havn't been around much, but you all know how life goes...


I have a 300D with 4 MXV4s.... The driver's front tire is showing slightly more outer edge wear than the right. I do have a worn steering box, causing vague steering, but can this cause tire wear? I also do a lot of merging on and off highways, more times than most a right hand turn... Can this cause the outer left to wear more? Thanks in advance.....



Thanks guys.....

[leathermang]

Randall, Be sure to look at the Factory Shop Manual concerning tire wear.. it has lots of pictures... because it shows wear patterns which on other cars I would consider indications of certain parts being in need of replacement.... but which they consider the normal tire wear pattern... This is not to say that what you know is worn does not need fixing... but the pictures were eye-opening to me....

[sixto]

I'm no tire expert but I expect you make tighter right turns than left turns in the US. But why you're the only one to notice more wear on the left is another question.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

[psfred]

Randall:

Check the tie rods and idler arm bushings. A bad tie rod on one side will allow that tire to "wobble" in relation to the other. Makes it have more or less toe that the other, wears funny. Will eventually start to "thunder" if the tires gets very far out of balance.

Camber isn't adjustable on that car, I don't think, but that is the other reason for the tire to wear only on one side.

Peter

[Mike123]

My left front tire wore the way you suggest. I had a bad tie rod end. Replaced that, rebuilt the idler arm and had an alignment done. End of my problem.

Thanks guys, its very slight, but I'm meticulous. Its not too bad really, the car is in excellent health suspension wise, maybe just an alignment. Thanks again.... I alway appreciate the insight.