Loose steering and uneven wear on front tires?
I have an 03 GC Laredo 4x4. I recently had the tie rods and steering dampner replaced as well as a new set of tires put on with an alignment. This was all done at the same time, about 2 months ago. The steering is loose and a little wobbly sometimes(not the death wobble) and the front tires are super worn down. The outer 1/2 of each of them are worn more than the inner half. The right front is the worst of the 2, with the outer 1/2 almost completely bald. What could cause this?
I haven't had the alignment checked again, I didn't really think that would be it because it was just done and I don't take her out into the woods or anything crazy. I don't think the balljoints have been done.
Old fart with a wrench
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 14,398
Likes: 740
From: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY
Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0L
From the wear on the tires it doesn't look like you got a very good alignment! Wear just on the outside sounds like too much toe-in by a radical amount if it's just been 2 months. Ball joints would show as wear on the inside and wheel bearings would show as wear on both edges. Sumpin' ain't right!
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 897
Likes: 2
From: NJ
Year: 2004 WJ, 1998 XJ
Model: Grand Cherokee(WJ)
Engine: 4.7 HO
How do the control arms look? Front and back? My jeep kind of sways back and forth and that is generally caused by rear upper control arm bushings and ball joint.
CF Veteran




Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 2,856
Likes: 201
From: syracuse ny
Year: 1997
Model: Grand Cherokee (ZJ)
Engine: 4.0, new lifters valve job with new springs and exhaust valves, preload set with shims
Check the toe in like Dave says. Park it on a flat spot, then look down the side of one side of the jeep at the tires. Move the steering wheel until you can visualize a string line that touches the front and back of each tire (both front and back tires now pointing dead ahead.) Then move over the the other side and look down it again. Those tires should also be dead ahead. If radically toed in you will see the wheel cocked in.
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