Diagnosing FJ62 uneven front tire wear

[Okiegonian]

I just finished a ~2000 mile trip, and am alarmed to realize how unevenly my front tires have been wearing. The outer treads of both front tires is worn nearly 1/4" more than the inside. This is a new development, as the tires had been wearing evenly for 21,000mi until this trip. I have a matched spare, and have diligently rotated all 5 tires at ~7000mi intervals, including immediately before this trip. BFG KO3s, if it matters, inflated to 37psi.

Here's where the clues come in - I overhauled the power steering and replaced the tie rod ends right before this trip. Finished off by rotating the tires, and then straight to a shop for an alignment a week before putting the miles down.

So did I get a bad alignment? If this was a different vehicle, I'd say it has bad camber adjustment. But... camber isn't adjustable on these, right? I definitely had a toe-in issue after the TRE install, but that's what the alignment was supposed to fix. After the alignment, the truck felt waaay better than before (but maybe a little squirrelly still?).

Another detail, but I'll need to be convinced that this would account for the tire wear: I was towing a small utility trailer (with rooftop tent) for this trip. And we had strong cross-winds in the columbia river gorge (as you expect). Probably 700mi driving in consistent crosswinds at highway speeds outbound, and 700mi similar from the opposite direction going home. Could that explain it? Not sure whether I hope this explains it or not.

Any other ideas? Wheel bearings? Bent axle housing?

 

[OSS]

With a strong side wind, the vehicle will want to veer downwind. And to prevent that, you’ve got to steer a bit upwind. If you had 700 miles of strong sidewinds each way, that’s kind of like turning a very gentle giant circle for 700 miles (to wear out one side) then 700 miles back (to wear out the other side).

You’re right, toe in is the only alignment adjustment available (along with caster angle) but caster angle isn’t something an alignment shop adjusts.

Maybe Google “excessive tire wear along Columbia gourge” to see if it’s a common problem.

 

[3_puppies]

is it both sides?
or
just 1 side?

 

[45Kevin]

is it both sides?
or
just 1 side?

OP stated both tires in post #1.

Sounds like the toe-in is wrong. Too much of it.
Do you have the report (before and after measurements) from the alignment shop?
Check to see if they used the correct specs for your vehicle?

Go out and measure the toe-in right now and check against the shop manual if you have one.

 

[Okiegonian]

OP stated both tires in post #1.

Sounds like the toe-in is wrong. Too much of it.
Do you have the report (before and after measurements) from the alignment shop?
Check to see if they used the correct specs for your vehicle?

Go out and measure the toe-in right now and check against the shop manual if you have one.

Yes, similar wear on both front tires. No report from the shop that did the alignment, but I will take it back on Monday to see what they think. I'm working on how diplomatic I should be. These tires had a lot of life left a week ago, and I'm not happy.

The FSM has an "approximate" length for the tie rod (1,001mm), which I set to the best of my ability when I did the TRE install. That didn't yield great results - pretty sure it had negative toe-in when I took it in for the alignment. So, thinking they adjusted it too far.

Otherwise, the procedure to measure toe-in seems pretty basic: mark/measure a spot on the tires, roll forward a half rotation, and measure the same spot. RIght? I suppose what I find will affect my tactics at the shop... Does anyone have an alignment shop they recommend in Eugene, OR?

 

[3_puppies]

I would measure the toe in at home today
have the info
don't tell the shop
bring it to them on Monday and see what they say.

if aprox 1/16th"-1/8th" toe in would be close, if more than that they screwed up.

 

[45Kevin]

Otherwise, the procedure to measure toe-in seems pretty basic: mark/measure a spot on the tires, roll forward a half rotation, and measure the same spot. RIght? I suppose what I find will affect my tactics at the shop... Does anyone have an alignment shop they recommend in Eugene, OR?

The way I measure toe-in is the difference between the distance between the front of the two tires and the back of the two tires.
Some people fix a straight edge to the wheel but I just use the same point on the tread.

Looks like your method would yield a zero.

 

[Okiegonian]

The way I measure toe-in is the difference between the distance between the front of the two tires and the back of the two tires.
Some people fix a straight edge to the wheel but I just use the same point on the tread.

Looks like your method would yield a zero.

