schnell 2.7T

Throwing this out the brain trust...this is the second time this has happened. After the first time, I had the Dealer align the car and put on new tires. 20k miles later there is a groove worn in the inside extreme edge of the tread at the junction of the sidewall.

I was told this was the alignment but is was supposedly set to factory specs. I do not want to put another set of tires on it and have the same thing happen.

I tried to figure out how to include a picture but the picture posting is obscure to me. I do have some pictures of the tires...

Thanks

schnell 2.7T

<ul><li><a href="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/57404/p2040042.jpg">http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/57404/p2040042.jpg</a</li></ul>

Epicman1

Could be bad tie rod ends...it caused the same wear pattern on my tires.

6ULDV8

dont know is that "factory spec" for alignment involves a range, and a rather large one at that. Its possible for a car to be technically in alignment and still pull to one side or cause abnormal tire wear. This type of get "it in the window" alignment is commonly referred to as a "green lite alignment". Judging from that picture though I think its pretty much out of any range. I just wanted folks to know why its possible that you can get your car back from alignment and it still pull. Also, given that amount wear on that tire it is going to continue to get worse even if the alignment is corrected. Once a wear pattern like that sets in its pretty hard to reverse.

schnell 2.7T

I may have to take it to a good shop that did the alignment on my 993. It helped that car a lot!

Tongue in cheek: Maybe the dealer is not the best for things like alignment. Maybe they can RnR parts and stuff that are specific but when it comes to actual skill...there are some specialty shops that are the way to go.

6ULDV8

just get it in the range and call it happy. Compounding the problem is that the A6 is not an easy car to align in the first place. It takes a great deal of skill get it right.

technokid

or rather in audi terms, toe curve or toe constant s. It is normally known as bump steer. The angle at which the tie rod-ends make with the steering rack detrmine the bump steer. Bump steer is the constant chaging of toe in relation to how much the suspension is rebounding or compressing. If you camber is in spec, this is what I'd suspect.

I bet the dealer did a basic static toe adjustment (just lengthening or shortening the tie-rod ends).

Either that or you are rubbing...

schnell 2.7T

I did look for rubbing and didn't see anything shiny from rubbing. Actually I thought that it was rubbing the first time it happened as it was such a sharp groove. It's not but I am REAL suspicious of the dealer alignment.

absolutcq20v

Also be sure to keep your tire pressures in check. 1 in 4 cars on the road have severely underinflated tires. Good luck with the new set.

schnell 2.7T

I've been a fanatic about that. I need to get it in to the alignment shop and then it's new tires!

Hmmmwhat to get