inner tire wear after greasing front spindle bearings with slee grease tool

[keepit100]

hello,

i recently posted but the topic has slightly changed. I recently greased my front spindly bearings with the slee grease tool. I checked my preload while i was in there and set the bearing adjustment nut, tab, and lock nut by the FSM. I thought it all went relatively smooth until i noticed my front tires wearing out on the inside of the tires only... i jacked the front end up and checked the freespin of the tires... all seems free and easy. not tough or rough. Why would the tires be wearing after greasing the front spindle bearings? Could it just need an alignment all of a sudden? any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Eyedaho]

I would personally suspect the bearing preload adjustment more than the greasing.

 

[leveeguy]

How many miles have been driven since greasing the spindle bearings?

 

[keepit100]

How many miles have been driven since greasing the spindle bearings?

That was the first time I have done it. The bearings were replaced and repacked roughly five years ago.

I would personally suspect the bearing preload adjustment more than the greasing.

That was my first hunch as well... Though I followed the FSM to a tee for setting the preload and there doesn't seem to be any drag on the tires... at least not that I can tell.

 

[Eyedaho]

That was my first hunch as well... Though I followed the FSM to a tee for setting the preload and there doesn't seem to be any drag on the tires... at least not that I can tell.

And no play in the bearings if you rock the wheels side to side and up/down?

 

[Bisho]

That was my first hunch as well... Though I followed the FSM to a tee for setting the preload and there doesn't seem to be any drag on the tires... at least not that I can tell.

You used the fish scale? Critical for getting it correct on these.

 

[Eyedaho]

I'm wondering if the freshly injected grease into the spindle bushing/bearing might have skewed the fish scale reading artificially high. That's why I was asking about play when manipulating the wheels.

 

[keepit100]

I'm wondering if the freshly injected grease into the spindle bushing/bearing might have skewed the fish scale reading artificially high. That's why I was asking about play when manipulating the wheels.

The wheels do not move at all when move up and down or side to side. I did use the fish scale for the 15 ft/lbs reading.

You used the fish scale? Critical for getting it correct on these.

Yes i did. To get the 15 ft/lbs reading.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

If you just did it recently there's no way the tires have had enough time to wear unevenly.

 

[Eyedaho]

If you just did it recently there's no way the tires have had enough time to wear unevenly.

That's a good point. I interrupted recently as long enough ago to have worn the tires based on him saying the tires were worn, but good call on needing to quantify "recently".

 

[keepit100]

If you just did it recently there's no way the tires have had enough time to wear unevenly.

I did it the day before yesterday. drove the truck for 20 miles or so and it felt a tad off. and yes, the tires did wear very fast on the inside of the tire. that's entirely possible to do if the bearings were set improperly (which I don't think they were) or if the truck needs a front-end alignment. I'm looking for solutions to the issue. any help would surely be appreciated.

 

[bigredmachine]

my money is the wear was already there and you hadent noticed it before. the alignment would have to be very far off to cause wear in 20 miles

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Solution to the issue if you're seeing wear on the tires is an alignment, but it was likely already there and not caused by adding more grease to the bearings.

 

[keepit100]

Solution to the issue if you're seeing wear on the tires is an alignment, but it was likely already there and not caused by adding more grease to the bearings.

Thank you for that. I will get an alignment and hopefully that resolves the issue. I sure don't want to chew through my tires. Thank you.

 

[Bisho]

If you think about it, there is no way greasing the spindle bearings can impact alignment. Not connected in any way.

 

[keepit100]

If you think about it, there is no way greasing the spindle bearings can impact alignment. Not connected in any way.

I agree. I just wanted some other opinions just in case I was missing something. fingers crossed the alignment fixes the issue.