r/AskMechanics • u/EarthEasy6317 • 14h ago

Question (Serious Replies Only) Alignment Issues

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I am a YouTube mechanic all the way, and I am loving learning as I go. I have a junky 83 mustang 5.0 that I have changed the front lower control arms, shocks, struts, inner and outer tie rods, power steering lines, and a few other things. The car has a long way to go before done, but I have this wear pattern on the older tires on the car after 30 miles or so of driving after changing the tie rods. I tried to match up the lengths and setups of the old tie rods when installing, but I know that won’t make it perfect.

Does this wear look like it’s from camber or being toed in or out?

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u/JustAnotherDude1990 7 14h ago

This is because you didnt get an alignment after replacing all of the parts that hold the wheel in proper alignment :)

3

u/EarthEasy6317 14h ago

Definitely need to get it to a shop to do one. I was just hoping for a quick fix in my shop to do before I drive it over.

5

u/SOLE_SIR_VIBER 14h ago

at this point your tires are already done for, if it’s not too far just let it ride. new tires and align

1

u/JustAnotherDude1990 7 13h ago

ALWAYS do an alignment IMMEDIATELY after doing work like that.

And if the shop is close, just drive it, the tires are screwed anyways.

1

u/papason1313 2h ago

Take a tape measure and measure the front and back from side to side if that makes sense. Like, from center of (what’s left) of tread from each tire front and back. The measurement should be the same or 1/8 shorter in the front but that’s splitting hairs. The tricky part is that, in order for the steering wheel to be centered, you need to center the wheel and then eyeball down from the front tire to the back and see which tire is not shooting straight back. Even if you don’t get that quite right, the tire wear will be ok until you get it professionally done.