Ando81 2,949 Posted February 28, 2015 Hi all, just a quick question about wheel alignment on my xf ute. I had an alignment done about 12 months ago when I put a set of second hand tyres on it and now the tyres are stuffed on both inside edges. Went out this morning and stripped those tyres off and fitted new tyres to my rims. Now my steering wheel is turned from 12 o'clock to about 1 o'clock or possibly a bit further. I noticed that there was a bit of play in the pitman arm when I put the drivers side wheel back on. Should I replace the pitman arm and get another alignment done? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Outback Jack 6,352 Posted March 1, 2015 That inner front tyre wear is an X series trademark mate. Have that on mine too. Don't think i've seen an XD, XE, XF, XG that doesn't do it without a correction kit on it. Check it's not the idler arm, could be play on the other side. No idea on why the steering wheel is out after changing just tyres. Jack. 1 gerg reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tpak addict 1,909 Posted March 1, 2015 Yes I would.... but that's me.... I would check over the whole front end first tho before getting it aligned..... My Lane was even on both sides when I bought it... Musta got an odd one lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ando81 2,949 Posted March 1, 2015 I reckon there might be slight movement in the outer tie rods, the idler was a new nolathane job about 18 months ago but I will take it off and check it out. My xf sedan hardly wears tyres but I must say it did about 500km last year Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tpak addict 1,909 Posted March 1, 2015 Radius rod bushes are often overlooked too Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,313 Posted March 1, 2015 That inner front tyre wear is an X series trademark mate. Have that on mine too. Don't think i've seen an XD, XE, XF, XG that doesn't do it without a correction kit on it. Check it's not the idler arm, could be play on the other side. No idea on why the steering wheel is out after changing just tyres. Jack. whats a correction kit? I've had to replace idler arms every 12 months ish, 30,000-40,000kms only wheel alignment joint i trust is Pedders, never had uneven tyre wear since they have been doing them over joints that sell tyres. i had bridgestone tyre joint wreck 2 new tyres for me in less than a week after they aligned it "to spec" all parts need to be in good nic. mostly ball joints, idler, tie rods and caster (radius rod)rubbers wear out fast.. but inner control arm bushes and camber bolts "slipping" (never had pedders wheel alignment have the camber bolt move but beurepairs, and other joints have not done them tight enough... they sell tyres though) 1 XTREME KARTS XF reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VDO 124 Posted March 1, 2015 Looking at those tyres, I would check the lower ball joints first. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,313 Posted March 1, 2015 i've been told that if used tyres have uneven wear on them they will continue to wear that way also. how much tyre pressure? i was running 34psi most of the time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr Polson 10,214 Posted March 1, 2015 Looking at those tyres, it's the camber bolt bushes in the lower control arm. Had the same problem on my ute when I got it, replaced all suspension bits except control arm bushes, still dine it. Replaced lower control arm bushes and all good. 1 Ando81 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ando81 2,949 Posted March 1, 2015 I'll try to get it over the pit at work this week and will definitely look into getting pedders to do an alignment. I know a chick that works at the local pedders store so I'll tell her to get the bastard bang on before I leave. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ando81 2,949 Posted March 1, 2015 Looking at those tyres, I would check the lower ball joints first. Causing the wheels to get more camber lean on them? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ando81 2,949 Posted March 1, 2015 i've been told that if used tyres have uneven wear on them they will continue to wear that way also. how much tyre pressure? i was running 34psi most of the time. 34psi and they only get down to 32 when I check them, as it's pretty regularly. 1 deankxf reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trev Vaa 1,185 Posted March 2, 2015 control arm bushes, i'll be on my second set soon. quick question, would anyone be interested in quality steering componentry for these cars? i'm thinking of getting some inner and outer tie rods made up, as well as ball joints. 1 Ando81 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ando81 2,949 Posted March 2, 2015 In pretty sure Mr Polson and XCSEDAN are on the money. Just jacked it up to find that the lower control arm bushes are that bad that when the left side travels up and down it has been hitting the side of the housing that it travels up and down in. And the rest of the play is in the pitman arm. They will be the first bits to be replaced. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ando81 2,949 Posted March 2, 2015 Just wondering, are the lower control arm bushes difficult to change? I know that a puller makes it a lot easier to do them on e series falcons but these look like they might come out easier, or am I kidding myself? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr Polson 10,214 Posted March 2, 2015 They have to be pressed in/out. Bit of a task to remove them, lower ball joint undone/removed, castor rod undone, camber NUT undone. The bolt won't undo, just the nut. This caught me out once before. 1 Ando81 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ando81 2,949 Posted March 2, 2015 Cheers for the tip, might take me longer than I thought. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ando81 2,949 Posted March 3, 2015 I've decided to get my local mechanic to do my control arm bushes and all ball joints and tie rod ends. I was going to do it myself today but am time poor while I am working night shift. Any wonder it has been wearing tyres badly, the radius rod on the left side is adjusted wrong and is pulling the control arm much further forward than the right hand side. Wasn't picked up by a Beaurepaires store or the so called front end specialist that did the last 2 alignments. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tpak addict 1,909 Posted March 3, 2015 Yep..... young fella's who have no idea..... My local has 2 very good lads that are into cars and do the wheel aligns..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,313 Posted March 3, 2015 bob jane did a wheel alignment for Me once with the ball joint so rooted it was making noise. i had it pedders checked after bob jane alignment wore tyres in not very long.. took it back to bob Jane to be told we dont check the car out before WTF.. since then, Pedders is all i trust. they have always been happy to show me the rooted parts while on the hoist too. 1 Ando81 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gerg 10,871 Posted March 3, 2015 That inner front tyre wear is an X series trademark mate. Have that on mine too.Don't think i've seen an XD, XE, XF, XG that doesn't do it without a correction kit on it. Check it's not the idler arm, could be play on the other side. No idea on why the steering wheel is out after changing just tyres. Jack. What do you mean by a correction kit Jack? I know stock ride height Falcs have a tendency to go severely neg camber on turns on the inside wheel, which might account for the inside scrubbing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ando81 2,949 Posted March 3, 2015 Pretty sure the lower control arm bushes are shagged and by the way that the left one was adjusted wouldn't have helped either. My local mechanic is a ford nut, his father used to have a dealership from the 70's till the son took it over in 2000. He can tell ya what size and thread almost every part on an x series is so he's gunna fix it up for me. 2 gerg and deankxf reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
