Axle alignment and tire wear

[Rodell]

I have a 2017 Reflection 337RLS with less than 4 thousand miles on it. The front right tire (passenger side) the outer edge/tread has worn down significantly. The other three tires look like new. I've gone to several alignment shops and I'm getting conflicting advice. Some are saying that the axle is bent and cannot be heated and re-bent because the metal has memory and it will revert back to the bent shape shortly there after. One of the shops stated that Dexter axle make the claim that their axles must be replace. I mentioned that to another shop which stated that they are one of a few that are certified to re-bend the axle using laser equipment?

My axle happens to be a 6,000 lb. Lippert axle.

I'm just getting my ducks in a row to get ready for summer camping and because of all the negative articles about the Chinese tire failing I also want to put on the Good Year Endurance tires that are made here in the US.

I would greatly appreciate any advice or personal experience in getting the alignment correct before I put on new tires whether by alignment or by replacement of the front axle.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Rodell

[Cate&Rob]

Hi Rodell,

Good to see this question in the regular forum . . . I think you will get a lot more responses than to a blog entry.

Rodell started this discussion in a blog where there has already been some feedback https://www.mygrandrv.com/fo...-and-tire-wear

I hope you don't mind . . . but I am going to move this from the Reflection Specific Section to the more general Axles, Brakes and Suspension. There is a lot of expertise on this site that crosses models. This is where the "experts" will find your question.

Rob

[Country Campers]

Rodell

I would definitely agree with the info you have received already. Replacing the axel is the way to go. Having somebody remove the axel and try to bend and re-install will cost a bit of money. If this does not fix the problem long term you will be faced with replacement, therefor I would just do it now.

Also welcome to the forum, glad to have you here. Sorry for the circumstances though.

Do you recall hitting a hard bump or anything that would have contributed to the bent spindle? This would be unlikely because it might have bent the second axel spindle. I would guess it was manufactured this way.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Brian

[Second Chance]

Outer shoulder tire wear means too much toe-in on that wheel. One would have to hit a significant obstacle backing up to bend the axle or spindle in toward the front and cause that type of wear - and the rear wheel would have hit the obstacle first. This axle/spindle came from the factory out of alignment. We had an identical situation (with Lippert axles) on our unit when it was new. Long story short, we replaced the Lippert axles with MOR/ryde independent suspension (and replaced the tires with load range G Sailuns). I would not try to have the axle straightened - it needs replacing.

Rob

[WhittleBurner]

Outer shoulder tire wear means too much toe-in on that wheel. One would have to hit a significant obstacle backing up to bend the axle or spindle in toward the front and cause that type of wear - and the rear wheel would have hit the obstacle first. This axle/spindle came from the factory out of alignment. We had an identical situation (with Lippert axles) on our unit when it was new. Long story short, we replaced the Lippert axles with MOR/ryde independent suspension (and replaced the tires with load range G Sailuns). I would not try to have the axle straightened - it needs replacing.

Rob

Actually a tire wearing on one edge would be caused by the camber being off. The camber is the tilt of the wheel at the top being out or in. Toe is controlling the tire being angled in or out. If the toe is off you would have a feathering effect all the way across the tire. If you ran your hand across it it would have a sharp feel to it. That is caused by the tire being at an angle and not running straight going down the road. From everything I have read it is better to replace the axle than trying to bend it as time goes by that axle will want to go back to it's original position. Have never had it done so I cann't say that that is a fact or not.

[Second Chance]

Actually a tire wearing on one edge would be caused by the camber being off. The camber is the tilt of the wheel at the top being out or in. Toe is controlling the tire being angled in or out. If the toe is off you would have a feathering effect all the way across the tire. If you ran your hand across it it would have a sharp feel to it. That is caused by the tire being at an angle and not running straight going down the road. From everything I have read it is better to replace the axle than trying to bend it as time goes by that axle will want to go back to it's original position. Have never had it done so I cann't say that that is a fact or not.

You are absolutely right, Gary. I'll have to confess that my hands-on experience in the business is 50 years old...

Rob

[Rodell]

hi rodell,

good to see this question in the regular forum . . . I think you will get a lot more responses than to a blog entry.

Rodell started this discussion in a blog where there has already been some feedback https://www.mygrandrv.com/fo...-and-tire-wear

i hope you don't mind . . . But i am going to move this from the reflection specific section to the more general axles, brakes and suspension. There is a lot of expertise on this site that crosses models. This is where the "experts" will find your question.

Rob

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[Rodell]

Thanks Rob your advice.

[Rodell]

I concur but one would think that if I hit a big pot hole the spindle would be bent UP therefore the excessive wear would show up on the inner tread not the outer tread. Does that make any sense?

Thanks,

Rodell

[Rodell]

Thanks Marcy and Gary.

I greatly appreciate your prompt reply.

Best regards,

Rodell