Rubbing Issue, Please Help *PICS*

**JEENYUS** · 03-06-2010 08:51 AM

i cant figure out what it is rubbing on. looked and i see no indication. please help. any idea would be useful at this point.

**hyperplus** · 03-06-2010 08:54 AM

Is this only on the fronts? How fast you take curves? Could it be the suspension? I have the same problem in my summer set.

**Audi_Nubi** · 03-06-2010 08:55 AM

That does not look like rubbing to me, but more like your alignment is off or control arm bushings are worn out.

**Abuck35** · 03-06-2010 08:55 AM

Is that the front or rear?

**gray6spd** · 03-06-2010 08:56 AM

Thats not rubbing to me either..

**JEENYUS** · 03-06-2010 09:08 AM

sorry i should have explained it better. it is the front right tire. that is the ONLY tire that is wearing like that (why i think it is rubbing) sometimes when i stop i get some smoke (aka the tire burning) coming from the front right only. i looked and i couldnt see anything. i just barley replaced the upper control arms no less then 2 weeks ago.

**RLB6** · 03-06-2010 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by JEENYUS

sorry i should have explained it better. it is the front right tire. that is the ONLY tire that is wearing like that (why i think it is rubbing) sometimes when i stop i get some smoke (aka the tire burning) coming from the front right only. i looked and i couldnt see anything. i just barley replaced the upper control arms no less then 2 weeks ago.

That's purely due to an alignment problem. My tires looked worse than that before I got my alignment done.

**JEENYUS** · 03-06-2010 09:23 AM

sucks because i just got my damn alignment done when i lowered my car. i guess it is time for another one. good to know my spare isnt going to be rubbing or pop randomly when i head up to the mountain today. thanks man.

EDIT: even if it is ONLY one tire, it can be an alignment issue?

**RLB6** · 03-06-2010 09:25 AM

Yes.

**Matt@EuropaParts** · 03-06-2010 09:27 AM

Yep, the alignment on that one corner is off. That's not what rubbing looks like.

**JEENYUS** · 03-06-2010 09:40 AM

thanks a lot guys. i would rep... but....

**secnd2no1** · 03-06-2010 09:57 AM

yea man get that alignment done....FIRESTONE LIFETIME ALIGNMENTS $149.99.... 15 bux off coupon on there website http://www.firestonecompleteautocare...jsp?image=4041

**JoshDub** · 03-06-2010 10:50 AM

oo life time alignments.. do you think they would notice if you adjusted your ride height every season?

**aaaudiprotein** · 03-06-2010 11:04 AM

This is not rubbing, the exact same thing happened to me. One of my tires started losing air. Find a GOOD alignment specialist asap

**forevraudi** · 03-06-2010 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by JoshDub

oo life time alignments.. do you think they would notice if you adjusted your ride height every season?

I went into my local place and they manager told me that he wouldn't sell me the LT allignment because i had coilovers and such

**diagnosticator** · 03-07-2010 01:28 AM

The tire is scrubbing on the road due to the toe setting is way off, that can overheat the tread too, thus the burned rubber smell after driving fast. Are both front ride heights the same?

**carvinc980** · 03-07-2010 02:37 AM

i just got a question man. if it is your alignment, which i assume it is, how have you not felt this while you are driving?

i mean, my previous car from 15yrs old to 20yrs old was a 94 might max pick up truck lol (dodge ram d50) and i felt everything. ideler arms, tie rod, everything.

if it doesn't really have a strong pull to one side from the alignment are you feeling anything weird when switching lanes in wet conditions? aka you can truly feel the wheel play with the wheel jerking a direction it shouldn't? lol idk really how to explain it. but i bought my truck for hauling my dirtbike when i raced mx and to also use it for a winter vehicle. i also drove a decked out 1989 chrysler tsi blue, lowered, t3/t4, custom straight pipes, lots of other goodies, and lots of camber! that was too many "lots."

well, on both of my cars i had this issue but it was tie rod issues and idler arms.

ps. while your car is being fixed i'll loan ya my truck i still got it sitting around cause i've been remodling my parents house since they finally have kids out of it they want it nice! lol

... i'll even let you jump it! seriously...

**JEENYUS** · 03-08-2010 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by diagnosticator

The tire is scrubbing on the road due to the toe setting is way off, that can overheat the tread too, thus the burned rubber smell after driving fast. Are both front ride heights the same?

yes, they are both at the same ride height. i have not felt a lot of pulling either and since i have changed the front tire, i have not felt anything, but i still smell the rubber. i know the alignment is off so i will be getting it fixed asap.

Originally Posted by carvinc980

i just got a question man. if it is your alignment, which i assume it is, how have you not felt this while you are driving?

i mean, my previous car from 15yrs old to 20yrs old was a 94 might max pick up truck lol (dodge ram d50) and i felt everything. ideler arms, tie rod, everything.

if it doesn't really have a strong pull to one side from the alignment are you feeling anything weird when switching lanes in wet conditions? aka you can truly feel the wheel play with the wheel jerking a direction it shouldn't? lol idk really how to explain it. but i bought my truck for hauling my dirtbike when i raced mx and to also use it for a winter vehicle. i also drove a decked out 1989 chrysler tsi blue, lowered, t3/t4, custom straight pipes, lots of other goodies, and lots of camber! that was too many "lots."

well, on both of my cars i had this issue but it was tie rod issues and idler arms.

ps. while your car is being fixed i'll loan ya my truck i still got it sitting around cause i've been remodling my parents house since they finally have kids out of it they want it nice! lol

... i'll even let you jump it! seriously...

i am fine man, i dont need to borrow your truck. lol, i think the alignment only takes about an hour. thanks for the advice though.

