Escalade 4/6 Drop tire wear issues

[langsbr]

I have an 08 Escalade ESV and have been having tire wear issues since it was dropped. I'm tired of having to buy tires every 6 - 8 months and wondering if that's just "lowered life" or if there is an issue.

I've had it aligned multiple times and it's always in spec. If there's some special alignment settings I should use, I'm glad to try them. We don't tow or have it loaded ever really. It's just the 2 of us.

The front is dropped via a combination of drop shocks and spindles.

 

[Tonyrodz]

That's strange. How and where do the tires wear? Just the fronts wear?

 

[Rocket Man]

How many miles are on it and have you ever had the steering components replaced? It could be they're aligning it but as soon as you drive a ways it's out again due to worn steering. Lowering it with spindles should not affect tire wear.

 

[langsbr]

Do you mean how many miles are on the truck or on the tires? The truck has 173K, the tires I'm not sure I'd have to check my receipt from the install, but only 6 months or so of driving, and it's my wife's daily driver, maybe 250 miles a week.

Only the fronts wear this way, the rears look fine. The front is lowered with a combination of spindles and drop shocks. I have a camber kit as well.

@NORCAL SS any thoughts?

 

[Rocket Man]

Do you mean how many miles are on the truck or on the tires? The truck has 173K, the tires I'm not sure I'd have to check my receipt from the install, but only 6 months or so of driving, and it's my wife's daily driver, maybe 250 miles a week.

Only the fronts wear this way, the rears look fine. The front is lowered with a combination of spindles and drop shocks. I have a camber kit as well.

@NORCAL SS any thoughts?

I meant miles on the truck. So it's definately time for a full steering rebuild if you haven't done it. The alignment probably isn't holding but they should tell you if ***** worn. Not all shops will. Why did you get a camber kit? Your pics aren't working so I can't see: how big are your rims? Are you taking it to the same alignment shop over and over?

 

[langsbr]

Sorry, let me know if the pics don't work now. Stupid google photos. I got a camber kit as NorcalSS said it was needed to keep the alignment in spec when dropped as much as I am.

The truck is running 305/40R22s Nitto NT420s on 2Crave wheels. I know it rubs at full lock, but that doesn't explain the terrible inner wear.

 

[kbuskill]

Sorry, let me know if the pics don't work now. Stupid google photos. I got a camber kit as NorcalSS said it was needed to keep the alignment in spec when dropped as much as I am.

The truck is running 305/40R22s Nitto NT420s on 2Crave wheels. I know it rubs at full lock, but that doesn't explain the terrible inner wear.

This is what the instructions say that come with the Belltech #2511 spindles...

The problem may be that you have the 2509 spindles which are 2" drop spindles as well but are not specifically designed for 3"+ drops therefore making it harder to align.

Belltech says...

Part# 2511 *Designed to be use with min 3" or lower application *Min. wheel size 17".

2511 is the newer design and has better upper ball joint angles when lowered 3" or more.

I have the 2511's on my 2008 Suburban LTZ along with the Belltech Street Performance drop struts set at 2" of drop for a total of 4" up front with the 1° cam plates and have zero issues with alignment running the factory specs.

 

[langsbr]

Hmm, how would I know which spindles I have? I only got them in June of 2016. I would hope Tony would not send me spindles designed for a 2" drop when I told him it was for a 4" drop.

 

[kbuskill]

Hmm, how would I know which spindles I have? I only got them in June of 2016. I would hope Tony would not send me spindles designed for a 2" drop when I told him it was for a 4" drop.

They should have the number cast into them...

Unfortunately you would have to pull the wheel and caliper/rotor in order to see it.

I wouldn't think he would either but mistakes do happen sometimes... not saying he did, just that he is human and fallible like the rest of us.

OR....

It could be something else wrong with the front end as mentioned previously.

 

[NORCAL SS]

are the balljoints and bushings ok on the arms. If there is play no matter if it aligns to spec will wear it out

 

[guy from norcal]

Your due for upper and lower ball joints. I just did mine and i'm at 105k
I just lowered mine back to 4'' in front a few months ago. i took it back to firestone 3 times because the alignment was off. ( bad lower ball joints) All is good now.

 

[ezstriper]

as long as suspension parts are not worn, looks like you have a lot of negative camber or excessive toe out, betting neg camber, sometimes tuff to get it correct after lowering with some parts. A big issue anymore is finding somebody has a clue about alignments...mostly morons from what I've seen, did it for 15+ years.

 

[Jibee]

Around here Alignment shops hear the words lowered or dropped and their eyes glaze over...it can be frustrating but when ya find a place that knows what they are doing ya have to stick with them.

 

[camaroz2887]

Is the wear even on the inside or is it kind of up and down or side to side along that side of the sidewall? Just did a 2015 Silverado about two weeks ago that had similar wear that looked like someone just carved out little semi circles that looked almost perfectly symmetrical. Struts were toast and just bouncing down the road making the cups.

Google bad strut tire wear and compare

 

[langsbr]

I just ordered new tie rod ends, and new a-arms with ball joints. Gonna replace all that due to mileage, plus now I think I may be hearing the ball joints move. The wear is consistent so it doesn't match strut induced cupping. I'd also hope the struts aren't blown in only 2 years and 25K miles. Hopefully I'll get everything installed in the next week and report back.

Thanks all!