I mean to essentially say the same thing as you! - the extra step of rolling a half rotation forward is meant to eliminate any variability in tires.
Anyway, here's the directions from the FJ62 Chassis/Body FSM:

5. ADJUST TOE-IN
(a) Make sure the wheels are positioned straight ahead.
(b) Mark the center of each rear tread at spindle height
and measure the distance between the marks of right
and left tires.
(c) Advance the vehicle until the marks on the rear side
of the tire come to the front.
NOTE: The toe-in should be measured at the same point
on the tire and at the same level.
(d) Measure the distance between the marks on the front
side of the tires

 

[Okiegonian]

I would measure the toe in at home today
have the info
don't tell the shop
bring it to them on Monday and see what they say.

if aprox 1/16th"-1/8th" toe in would be close, if more than that they screwed up.

Measured, and… +1 5/16”

Yikes. So that explains the tire wear, for sure. You’d think I could just glance at it and tell it was out,

Thanks everyone for helping me stay focused on the most likely explanation (I tend to overthink things and go down rabbit holes of less likely possibilities).

 

[3_puppies]

Measured, and… +1 5/16”

Yikes. So that explains the tire wear, for sure. You’d think I could just glance at it and tell it was out,

Thanks everyone for helping me stay focused on the most likely explanation (I tend to overthink things and go down rabbit holes of less likely possibilities).

WOW!
thinking the shop made a mistake.

 

[Godwin]

@Okiegonian For the price of an alignment you can pick up this tool, along with one or two tape measures and easily do it yourself.

DIY Toe Alignment Tool

TMR Customs stocks the tools to get your off-road project finished! Check out the DIY Toe Alignment tool and save the cost of an alignment after a rough off-road use!

www.tmrcustoms.com

I use a pair of metric tapes and set the toe at 5 mm (3/16").

 

[kevin in okinawa]

I have always put the truck on jackstands, taken off the front tires, and measured the distances across at the front and rear of the rotors, adjusting until I get the front being about a 1/4" less (appropriate toe in).

 

[DrRock]

WOW!
thinking the shop made a mistake.

100% agree. If it were me, I'd push on the shop to pay for a new set of tires.

 

[DrRock]

I just finished a ~2000 mile trip, and am alarmed to realize how unevenly my front tires have been wearing. The outer treads of both front tires is worn nearly 1/4" more than the inside. This is a new development, as the tires had been wearing evenly for 21,000mi until this trip. I have a matched spare, and have diligently rotated all 5 tires at ~7000mi intervals, including immediately before this trip. BFG KO3s, if it matters, inflated to 37psi.

Here's where the clues come in - I overhauled the power steering and replaced the tie rod ends right before this trip. Finished off by rotating the tires, and then straight to a shop for an alignment a week before putting the miles down.

So did I get a bad alignment? If this was a different vehicle, I'd say it has bad camber adjustment. But... camber isn't adjustable on these, right? I definitely had a toe-in issue after the TRE install, but that's what the alignment was supposed to fix. After the alignment, the truck felt waaay better than before (but maybe a little squirrelly still?).

Another detail, but I'll need to be convinced that this would account for the tire wear: I was towing a small utility trailer (with rooftop tent) for this trip. And we had strong cross-winds in the columbia river gorge (as you expect). Probably 700mi driving in consistent crosswinds at highway speeds outbound, and 700mi similar from the opposite direction going home. Could that explain it? Not sure whether I hope this explains it or not.

Any other ideas? Wheel bearings? Bent axle housing?

View attachment 3676767

Judging by that excessive wear and your findings, that shop should be paying for a new set of tires for you. I bring my truck to my local Toyota dealer for alignments as they have the factory specs and despite the age, can handle these types of services well. Caveat that I'm lucky in having a good local dealer.

 

[Okiegonian]

Judging by that excessive wear and your findings, that shop should be paying for a new set of tires for you. I bring my truck to my local Toyota dealer for alignments as they have the factory specs and despite the age, can handle these types of services well. Caveat that I'm lucky in having a good local dealer.

Yes, and I’m happy to say that this morning the owner of the shop came out to look at it with me. About 10 seconds in he offered me new tires, a partial refund, and to expedite making it right.

It’s been a roundabout way to learn how simple an alignment is on these; I’ll definitely consider picking up a tool like @Godwin suggests and doing it myself moving forward!