I just noticed this weekend that both rear tires are worn about twice as much on the inside of the tires than the outside. Is it normal for an independent suspension vehicle like this to have this problem. If so I wonder if it would be smart to make and alignment part of the 15,000 mile maintenance interval just to be safe. The beast has 22,000 miles on it and the tires are rotated every 7,500 miles. Anyone else face this problem? Is it a warranty issue or normal wear and tear I am responsible for? Thanks for the help.
Uneven tire wear on rear tires.
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Your alignment or balancing is out of wack. Probably alignment. Rotate and get realigned.
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30 Posts
happen to me to...alignment out of wack...too much toe out.....
Tried to get alignment!
I took the ride down to Tires Plus cause they had 3year alignment for $100. Basically can have an alignment done as much as needed in that 3 years. Dropped it off and they called me back and said there was a problem. This is what their computer told them.
Vehicles equipped with radar or laser cruise control systems (acc, adr, distronicetc.), advanced stability control systems (esp, psm, dtsc, vdc, vsc etc.) or electric variable ration power steering systems (eps, afs, vgrs, etc.) may require special procedures and or tools to properly re-calibrate the systems after a wheel alignment. Wheel alignment should not be performed on such vehicles without access to the required oem tools and procedures. Refer to oem documentation for further information.
Has anyone else encountered this problem? Sounds like I might be limited to the dealership for an alignment and they want $89.99 for a single 4-wheel alignment. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
I took the ride down to Tires Plus cause they had 3year alignment for $100. Basically can have an alignment done as much as needed in that 3 years. Dropped it off and they called me back and said there was a problem. This is what their computer told them.
Vehicles equipped with radar or laser cruise control systems (acc, adr, distronicetc.), advanced stability control systems (esp, psm, dtsc, vdc, vsc etc.) or electric variable ration power steering systems (eps, afs, vgrs, etc.) may require special procedures and or tools to properly re-calibrate the systems after a wheel alignment. Wheel alignment should not be performed on such vehicles without access to the required oem tools and procedures. Refer to oem documentation for further information.
Has anyone else encountered this problem? Sounds like I might be limited to the dealership for an alignment and they want $89.99 for a single 4-wheel alignment. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
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5,214 Posts
The Armada service manual makes no mention of any recalibration when making a rear wheel alignment. The dealer doesn't use any special tools that are different from the standard alignment tools.
However I would not let this place align my Armada; I would not be confortable with their ability. I would go to the dealer unless you know of a alignment shop that you have good experience with.
However I would not let this place align my Armada; I would not be confortable with their ability. I would go to the dealer unless you know of a alignment shop that you have good experience with.
Kept my cool
Last week I changed my f&r gear oil and rotated tires @ 8.3k, I noticed my rear tires are toast on the inside edge, outside fine, inside gone. Brought it in to dealer this AM and called them at 3:30 to get update. The service writer said they put it on the alignment table and it was within spec! They asked me what I’ve been towing and I told them I tow a lot but never over weight, 90% is towing my utility trailer and a few toys that add up to about 2.5K and I have only put 500 miles max on my big trailer. I really find this hard to believe that 2 tires are gone at less than 9k miles! I would have bet the farm on a toe-out condition. Went there after work ready for battle but the dealer said they ordered two new tires for me for free and are going to send it out to the best alignment shop they can find; they suspect that their own alignment table has issues dealing with IRS. I kept my guns holstered and left somewhat pleased. Going to do a chalk/string home garage floor alignment check to see if I can see anything obvious this weekend, seems like it should be easy to see.
Last week I changed my f&r gear oil and rotated tires @ 8.3k, I noticed my rear tires are toast on the inside edge, outside fine, inside gone. Brought it in to dealer this AM and called them at 3:30 to get update. The service writer said they put it on the alignment table and it was within spec! They asked me what I’ve been towing and I told them I tow a lot but never over weight, 90% is towing my utility trailer and a few toys that add up to about 2.5K and I have only put 500 miles max on my big trailer. I really find this hard to believe that 2 tires are gone at less than 9k miles! I would have bet the farm on a toe-out condition. Went there after work ready for battle but the dealer said they ordered two new tires for me for free and are going to send it out to the best alignment shop they can find; they suspect that their own alignment table has issues dealing with IRS. I kept my guns holstered and left somewhat pleased. Going to do a chalk/string home garage floor alignment check to see if I can see anything obvious this weekend, seems like it should be easy to see.
I did get an alignment from the shop I took it too. It turns out that one of their mechanics has done alignments on the armada and QX56. To my surprise they said that the rear alignment was pretty damn close to spec but the front was off quite a bit. He said that the rear tires could have worn the way they did because of how they were trying to track with the front being out of alignment. I'm not sure if that is the case or not. Could be that the tires were on the front before my last rotation and that is where the damage to the tire happened, I just didn't notice until now.
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258 Posts
In terms of the interval between alignments, I'd go with no more than 30k. Tires should be rotated and balanced every 10k. Armada is my first truck and I notice that it seems more prone to wander than previous sedans, etc. Fairly soon after delivery, it drifted to the right and required an alignment.
At 30,600 miles, had the dealer do the alignment and balance this week. Every aspect of the alignment was out of spec on every corner.
FYI - there are also special requirements for lifting vehicles with self-leveling suspensions. Make sure you ask the shop if they have investigated this before they put your truck up on a lift to rotate/balance the tires.
