OT: Front tire wear on '86 chev 4x4

The lighter colored spots on the tires are where the rubber meets the blacktop. There is that much wear between the lugs. Please help as I am stumped as to what the cause is.

Those big knobbies were never intended for highway use. Walt

Rotate often to smooth them out again before bringing them up front.

Big open tread tires can develope wear and vibration patterns just from spinning and dealing with air patterns.

I think I heard that thing coming down the road yesterday, and I'm in California.

Rotate them and consider something less "severe off road service" next time you buy tires.

Or just stay under 20mph on the farm and it might be ok.

Tim

The first thing to do is rostate the tires because of the aggressive tread. I had some Sport Kings on my ford and they had to be rotated every 6000 or they'd start to do that on all 4 tires, but the rear drive tires and the fron non-drivers would wear in opposite ways,(sharp point would be on the front of the tread on one, back of the tread on the other) so front to back was the best way to do it on my truck.

I'm not gonna get more involved on the ball-joint vs. King Pin issue, but my 88 F150 2wd and my brother's 93 4x4 both have ball joints on the front axel. Mine is independant and his is a solid axel. Whatever Chevy calls it, it's basically the same thing.

Donovan from Wisconsin

But me thinks you're blowin' a wee bit of smoke.

Chevrolet hasn't used king pins on thier light duty trucks since 1954 and have implemented upper and lower ball joints in all 2 and 4 wheel drive models since 1955 forward.

Don't think ya quite have a firm grasp on what "cupping", which results from a bad balance issue, is either.

'Course I could be wrong; I've only been working on the goofy things since the early fifties and just didn't take time to "Google" it to see what the all-knowing 'Net has to offer. :>)

Better idea: Walk into to your local GM dealer and order a set of king pins for an '86 4X4. Take special note of the expression on the partman's face.

Allan

yeah pard, we call them king pins in these parts too, you can call them whatever you want to though. If you go to your lfaps, be prepared to call them ball joints.

Like you say, if you ever have to replace a "king pin" ya never forget it. :>)

Allan

You couldn't hear those things slapping the hiway? Everyone else within 3 miles can hear ya coming. :>)

Allan

Might as well look at the ball joints too.

Donovan from Wisconsin

Ya need the silly things to turn a corner. :>)

Allan

Keith & Shawn

Jon K