Excess tread wear

[LewBob]

I am having a problem with excess tread wear on the inside of the left front tire and to a lesser degree on the right front tire on my F-150 tow vehicle. About 20,000 miles on the Goodyear Wrangler. I maintain proper inflation.

I assume the wear is due to front-end misalignment (camber?) but wonder if such wear could be caused something else such as improper adjustment of my Equalizer hitch. I have no reason to suspect I am using the hitch incorrectly. The rig looks level and handles well, I'm just want to narrow down the possible problem, since I am 125 miles from a repair/tire shop. Any thoughts?

[j-d]

Our E-Series had wear like that when we bought it. Found the front wheels were "Toe-Out" by much more than the specs allow. Turned out the tie rod ends were worn and I eventually replaced them. In the mean, I cranked the adjusting sleeves shorter and got to slight toe-in.

You can check Toe with a Helper, a Tape Measure, and Two Hat Pins. Drive straight on a smooth flat surface and come to a gradual stop. Sight across the tread of the tires behind the axle and stick a Hat Pin into the tread, square with the tread surface. One each side, as high as the truck will allow your tape measure to go across without interference. Measure and record the spacing of the pins. It doesn't matter What the Spacing is, only that you'll compare with another measurement. Drive the truck forward till the pins are forward of the axle, low enough that you can get a straight measurement across the pins. If the front measure is More than the Rear measure, it's Toe Out. If so, I'd suggest you try to work the adjusting sleeves to get Zero (equal spacing between the pins) or a little Toe In. We went from 3/8" Out to 1/8" In. The wear stopped and it tracked better.

[fla-gypsy]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Ford front tire wear issues and headlamp switch tail light issues are as classic as they get. Have the alignment shop check EVERYTHING. Even stabilizer bar bushings. Twin-I-Beam used to be a tire manufacturer's best buddy.

Interesting observation considering I have been driving a Ford truck for 11 years and never did anything to the front end of one of them. Maybe its not as classic as you suggest?

[Charlie_D_]

If I was using that truck for anything other than a daily driver around town, I would replace the tires it and any like it after proper repairs are made.

Edited to include "the tires"

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Ford front tire wear issues and headlamp switch tail light issues are as classic as they get. Have the alignment shop check EVERYTHING. Even stabilizer bar bushings. Twin-I-Beam used to be a tire manufacturer's best buddy.

[donn0128]

Classic alignment issue. Find a good front end shop (not a dealership) and have it aligned correctly. While your at it, you could also rotate the front tires to the rear for a few more miles out of them.