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Alignment help

Old Jun 16, 2017 | 09:37 AM
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Default Alignment help

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?
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Last edited by jedg; Jun 16, 2017 at 07:46 PM.
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Old Jun 16, 2017 | 09:52 AM
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Bad ball joint(s) in that side could explain it.
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Old Jun 16, 2017 | 11:17 AM
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Originally Posted by jedg
Bad ball joint(s) in that side could explain it.
So ball joints can affect both Camber and Caster?
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Old Jun 16, 2017 | 05:31 PM
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Originally Posted by spmitchell86
So ball joints can affect both Camber and Caster?
Yes, if they are worn.
Have yours been checked for being worn?
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Old Jun 16, 2017 | 06:01 PM
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Originally Posted by ronjenx
Yes, if they are worn. Have yours been checked for being worn?
It was into the dealer, they didn't suspect worn ball joints as cause. Also no movement with a prybar under the raised tire.
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Old Jun 17, 2017 | 06:46 AM
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How often do you rotate your tires? Those and most mud terrains need to be rotated often.
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Old Jun 17, 2017 | 07:22 AM
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Originally Posted by TheDirtman
How often do you rotate your tires? Those and most mud terrains need to be rotated often.
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?
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Old Jun 17, 2017 | 07:32 AM
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Toe can be an issues, tire pressure, shocks. Lots of things that can cause tire wear.
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Old Jun 17, 2017 | 07:39 AM
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Originally Posted by TheDirtman
Toe can be an issues, tire pressure, shocks. Lots of things that can cause tire wear.
It's localized to every other inner front lug.
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Old Jun 17, 2017 | 12:08 PM
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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.
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