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excessive rear tire wear
Hi,
Another report of excessive inside tire wear, in my case mostly on the left side.
The alignment shop says the trailing arm is bent. Toe out is 1 degree. How do
determine if it's really the trailing arm (at $1500 parts and labor!)
or the trailing arm bushing? What questions should I ask the alignment
guy?
As we bought the car used, I don't know if it is is a factory defect,
perhaps the car was hit and not fully repaired, or perhaps
dropped in a pothole at high speed. Anyway of telling these apart
if the trailing arm is indeed bent? Perhaps I ask for the trailing
arm back ? Any ideas on what to look for to see if the car had been in an accident?
What's the dealer's responsibility here, if any?
Thanks from Idaho
| | Reply » excessive rear tire wear |
Quote: Hi,
Another report of excessive inside tire wear, in my case mostly on the left side.
The alignment shop says the trailing arm is bent. Toe out is 1 degree. How do
determine if it's really the trailing arm (at $1500 parts and labor!)
or the trailing arm bushing? What questions should I ask the alignment
guy? | If a bushing is toast, there will be play (where the trailing arm mounts to the subframe).
Quote: As we bought the car used, I don't know if it is is a factory defect,
perhaps the car was hit and not fully repaired, or perhaps
dropped in a pothole at high speed. Anyway of telling these apart
if the trailing arm is indeed bent? Perhaps I ask for the trailing
arm back ? Any ideas on what to look for to see if the car had been in an accident? | Carfax? Any evidence of a crack in the differential mounting bracket? What's the ride height and camber on both sides? There are many things to check, but none may yield any information.
No harm in asking for the trailing arm back. If they refuse to return it, I'd be suspicious. It's essentially worthless if it's bent, and I'm sure they aren't going to discount the new one for keeping your old one. 
Quote: | What's the dealer's responsibility here, if any? | None if you didn't buy it from them. You might be able to get them to fix it on their dollar if you bought it from them, but I wouldn't count on it.
| | Reply » excessive rear tire wear |
Welcome. Have you had Hurless Brothers look at it? Many people have told me they are honest.
| | Reply » excessive rear tire wear |
Thanks all for the good info. I got a tire place to lift
the car up so I could have a look. Seems as if the alignment
guy was pointing not to the trailing arm but the sub frame
which he called the "transfer axle". I could not find reference
to such a part. Anyway, it's this subframe part that the alignment
guy thinks is bent. I'm not at all clear on the terminology
and I'm looking for some good pictures to tell me what's what.
Any place I should look?
Thanks for the advice on going to Hurless; they recommended
both the tire place and the alignment shop. I'm still trying hard
to rule out a badly worn bushing as root cause before
I spend the money on new hardware.
I got a complete computer generated alignment printout from the
tire place. That's the info I rely on to say that the left rear toe out
is 1 degree. The alignment guy came to the "transfer axle bent"
conclusion after 20 minutes under the car with a tape measure.
I guess I don't understand how the alignment guy came to the conclusion
as to root cause. I'd hate to fix something that isn't broken
only to find out root cause is something else.
Thanks for the advise on checking for play to rule out a worn bushing.
This still leaves possibility that the trailing arm is what's bent. If it
is indeed the "transfer axle" and once replaced the rear tires are
well aligned, then well, it's an expense but the problem is fixed.
As to the dealer question: Yes we did buy it from a dealer and yes,
my question is what responsibility does the dealer have here. Perhaps
it is simply "buyer beware" and my lesson learned is to have the alignment
checked before the purchase!
Thanks again for the info and advice.
| | Reply » excessive rear tire wear |
Maybe this will help with the terminology:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...98&hg=33&fg=30
When you determine the problem and repair cost, I would go back to the dealer and request that they pay or reimburse all or least part of the cost. They might step up and take responsibility. Wouldn't hurt to ask.
| | Reply » excessive rear tire wear |
Quote: Thanks all for the good info. I got a tire place to lift
the car up so I could have a look. Seems as if the alignment
guy was pointing not to the trailing arm but the sub frame
which he called the "transfer axle". I could not find reference
to such a part. Anyway, it's this subframe part that the alignment
guy thinks is bent. I'm not at all clear on the terminology
and I'm looking for some good pictures to tell me what's what.
Any place I should look?
Thanks for the advice on going to Hurless; they recommended
both the tire place and the alignment shop. I'm still trying hard
to rule out a badly worn bushing as root cause before
I spend the money on new hardware.
I got a complete computer generated alignment printout from the
tire place. That's the info I rely on to say that the left rear toe out
is 1 degree. The alignment guy came to the "transfer axle bent"
conclusion after 20 minutes under the car with a tape measure.
I guess I don't understand how the alignment guy came to the conclusion
as to root cause. I'd hate to fix something that isn't broken
only to find out root cause is something else.
Thanks for the advise on checking for play to rule out a worn bushing.
This still leaves possibility that the trailing arm is what's bent. If it
is indeed the "transfer axle" and once replaced the rear tires are
well aligned, then well, it's an expense but the problem is fixed.
As to the dealer question: Yes we did buy it from a dealer and yes,
my question is what responsibility does the dealer have here. Perhaps
it is simply "buyer beware" and my lesson learned is to have the alignment
checked before the purchase!
Thanks again for the info and advice. | There are reference points the tech can (and presumably did) measure to determine what's bent. The part the trailing arms are attached to is the rear subframe. It's a little difficult to determine if that's bent, other than by process of elimination. He probably checked the rear subframe mounting studs and determined they weren't bent (or they're bent the same amount ). Presumably he then compared the trailing arms with the tape measure and ruled them out. That would leave the subframe. But I'd be surprised if there was no other evidence. I'd think it's be a little difficult to bend the subframe in that direction without tweaking the mounting stud on that side, or that trailing arm, or bending the differential cover mounting bracket a bit.
Rear subframe from my car, on my garage floor with trailing arms and differential on.
Mounting studs in the chassis go through the green bushings seen in my subframe. The subframe piece is shaped like a squat T (base bolts to the differential with 4 bolts).
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excessive rear tire wear