At 30,600 miles, had the dealer do the alignment and balance this week. Every aspect of the alignment was out of spec on every corner.
FYI - there are also special requirements for lifting vehicles with self-leveling suspensions. Make sure you ask the shop if they have investigated this before they put your truck up on a lift to rotate/balance the tires.
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I have only 9k miles on new Bridgestone Revo's and the rears are toast on the inside and they were rotated at 6k miles. I suspected the rear end was riding too low, and so had the dealer check it. They stated the rear air bags were functioning properly, and so they are sending to an alignment shop for further diagnosis. Can this be all too coincidental?
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12,985 Posts
Welcome to the Club!!! Sounds like the height sensor may need adjustment. If so, it's easy to do, check this out:
http://www.clubarmada.com/forums/showthread.php?t=388
http://www.clubarmada.com/forums/showthread.php?t=388
I have an 04 LE. Stock tires went at about 30k miles and re[placed with Michelins. The inside of the rears wore out and had to replace after another 30k. Had 4 wheel alignment by a Goodyear dealer to correct the problem. Currently at 33k (odometer now at 93k), and inside of rear tires are worn out again.
I asked the dealer about having the self leveling feature being set to hight that Pops mentioned, and they claim that they can't adjust it.
Since this is the first post in a year and a half, is there any new information out there?
I asked the dealer about having the self leveling feature being set to hight that Pops mentioned, and they claim that they can't adjust it.
Since this is the first post in a year and a half, is there any new information out there?
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12,985 Posts
Most Techs do NOT know how to Align these IRS suspensions. They'll claim they do and did it right but they won't get it right. I just went through this mess again after installing the ProComp Lift and I'll share so you'll have an idea of how bad it is.
I went to a local tire shop that I've had good experience with before and was highly recommended by the Offroad store. They had it for 1/2 a day and said it was done but it didn't feel right. So I took it back and let them have it for an entire day and told them I want the print out. When I picked it up, I had the printout for the front only and not the rear and the rear still didn't feel right. I was going to take it back and decided to request a refund instead so they were happy to oblidge and refund my money because they preferred not to hassle with it again.
So, I took it down Saturday to the Nissan Dealership who fixed me up last time. It was a different tech this time and he said he couldn't get the wheel sensors on so he refused to do it. So, I went to a Cadillac Dealership who's supposed to have one of the best techs around. Well, he was off on Saturday and the S/A confided in me and said "look, the tech you had at the Nissan dealer is good but he usually only puts in 1/2 effort at best. The guy I have here today will give 100% but he's not familiar with an IRS and will likely blotch it up."... So, he told me of a place that's the best around at aligning lifted trucks.
So, I went to this other place and they claimed to have the best alignment techs in the state. I told the guy I've heard that one before so we'll see but to also let me know if they have any problems because I can likely get in there and tell the Tech where to crank. Well, that kid had it perfect within 20-mins and handed me the printout and told me if it's not right just bring it back and they'll readjust for free (as they should).
The prinout confirmed my suspicion. The rear end Toe was still so sickening far out of wack after the last place was done and that's why I didn't get a printout for the rear. The final prinout after this tech was done is all within 1/64" to spec at the worst measurement. The ride is now perfect and the stance looks great.
Point being, it's not the machine, it's the Tech and there are VERY few techs who are qualified enough to align the rear end on the Armada regardless of what they say.
Make sure you gat a Printout and make sure that it's YOUR printout that they hand you with all 4-wheels spec'd. The guys who can't get it right, rarely admit it and will do whatever it takes to hide their mistakes.
I went to a local tire shop that I've had good experience with before and was highly recommended by the Offroad store. They had it for 1/2 a day and said it was done but it didn't feel right. So I took it back and let them have it for an entire day and told them I want the print out. When I picked it up, I had the printout for the front only and not the rear and the rear still didn't feel right. I was going to take it back and decided to request a refund instead so they were happy to oblidge and refund my money because they preferred not to hassle with it again.
So, I took it down Saturday to the Nissan Dealership who fixed me up last time. It was a different tech this time and he said he couldn't get the wheel sensors on so he refused to do it. So, I went to a Cadillac Dealership who's supposed to have one of the best techs around. Well, he was off on Saturday and the S/A confided in me and said "look, the tech you had at the Nissan dealer is good but he usually only puts in 1/2 effort at best. The guy I have here today will give 100% but he's not familiar with an IRS and will likely blotch it up."... So, he told me of a place that's the best around at aligning lifted trucks.
So, I went to this other place and they claimed to have the best alignment techs in the state. I told the guy I've heard that one before so we'll see but to also let me know if they have any problems because I can likely get in there and tell the Tech where to crank. Well, that kid had it perfect within 20-mins and handed me the printout and told me if it's not right just bring it back and they'll readjust for free (as they should).
The prinout confirmed my suspicion. The rear end Toe was still so sickening far out of wack after the last place was done and that's why I didn't get a printout for the rear. The final prinout after this tech was done is all within 1/64" to spec at the worst measurement. The ride is now perfect and the stance looks great.
Point being, it's not the machine, it's the Tech and there are VERY few techs who are qualified enough to align the rear end on the Armada regardless of what they say.
Make sure you gat a Printout and make sure that it's YOUR printout that they hand you with all 4-wheels spec'd. The guys who can't get it right, rarely admit it and will do whatever it takes to hide their mistakes.
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