spmitchell86

Before going to 33's I'm trying to get my alignment straightened out so I don't chew through a new set of tires...
A bit of background my current tires (stock KM) are wearing excessively every other lug on the inside. Most notably on the front left. This is causing a very annoying vibration on the highway that resolves if I slow down or speed up out of the vibration speed range.


I took it to town fair and they adjusted the toe to within spec.but my left front camber and caster are slightly out of spec. See attached*
If my left front caster is low at 3° that means either my upper control arm is too long pushing the top of the axle forward. Or my lower control arm is too short pulling in the bottom of the axle backward. I have stock arms so I feel it's unlikely the upper one has lengthened and more likely the lower one took a rock and has shortened. It doesn't appear grossly different from the right side. (Similar rock rash)


Basically I have two questions: #1 is the above logic correct? And #2 is the best course of action to replace control arms even though they don't look too bad?

jedg

Bad ball joint(s) in that side could explain it.

spmitchell86

So ball joints can affect both Camber and Caster?

ronjenx

Yes, if they are worn.
Have yours been checked for being worn?

spmitchell86

It was into the dealer, they didn't suspect worn ball joints as cause. Also no movement with a prybar under the raised tire.

TheDirtman

How often do you rotate your tires? Those and most mud terrains need to be rotated often.

spmitchell86

Religiously pre 3,000k. 36,000 total now. The tires over all look really good otherwise tons of tread left.
I do have a follow-up question is it possible the Wear is from out of whack toe? (Now corrected) And I'm overthinking the camber/caster?

TheDirtman

Toe can be an issues, tire pressure, shocks. Lots of things that can cause tire wear.

spmitchell86

It's localized to every other inner front lug.

MarkY3130

I haven't personally seen that on a JK, but at work with our big Mack trucks we find that a bad shock is usually what causes the every other lug wear pattern shown in that picture.