Date:         Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:34:51 -0400
Reply-To:     Ed Duntz <eduntz@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ed Duntz <eduntz@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: alignment with worn tires
In-Reply-To:  <1007256104-1281626058-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-1338783247-@bda2772.bisx.prod.on.blackberry>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=original

Well, I've heard a few different viewpoints on the subject. The bodyshop
alignment guy says that my uneven tire wear won't affect the alignment,
which is what several here and on the Samba have said. But others have
pointed this out- Although the alignment apparatus is attached to the wheel,
the wheel position is affected by the position of the tire. Take it to the
extreme- what if there were no tire at all, or if one tire were flat? The
wheel certainly would be in a different position. So doesn't it stand to
reason that a tire that is worn would also put the wheel in a different
position?

The alignment guy said that the front was already in perfect alignment, and
that the pull I was feeling to the right was caused by the uneven tire wear
(I thought it was on the driver's side inside, but it was actually on the
outside edge.) He didn't say there was anything wrong with any front end
components.

He also said that the right rear camber was at the end of it's adjustment,
and that old springs might be the cause.

He swapped the tires front to back and took it for a test drive. He said it
drives fine, but upon leaving, I think it pulls ever so slightly to the
right, but I have so much to do today, I wasn't going to go back. I'm taking
a 1,000 mile round trip, and I thought that I'd see how it drove, and how
the tires wore in that time.

Ed