**NvrFllw** · 03-08-2010 11:20 AM

First of trucks are totally different animals. They way 3x as much as our cars and are stiff. The suspension doesn't give and therefore every bump you hit you feel and when you have a bad tire its easier to tell from the way the truck drives on the highway. It usually walks itself around.

**Rommulus** · 03-08-2010 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by NvrFllw

They way 3x as much as our cars and are stiff.

Sorry, but seriously... way???

**NvrFllw** · 03-08-2010 12:03 PM

Oops. Supposed to be " weigh" my BB F'd me.

**Dan[FN]6262** · 03-08-2010 12:05 PM

definitely an alignment issue

**hbodo08** · 03-08-2010 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by forevraudi

I went into my local place and they manager told me that he wouldn't sell me the LT allignment because i had coilovers and such

get the lifetime first then get coilovers lol

**JEENYUS** · 03-08-2010 01:28 PM

i have been calling around trying to see where i can get an alignment done. i have found a place that will do it for 59.95 for all 4 tires. there is a catch though. they said that they will not do it if all the tires are not the same. well i have a spare on the is the same size as the rest of my tires (235/45r17) my question is, does that tire look safe to drive on or should i spend a mass amount of money to get all 4 new tires?

**itsmatt33** · 03-08-2010 01:35 PM

i had the EXACT same problem with the EXACT same tire....it was the alignment

**JEENYUS** · 03-08-2010 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by itsmatt33

i had the EXACT same problem with the EXACT same tire....it was the alignment

ya it is annoying. i just want to know if i would be save to drive on the current tire i have (in the pic above) or if i should get all new 4 tires? the quoted price on the same tires is 680.00

**AvantinUSP** · 03-08-2010 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by forevraudi

I went into my local place and they manager told me that he wouldn't sell me the LT allignment because i had coilovers and such

I have coils and was able to get it. I get an alignment bout 3-4 times a year.

**itsmatt33** · 03-08-2010 01:44 PM

i drove on it for a while before i did anything....i ended up just swapping the tire ONLY because i had an extra one and had the place realign it

**JEENYUS** · 03-08-2010 02:10 PM

i hear only replacing one of the tires can mess up the tranny or something. is this true?

**diagnosticator** · 03-08-2010 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by JEENYUS

i hear only replacing one of the tires can mess up the tranny or something. is this true?

That depends of how much wear there is on the set compared to the new tire.

**diagnosticator** · 03-08-2010 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by JEENYUS

ya it is annoying. i just want to know if i would be save to drive on the current tire i have (in the pic above) or if i should get all new 4 tires? the quoted price on the same tires is 680.00

the tire in the pic is shot as you know, the other way is to replace two tires now, put the new ones on the front, and keep the two best of the three old tires and put then on the back. Use the third as a spare. As soon as possible, replace the two rear tires with the same make and model tires as the front.

**diagnosticator** · 03-08-2010 02:44 PM

Severe wear on the front inner tire edges is a common result after lowering the ride height, and using factory toe settings. It has been demonstrated many times now, that using non OEM toe settings will stop this wear and still provide good handling, in fact it's often better than stock regarding tram-lining on highway ruts, etc. The front and rear non factory setting for toe is nominally 0.01 +0.01/-0.00 per side, or +0.02 cross total toe per axle. The camber on the front is not adjustable, except the existing cross camber can be evenly divided side to side by shifting the sub-frame. Conservative rear camber settings will be slightly less negative or the same as the front.

**JEENYUS** · 03-08-2010 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by diagnosticator

the tire in the pic is shot as you know, the other way is to replace two tires now, put the new ones on the front, and keep the two best of the three old tires and put then on the back. Use the third as a spare. As soon as possible, replace the two rear tires with the same make and model tires as the front.

thanks this helps a lot. i might be able to handle two

**zz2h33** · 03-08-2010 04:01 PM

Go to a VW dealer and get an alignment. IIRC i paid $50 while the audi dealer wanted double. some indie shops cant/wont do AWD alignments. Tell VW its the same as a passat with 4motion and they will align it as such. tell them you want toe to as close to 0 as possible. ask for before and after alignment sheet, post up on here and make sure they did it right.

**anderskt** · 03-08-2010 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by zz2h33

Go to a VW dealer and get an alignment. IIRC i paid $50 while the audi dealer wanted double. some indie shops cant/wont do AWD alignments. Tell VW its the same as a passat with 4motion and they will align it as such. tell them you want toe to as close to 0 as possible. ask for before and after alignment sheet, post up on here and make sure they did it right.

its actually completely different than a passat 4mo. the passats have a rear strut and the a4 has a shock and a spring in the rear...where you do your adjustments are different too. the passat is more like an c5 a6.