Time To Vent / Seek Advice

[jmarvolous]

So, after doing some searching through posts, I am finding out that it is not uncommon for our truck tires to wear down/out on the inside before the rest of the tire does. Well now it’s time to vent.

In January of this year I bought 4 brand new tires for the truck. Kumho Ecsta to be exact. I had to buy new tires due to the inner wear had left them down to the wires on the inside.

The place I bought them from put on all 4 tires and aligned the truck. They also put a camber kit on the passenger side and reassured me that the camber and alignment would solve the problem of the tires wearing down on the inside.

Fast forward to this past week, I hadn’t really paid attention to my tires in great detail then I noticed they were wearing on the inside again. I figured that maybe my alignment was out so I took it back to the place that installed the tires. They told me they would put it up on the rack and see what was going on.

I sat and waited and the service tech walked in and said he needed to speak to me; he took me out to the truck which was on the rack and started pointing at stuff that needed to be replaced on the truck because no alignment was going to keep the tires from wearing down. He took me back inside and was going to give me a printout of the parts needed and the cost.

He proceeds to hand me a paper with what I need written on it.
2 Lower Ball Joints
2 Outer Tie Rod Ends
2 Inner Tie Rod Ends
2 Adjusting Sleeves
1 Idler Arm
2 New Tires

All of this for $1450

When he told me this it just floored me. So I asked him and said, so when I came in January, and replaced 4 tires because of this problem, you told me an alignment and camber kit would solve the tire wear problem. And now 6 months later I need 2 new tires and a ton of new parts. The guy was like yes sir. So I asked him how all of a sudden these parts are bad and why wouldn’t they have found them the first time they "fixed" it. He didn’t have an answer. I couldn’t believe it.

I left the place and was just dumbfounded. So now I have 2 tires that are quickly going bad and a place I no longer trust. I don’t really know what to do! I know some of you have had this problem. What should I do???

[HiTechRecneck]

I have the same Kumos myself. The fault is not with the tires, although I must say that they are EXTREMELY sensative to toe in/out problems.
Your inside wear indicates that the alignment is toe out.
My truck has 96K on it now and was lowered with a torch when I got it so I have gradually replaced the entire front end and also added a steering stabilizer (shock) from LFP as well as clunk washers and it is doing much better.
Personally I started with the upper control arms because they were the worst. You can replace it as an assembly or just the ball joints & control arm busings. The idler arm also fails on a regular basis so check that out as well.
The last things I did were the lower arms, clunk washers & new stabilizer busings. All is right with the world now.
Front end components are hard to diagnose as you have to watch for signs of tire wear to really know what's going on - or just rip it all out & start over... $$$
Do a search on clunk washers and you can learn all about that. They stop movement in the drivers side lower control arm.
Hope this helps. PS - your list does not indicate the control arm busings - better check them too.

[OGmackPLRcool]

Honestly I wouldnt doubt that you need a couple things on that list, but probably not all.

He probably has the mind set at this point that he is not going to just replace a couple things and run the risk of it still wearing the tires (and you coming back even more pissed off). Rather replace everything and that way there is pretty much no way you will have an issue.

The best advise I can give you is to inspect the truck yourself. Jack the front end up completely and using a helper, wiggle both front wheels top to bottom, and left to right while your helper looks for any slop.

Most common problems I see at my shop are...
1. Pitman/Idler arms
2. Upper ball joints (especially on lowered trucks)

[Black Molly]

X2 I REALLY doubt that everything is out. When I did services on appliances and the machine was under warranty I would replace everything just to make sure I would not get that dreeded call back and have to then work for free. I would talk with a few indepent mechanics that DO NOT do front end work and ask them where they go to have work done. Typically they will steer you in the right direction..and once you go to that shop make SURE you name drop the name of that mechanic and they will probably treat you better and also not try to rip you off...most of the time. Did you buy a tire warranty with the tires? If so throw them on the back and take it back in for premature failure

[Tweek03HD]

Is your truck lowered?

