Very bad inner tyre wear

[theburger]

Hi Guys,

I have a 53 plate C180K estate and the rear tyres are both worn right down on the inside. The rest of the tread is OK, its almost like it is only rolling on 10% of the tyre. I would say they have not done much more than 10K.

I have a number of bushes replaced last year. As you look at the car the rear wheels both have noticable excessive camber.

Could this just be that the rear shocks need replacing. I can not see anywhere for the camber to be adjusted.

Any ideas as I need to get this sorted very soon.

 

[renault12ts]

The shocks will have no effect on camber. It sounds like bushes are worn.

 

[theburger]

The shocks will have no effect on camber. It sounds like bushes are worn.

Thanks for the answer. As I said most of the bushes were replaced last year. I was assuming that if the stocks and springs were worn then the body will lower and put the camber out, the same as when you lower a car.

 

[renault12ts]

Thanks for the answer. As I said most of the bushes were replaced last year. I was assuming that if the stocks and springs were worn then the body will lower and put the camber out, the same as when you lower a car.

Springs effect the height, shocks don't .

 

[theburger]

Here are pictures of both rear tyres. We have checked and there does not seem to be any play in the bushes.

 

[Sp!ke]

Has the car been lowered?

 

[theburger]

Has the car been lowered?

No it is all standard. It have done about 80K now. I very rarely carry anything in the back of the estate. There is no noise from the bearings eaither.

 

[RichAJ]

Merc have the equipment to adjust the camber, have you spoke to them? I had my CLK done there and it helped; but it is lowered on 18" 255/35/18 on the rear with eibach springs over standard shocks.

 

[theburger]

Merc have the equipment to adjust the camber, have you spoke to them? I had my CLK done there and it helped; but it is lowered on 18" 255/35/18 on the rear with eibach springs over standard shocks.

I have not spoken to them yet. There is obviously something causing the tyre wear. Once I have sorted it out I will get the alignment checked and adjusted if needed.

 

[Sp!ke]

You've not said your location - perhaps someone may be able to recomend a local alignment specialist if they knew which area you were located.

 

[RichAJ]

sorry it was the camber that was causing my tyre wear is what i was saying

 

[theburger]

You've not said your location - perhaps someone may be able to recomend a local alignment specialist if they knew which area you were located.

Hi,

I live near Farnham in Surrey

 

[andy27168]

Get the car checked, ie ensure all bushes are ok, and then get a 4 wheel alignment done on the car, the rear suspension on merc is adjustable for toe and that is what appears to be wrong with yours.
Normal garages when they do the tracking only track the front wheels using the rear wheels as a datum, if the rear wheels are in the wrong alignment the front will never be right.

 

[andy27168]

Use the centre locator in this link, it will give you your nearest garage that use the Hunter Alignment system, which is supposed to be very highly thought of in the industry.

Welcome to Align My Car

 

[RichAJ]

That's exactly what I had done at Liverpool Mercedes. Camber adjustment and 4 Wheel alignment. Loads better afterwards.

 

[John]

Use the centre locator in this link, it will give you your nearest garage that use the Hunter Alignment system, which is supposed to be very highly thought of in the industry.

Welcome to Align My Car

I recently used Wheels In Motion / Black Boots in Chesham.

Bit of a trek from Surrey and I travelled further than from Surrey...!

However, they knew what they were doing with mine and the alignment is spot on now.

I understand too much negative camber can wear the inner edges - and your rear camber looks like it might be more than -2 degrees.

However, there is camber, castor and toe which can be adjusted and knock something else out.

4 wheel alignment on one of those Hunter machines should solve it!

 

[prprandall51]

Do you regularly travel over speed cushions? They are the little square shaped humps rather than sleeping policemen, which straddle the whole road.

This is exactly the type of damage that speed cushions inflict on a car if you drive over the centre of them.

 

[kth286]

2 questions

does the car have self-level suspension ?

does the car suspension rear feel harder than it used to be ?

Merc use similar rear suspension on all rear drive models.

There is only toe adjustment on rear suspension, which is different to front.

On my higher mileage car the rear toe bushes seized solid and gave exactly the same affect of inner tyre wear.

You can buy rear toe links complete with bushes quite cheaply from Merc.

If that is the problem the old bushes and bolts will need sawing off.

 

[Dieselman]

Get the car checked, ie ensure all bushes are ok, and then get a 4 wheel alignment done on the car, the rear suspension on merc is adjustable for toe and that is what appears to be wrong with yours.

That looks more like a camber issue to me as there is no feathering of the tread.

I suspect the rear of the car is riding low causing the camber to be out, there is no rear camber adjustment.

 

[AANDYY]

Do you regularly travel over speed cushions? They are the little square shaped humps rather than sleeping policemen, which straddle the whole road.

This is exactly the type of damage that speed cushions inflict on a car if you drive over the centre of them.

Is this a recognised effect? I have very similar issues as the OP.
I had the 4 wheel geometry done about 2 years ago, I straddle the speed cushions (ironic name!) nearly every day one especially is bad, I have to slow to about 5-10 mph (council not interested in my complaint to them).