Tire Wear/Ball Joint

[jaredfrompcola]

My front tires on my 95 pathy are wearing out.Guess best way to say it is they are leaning in and wearing out the inside tread. I have little play in steering wheel but no vibration. Trucks ride good but not sure what is making tire wear out like it is. Also truck rides straight and alignment not a problem.

 

Do you think it may be the ball joints?

 

And how hard is it to replace the ball joints? I know how to work with wrenches but always nervous about working on my own car. I just spent $2000 on tranny so I need to do this cheap..

 

If I did pay a mechanic what sounds like a good price to pay someone to do it?

[adamzan]

Jack up the truck and grab the tire at 12 & 6 (top and bottom) and try to move it in out and see if there is any play, if there is you either have a ball joint or bearing problem. Now try side to side, if there is play there you have a steering component problem.

 

More than likely you just need an alignment, the camber should be pretty much 0 degrees on these trucks.

[1994SEV6]

 

Also truck rides straight and alignment not a problem.

 

Just because it drives straight doesn't mean it doesn't have an alignment problem. Camber which is the tiring leaning inwards, like you described, wouldn't really affect your truck driving straight. What would affect your truck not driving straight is toe in and and toe out.

 

Jack up the truck and grab the tire at 12 & 6 (top and bottom) and try to move it in out and see if there is any play, if there is you either have a ball joint or bearing problem. Now try side to side, if there is play there you have a steering component problem.

 

 

I agree with Adamzan. Jack it up and find out. If it has play at top and bottom, then I would say it's most likely the wheel bearings. These things get loose after 100k miles or so. You just have to repack them with grease.

If it has play from side to side, then it might be the tie rod sleeve. That was my problem. That's the part that connects the tie rods.

 

If you aren't incredibly inclined with this stuff, go take it for an alignment. They will put it up there and they will tell you what's wrong. You get those things fixed and then you go back and get the alignment. You should go to Sears or some place that has a warranty so you can get the alignment for free when you go back. Regular gas stations will charge you for the alignment, THEN tell you what's wrong, give you a huge quote for that, then they will charge you again for the alignment.