Thread: Tire wear help!
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Old 04-30-2011, 01:13 PM   #15 (permalink)
fjasper
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Kalispell
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Sylvio 2 - '04 Audi allroad quattro Biturbo 6-spd
90 day: 25.09 mpg (US)

Atlas - '04 Audi allroad 2.7T 6MT
90 day: 25.09 mpg (US)
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That's way too bad to be just camber. It'd have to look like the wheels were falling off for camber to have that big an effect. Most likely it's a combination of some negative camber and too much toe-out.

You can measure toe by measuring the distance between the fronts of the front tires and the distance between the back of the front tires and compare them. Just measure from the same point (like the tire's center rib) on the front as on the back so you're comparing apples to apples. Generally, front-wheel-drive cars should be about neutral (both tires pointing straight ahead) or slightly toed out. Maybe 1/16th of an inch toed out total. I'm guessing you'll find 1/4" (6mm) or more.

There are many DIYs on the interwebs. Toe is not so precise that you can't check (and set) it with a normal measuring tape.

Alignment is one of those things that once you figure out how to do it, you can't imagine paying someone else $100 to do it for you. (Some cars are easier than others.)

If static toe seems ok, it might be control arm bushings or other suspension parts allowing the suspension to shift under load. They will often settle in the right position when it's not moving, but when you hit the brakes, the wheels can shift back and toe out. Sometimes it's so bad that you can see it. Have someone drive the vehicle slowly, hit the gas, then hit the brakes while you're watching from the side. If the wheels shift back and forth, check the suspension bushings, ball joints, and strut mounts, probably in that order.

Or you could just have the tire shop flip the tires around and run the other side bald...
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