Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (April 1997)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Thu, 3 Apr 1997 11:50:14 -0800
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Paul Uusitalo <puusital@Adobe.COM>
Subject:      Severe left front tire wear: Syncro

Returning from a 3000 mile trip I recently made, I've noticed that the outside 1/5 of the left front tire on my '87 Syncro has worn nearly bald. Before I make any tire changes, I need to figure out what's causing this. Is it an alignment problem, a failed CV joint, or the dreaded Viscous Coupling (please no!)?

What I've noticed:

1. The vehicle does not seem to pull or shimmy to any noticeable extent. Drives quite smoothly at 80 mph (downhill in Montana, of course). 2. At low speed, I've noticed an audible "screek, screek" type sound, emanating - I belive - from the front left portion of the car. It does not sound like metal on metal or like anything grinding, more like wet sneakers on a smooth floor. The noise is much louder when making sharp turns and its speed varies directly with the speed of the vehicle. 3. Wear on the right front tire seems normal. 4. During my trip, I did plow into a snow bank at a fairly high rate of speed (packing snow into every nook and cranny of the front suspension). Could I have bent something that would cause the tire wear but otherwise not affect driveability?

Any suggestions?

Paul U.


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.