[HiTechRecneck]

Good question Tweek - is it lowered and how many miles are on it?
As I said, I did mine in stages over about a year. You will probably find that the upper ball joints and possibly the control arms are most of the issue right now. Mine is near 100K and the tie rod ends are fine.
The next worst to wear would be the lower ball joints & bushings, so I would do that second. Any time you are into the lower arms, do clunk washers.
I agree that the shop may just be saying to replace it all so you don't come back. The real problem may be as simple as a bum alignment the first time!
Get a second opinion!
I just saw the camber kit only on one side.... WHY?!!! I don't think they fixed the first time! Still a toe out issue.

[hansonharley02]

i know this isnt an educated answer but im with the rest of the guys. i doubt u need all that stuff, u gotta keep in mind that the economy sucks, the mechanic might not know 100 percent what exactly it is thats the problem and sometimes its easier for shops to give u an estimate for 1450 bucks because a. u pay it, he gets a pay day or b. u dont get the work done and he doesnt have to deal with it anymore. i know this is a crappy answer but ive been down this road. your best bet is do it yourself, parts are cheap and this way u know EXACTLY what gets done. sorry for the ball breakin jay

[capticeman]

I bought my Truck lowered and used back in 06. had them put 4 new hankooks or whatever they are called on it. 40K later still got some tread to pass inspection. lot of boat hauling in there. second opinion would be good.

[mdan575]

Don't feel bad man its not just you. Here is my bill from last week and I haven't ordered all the parts yet still need a few more. Sorry to here that I had the same problem Kuhmo's suck. I had the same bad experience with Kuhmo's went to Hankook's and haven't had that issue since.

I haven't creeking and groaning from the front end. Tired of the noise and I also am preparing to go to coilover's in the front here in the future. So I want everything good before i make the switch. 8 years and 5600lb's will wear components out what else can I say.

[RAiderMarine]

had the same issue with mine front end issues. Ended up putting a new camber kit and was told that it is fixed. gona order the clunk washers when i get home. had to buy two tires at that time. gona get the other two when i get home.

[steinjr]

I had some Yokohama Prada X tires that wore out on the inside in less than 30k miles. I think it was because they did a Supercrew alignment when I had them installed..

I replaced them with General Grabbers and they did a Lightning alignment and I have not had any issues.

[Merlin]

Don't feel bad man its not just you. Here is my bill from last week and I haven't ordered all the parts yet still need a few more. Sorry to here that I had the same problem Kuhmo's suck. I had the same bad experience with Kuhmo's went to Hankook's and haven't had that issue since.

You may wish to look at XFR Control Arms. They also have Tie Rod Ends and Idler Arms
With XFR UCA you can replace the upper ball joints. XFR are good folks and they make excellent products!
1 million mile warranty and the UCA has grease fittings. This is only what ZFR does and the do it very well.
With the Ford Upper Control Arm you need to replace the complete UCA just to replace the upper ball joints.

[jmarvolous]

Ok, sorry to bring up an old post, but I am finally going to get my truck fixed. Would either one of these kits help to solve the original problem?

Thanks for the Input

Ford F150 2WD Ball joint Control Arm Tie Rod End Kit 2002 | eBay

2WD Ford F150 Harley Davidson 5.4L Upper Ball Joints Arms Assembly Lower arm End | eBay

Any thoughts on those? Do I need Both? I know there are way more educated people on here than me. I appreciate it fellas!

[Blind]

I don't know about you but I wouldn't use non-branded ebay parts on my truck.


You can upgrade to better quality problem solver parts for almost everything in the front end from Moog for about 500 bucks from Rockauto.com!

[cayman150]

Ok, sorry to bring up an old post, but I am finally going to get my truck fixed. Would either one of these kits help to solve the original problem?

Thanks for the Input

Ford F150 2WD Ball joint Control Arm Tie Rod End Kit 2002 | eBay

2WD Ford F150 Harley Davidson 5.4L Upper Ball Joints Arms Assembly Lower arm End | eBay

Any thoughts on those? Do I need Both? I know there are way more educated people on here than me. I appreciate it fellas!

I'm with Blind. Go with RockAuto.com for the name trusted Moog parts.
Hell, you're even in NC where there's bound to be loads of other L or HD guys to help you out during a GTG. Put the parts on yourself with some help and then take it in to a shop for alignment.