2 problems: Dealer says can't find whats wrong

ncj01 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-14-2007, 12:56 PM

Issue #1:
Light vibration / noise in the drivers side front between 45-55 mph

Dealer had 3 tech's drive it, they agree it's there, they can not find what is wrong with it.

Solution: let it get worse so we can identify it.

Issue #2:
Drivers side front wheel is cupping out the tire. Specifically the outside 1-2" of the tire is wearing out very fast, cupping out. It wore 2 down before I noticed, and I had to bring it to thier attention, when I noticed the freshly rotated to rear tire was cupped.

They put in on the alignment machine, found only a 1/2 degree out on the PASSENGER front, that the drvrs side was perfect. They also re-balanced all tires, and placed the not-worn/cupped tire on the front.

500 miles later, that drvr's front has noticeably cupped.

I took it back again, they re-checked, rebalanced, and checked alignment. They state: THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS TRUCK.

But they don't deny the tire is cupping on the drvrs front.

Solution: nothing, wear out tires fast.

I'm a little hot about this.

ThirdHorseman · #2 (**permalink**) 11-14-2007, 01:23 PM

I have the same first problem!!!

dkizerian · #3 (**permalink**) 11-14-2007, 01:24 PM

Rotate a non-cupped tire to the driver's side front, and see if the vibration goes away. If so, then #1 is solved...

How hard to you drive this truck? How agressive are you on right turns at speed? does your daily commute include any higer speed right turns like freeway onramps/offramps? Do you hear your tires squeeling on turns?

Did you get a print out of the alignment specs? If not, you may want to go back, request another alignment, get the print-out and go from there... Rarely, but possibly even if all the specs are within accepted ranges they might all be right at the edge of what's accepted and might be combining to wear the tire out quickly.

If both problems are truly in the front left corner of the truck, then they're probably related in some way...

Good Luck!

Charley_S · #4 (**permalink**) 11-14-2007, 02:31 PM

Did they check the wheel bearing?

How about the wheel itself? Could it be warped? (oops....never mind, I see now that they rotated a rear tire to that position.

I'd still make sure they checked the bearing.

majorrob · #5 (**permalink**) 11-14-2007, 02:35 PM

sounds like a bad tire to me...

dkizerian · #6 (**permalink**) 11-16-2007, 05:59 PM

See my above post, and my post on this topic of yours

Cab chimes and alarms - during CORNERING

ncj01 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-19-2007, 06:05 PM

Major Rob: The dealer also claims it's a bad tire.

DK: We did rotate non-cupped tires to the front left. The last time it re-cupped the tire in 400 interstate miles.

DK, you have a response to your Troll-post on my other thread.

HOGWILD · #8 (**permalink**) 11-19-2007, 06:27 PM

What pressures are ya using?

dkizerian · #9 (**permalink**) 11-19-2007, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncj01

DK: We did rotate non-cupped tires to the front left. The last time it re-cupped the tire in 400 interstate miles.

That seems quick even if grossly overdriving.

Get the dealer to do another alignment, and get a print out of the results. You might have a few different measurements on the front left corner that while being within spec might be right at the limit, and 2-3 of those that are right at the limit might be combining to cause excessive wear even though each measurement is technically ok...

I'll assume dealer checked pressures, and since you swapped tires around and it continued, it wont be just one bad tire....

tie rod, ball joint, wheel bearing, controll arm bushings, bent controll arm.... the list goes on, but these are the next things to start having checked...

Good luck
DK the Troll

stevencrosbie · #10 (**permalink**) 11-19-2007, 07:45 PM

My TL cupped the insides of both rear tires and ruined them every 5k. Acura paid for 2 sets of tires, a cambre kit, month in the shop, and still wasn't fixed.

I finally gave up and traded that car in. I sure hope Toyota can help you out better than Honda did me. Have you called Toyota USA and filed a complaint. 3 attempts and you can lemon it and try again. Sometimes things aren't right....but don't wait. Don't make the same mistake I did with the Acura.

bertram928 · #11 (**permalink**) 11-19-2007, 09:05 PM

I never use a Dealer for alignment, they do not get enough alignment work for the typical Apprentice they assign for aligment jobs to gain enough expertice.

How else does a Dealer match alignment pricing with a tire shop that has half the overhead?

The Master Technicians (which is who you want to look at your issue) are always busy working on problems no one else can solve.

Get a second opinion from an alignment shop that has a good reputation, typically if they do not fear aligning Porsches, BMW's, etc. they have sufficient smarts and experience to get to the bottom of your problem.

Slick · #12 (**permalink**) 11-19-2007, 09:54 PM

I'm going to throw a suggestion at you but you need to know, I don't know squat about the Tundra front end but if it is built like a Dodge with an A frame, that's probably your problem. I had a Dodge that would align perfectly, I even watched them do it, but it would eat a left front tire in 3000 miles. After it fell out of warranty then it was my truck and my problem. Turns out the A frame was bent at the factory and while you could align it straight ahead, when you turned right the truck literally fell on the left front and the tire was rolling on the side edge of the tire. Might want to have someone drive the truck slow while making a hard right turn and see if the tire is rolling over and sliding.