Rakkasan_Jeep

Ok, I've had this problem for a few years, my front driver side tire wears higher on the outside than the other tires. Last time I had an alignment done at Firestone, the report said my front driver side had a negative camber.

After talking with a few very experienced mechanics lately, it's been boiled down to bad bushing on a control arm. Question is upper or lower?

Bluebyu

I dont think a control arm bushing would cause negative camber. Your looking at probably a bad ball joint and/or wheel bearing.

dave1123

Bluebyu is exactly right. The camber is built in and controlled by the ball joints and hub bearings. If everything is in good condition, the only way to change the camber is with offset ball joints. the CASTER is controlled by the control arms and bushings. It's possible the spindle carrier is bent, but I've never heard if this before. The spindle carrier is the piece that the hub bolts to and the ball joints are attached to. This piece is forged steel and would have to have taken one hell of a whack to bend. Do you know if the front axle is from a wreck?

If the hub bearings are worn, this could be the problem, although if they were worn, it seems to me that the inside edge of the tire would be worn.

Bustedback

Negative camber will wear the INSIDE of the tire.

dave1123

You're right, Busted. I wasn't sure which was negative or positive. He was also confusing because he said the tire wore HIGHER on the outside. Did he mean there was more rubber on the outside?

Rakkasan_Jeep

The axle is fine. No leaks, I've ran a back ground check on my Jeep and nothing came up.

I guess the better way to explain it is, when you look at the front of my Jeep, you see the pssngr wheel is straight up and down, but the driver wheel, the top is cocked out just a bit and it's very noticeable.

Bustedback

That would be positive camber.

dave1123

So you're talking POSITIVE camber. If it were mine, I'd take it to a really good alignment shop or the dealer and have it checked out. Positive camber can be remedied with offset ball joints, but there has to be a reason it's not right.

Rakkasan_Jeep

I think what I'll do it just replace both upper and lower ball joints and go from there. I can get them at cost for now so I'll just replace them

freegdr

Is there any lift installed or stock ride height ?

Rakkasan_Jeep

All stock ride height. I have thought about lifting it but right now, money is out of the question.

GitRDunn

In order to buy the offset ball joints you need to know what degree the alignment is off. then you can look for the correct offset ball joints. Jut a thought.

dave1123

Oh! And they have to be installed the right way.

freegdr

99 percent of the time tires lean in on top when ball joints are bad . Id take to a reputable alignment shop not a one stop repair shop. Get another opinion one that deals in 4x4s and bigger trucks.

freegdr

They do make offset shims not many now this ...