Suspension problem/question
 

I had some interesting wear on my front tires, I guess you could call it cupping. Took it to two different shops and one said it was alignment and the other said alignment and suspension. I had it aligned but I won’t know if that was it for some time. The person that owned my truck before me had the shocks replaced about 4 years ago but said it was really difficult to find specific replacements because of the heavy diesel.

Now that I am looking for suspension problems, it does seem I have an awful lot of bounce on the front, i.e. not enough damping (sp?). I have a 1994 CTD 2 wd and was wondering what shocks ya’ll run and if you could recommend some replacements. By the way, I am currently running Monroe gas something or another. I went to Autozone and they couldn’t tell me a thing about the different ones they carry so I figured I had better ask the pros.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Greg

My 95 Ton wore the insides off the front tires about 20,000 mi after I bought it. I lifted it 1.5" on all four corners and then had it aligned and that seems to be doing the trick.

However, now the local 4x4 shop has been looking for 3 days to find some kind of aftermarket shock (Rancho, Billstein, etc.) to fit it.

Just to let you know.

Chris

PS, this would not have been difficult at all had the first 4x4 shop I went to sold me the right parts. The front coil buckets were 2.5" tall and the back blocks were for a new FURD, and he sold me the wrong bolts. Needless to say I went somewhere else.

Hope this Helps

Also, incorrect tire pressure can cause odd-wearing on tires. Too much psi will cause them to bubble up in the center, causing them to wear faster in the middle. Just an idea.

Any 4x4 specialty shop will have or will order the correct Rancho 9000 shocks for you. I like the adjustability because I drive both with and without my camper. I am amazed that most people aren't aware of the need for different damping rates for light and heavy loads, and the huge difference in comfort levels adjustable shocks will give you.

Worn out shocks and unbalanced tires probably ruined your tires. Cupped tires won't get better even if you buy new shocks and correct the alignment and tire pressure and balance, but they will last longer if you do that, and buy new shocks. Use them up and with your new tires just be sure you have tire pressure to match your load and fresh alignment.

I agree with dodgediesel4x4

Pressures can cause irregular wear.

To high of PSI and the centers were out faster.

To low of PSI and the edges were out faster.

If your alignment is off(especially camber) usually one edge or the other will wear faster. Or can cause accelerated wear all together.

What PSI are you running at? What size tires? What size rims?

For instance, if your running 315s on 16x8 rims you probably want to run a lower PSI(maybe 45-50 PSI) then running the stock 265 Michelins on stock rims(maybe more like 65 PSI). This is just an example.

On a '94, i would check the bottom ball joints for a cupping problem. Lift the wheels slightly off the ground, and then pry up on the tire to check for play.