MichelleC

I've got a 95 GT convertible...bought it used, but did a check and it came back clean (never been wrecked)...</P>


I've had the car for 4 years now, and I'm getting ready to buy 2 more front tires. I believe I've bought 8 to date! In the last two years, the front tires are wearing very badly...I think I have less than 5000 miles on these tires!</P>


Alignment seems to have been a problem in the past, but it was just aligned, I've not hit anything to knock it out this bad, yet I'm in need of two more tires already.</P>


My husband checked with someone about an alignment, and he said that it's not an alignment problem; something to do with the wheel base measurements on GT Mustangs (and the K-Frame). Turns out the measurements are good, so anyone know what else I can look for as a reason for front tire wear?</P>


We're going to end up paying for an alignment specialist, but I don't want to get screwed; I'd like an idea of what's going on...</P>


Thanks!
Michelle</P>

makarovboy

Not too sure about the new body style, michelle, but on the fox bodies (I have a '93), the numbers were always right on, but the cars have a habit of pulling to the right, wearing front tires.

The fix is caster/camber plates that mount on the shock towers and allow more adjustment in front end geometry. Summit sells a BBK made kit for '94 & up mustangs for $209.95. Find a shop willing to do the further adjustments necessary and are familiar with the problem. Hope that helps.

MichelleC

Thanks for that info...I'll look in to it...</P>


My car has always felt as if it does pull to the right, but it's so slight, and the alignment is always right on, so maybe this is the problem...the brand new right front tire looks like a slick right now! </P>


Thanks again....</P>

WhiteHawk

Hi,</P>


I just wrote you a long-**** email only to get cut off by my Internet provider.</P>


Basically I wrote:check your rack and pinion - it may be touching it, whether damaged, bent, old etc...</P>


Buy Caster &amp; Camber plates (it helps ALOT) - pick up a mag of MM&amp;FF or any Mustang mag. they range from 149.99 - 209.99 all are competitive in quality. - I'd give you a number now, but I'm not at home. </P>


</P>


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n2o44

what kind of wear are you getting , you can see the wear in the front and it should give you a clue to whats going on ? also dont trust the alignment shops , im an old tech i ve seen some mech fudge the numbers up when they couldint get them in , they print it and think its ok , got any pic of old tires?

MichelleC

I can take pics tonight if you'd like...basically, on the front passenger tire, only the outer third of the tire is worn (completely slick and these tires are only 3 months old)...the other front tire is starting to feather and on it's way to doing the same thing...</P>


The garage I take my car to is trustworthy; they have done so much free work on my car because they keep thinking they're doing something wrong...they'll align it, then have me bring it back in a week or two later to check the alignment again...they've given up this time though, and asked me to take it to an alignment specialist.</P>

n2o44

yes im no specialist but ive done a good amount of alignments for my experence ,is your car lowered, can u descibe there alignment machine , if u can u copy it on here the actual sheet too with your alignment . do u have a stock k-member?. illl try to help u best i can

89 GT

Hi Michelle,</P>


3 months and the outer edge is now a slick, you have aproblem with the front end. I am assuming you car is fully stock, not lowered and no racidal front end parts. You need more negative chamber and the way to achieve this is with caster/chamber mounting plates also throw in some polyurathane bushings (energy suspension) for the front sturts to help maintain the alignment. Too much toe in will also wear out the outer edge,an inner tie rod end that's giving up to much play will cause this.Also the tire pressure sounds like it is low and riding on the edges, up the tire pressure by an extra 3 psi over the recommended maximum tire pressure.</P>


Get a good alignment shop to install the caster chamberplates and set her up.</P>


Cheers, Shane </P>

MichelleC

The car is stock, not lowered...the only mods I've had in the last 2 years are having 2 of the 4 catalytic converters punched through, and Flowmaster exhaust installed...the guy I bought the car from was older, had a Jaguar, Jeeps...didn't seem like the kind of guy to modify a car or sell a wrecked one without my knowledge...I trust him...plus, I've had the car for 4 years, and only had this problem for the past 2...only difference is my driving route - I have to drive back roads every single day, and they're not the best roads, but they're not bad enough to knock my car out of line this much! At least I don't think they are!</P>


At this point, the garage I usually deal with is (frankly) sick of my car...right now, it's not been re-aligned. This weekend I've got to order new tires, then take it to have it aligned, then figure out what's causing this problem...I don't have any info on the alignment equipment, nor do I have the #'s for the last alignment...with this new one, I'll be sure to share that info - maybe one of you guys will spot something that's off with what they're doing?!</P>


Thanks for all your help guys!</P>


</P>

89 GT

Hi Michelle,</P>


Try having your car's chassis looked at for straightness at a professional auto body shop. A good shop will use lasers to determine exactly how straight your body is.</P>


Does the car have subframe connectors welded to it? Sometimes when these are installed the chassis is flexed all over the place and then the subframes are welded in and hold the chassis in this twisted state once the load of the car is placed back on the suspension.</P>


Cheers, Shane</P>