I just discovered some massive tire wear on my rear tires. it's the inside edge of the tread. already worn thru to the steel belts. the outside of the tires have lots of tread left.

Do the wagons have a history of inside tire wear? The front tires looks pretty normal across the thread surface. It's just the rear tires that are shot. It's like the rear tires are tilted inwards or something to make all the load ride on the inside edge.

I do tow a small utility trailer with a motorcycle. quite often with the wagon. Can this cause that kind of wear?

Or do I have a massive rear alignment problem?

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1987 300TDT
1981 VW MKI Caddy 1.6 diesel, waiting on engine swap
1983 D-50 Power Ram 4x4 "Mitsubishi" 2.3 turbo diesel
assorted gas powered crap and motorcycles

RIP: 1984 300TDT, 1982 300TDT, 1984 190D 2.2, 1992 300D 2.5, 1987 300TDT, 1982 Maxima LD28, 1983 Maxima LD28, Isuzu C223 P'ups X3, 1983 Holiday Rambler 6.2 Banks turbo diesel, 1984 Winnebago LeSharo 2.1 TD, 1985 Allegro 6.5

You have a serious problem back there. Inspect all of the dog bones to see if there is any rubber pooching out of any of the bushings. Replace any that you see are bad and then get a four wheel alignment.

The occasional extra weight will have an effect, but it should be small. Also, I think that the wagons have a leveling system. I know that the 123 wagons did. If it does, is it working properly.

If it's a scalloping I would check your ball Joints, Tie rods and your alignment

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hum.....
1987 300TD 311,000M Stolen. Presumed destroyed

I had this one time and it turned out that my sls height was not set correctly. I got down and made the sls go up and down a couple times. Then I kept adjusting the link to where I wanted it. I could physically see from the rear where the tops of the tires were aiming in.

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1987 300TDT - 195,000 (Original #14 head)
1993 190E 2.3 - 105,000
1981 300D - 250,000

"Tops of the tires aiming in" (camber) will not cause such tire wear at any significant rate. It's the interaction between camber and toe that can kill ya'.

The toe needs to be checked while at the correct ride height. Simply adjusting the ride height of the leveling system and assuming that is the tire wear problem is not a good plan IMHO.

I should have been more thorough in my post. It was AFTER taking it to a shop for an alignment that they told me it was all the way adjusted that I messed with ride height. Maybe that is not your problem, but it was certainly at least part of mine.

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1987 300TDT - 195,000 (Original #14 head)
1993 190E 2.3 - 105,000
1981 300D - 250,000

the SLS seems to be working correctly. the ride height seems normal. But I would think the SLS * ride height would not matter, should not the rear suspension move straight up and down and not "arc" up and down like the old VW swing axles?

I did loose some SLS fluid a couple months back while on a trip and ended up "dragging ass" with a trailer for 500 miles.

The tires do have at least 55,000 miles on them but they are Michelins which usually last a long, long time...and the front tires still show minimal wear compared to the rear tires.

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1987 300TDT
1981 VW MKI Caddy 1.6 diesel, waiting on engine swap
1983 D-50 Power Ram 4x4 "Mitsubishi" 2.3 turbo diesel
assorted gas powered crap and motorcycles

RIP: 1984 300TDT, 1982 300TDT, 1984 190D 2.2, 1992 300D 2.5, 1987 300TDT, 1982 Maxima LD28, 1983 Maxima LD28, Isuzu C223 P'ups X3, 1983 Holiday Rambler 6.2 Banks turbo diesel, 1984 Winnebago LeSharo 2.1 TD, 1985 Allegro 6.5

My SD had wear like that,turned out it was the tires.I also use atf and splash everything that could on rear suspension.3 times a year.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran