Uneven wear on tires can occur over time with no obvious signs of mechanical failure. The vehicle could be driving just fine even though the tires are losing tread at varying speeds. Many drivers believe that the reason for uneven tire wear is either low tire pressure, or that their wheels are out of alignment.
How Ball Joints Impact Alignment of Wheels
Ball joints provide the connection between the control arms and steering knuckle. They enable the suspension to move up and down, yet still keep the wheels sitting in their proper location. Ball joints allow you to have a smooth ride and steady handling on all types of roads. Even slight changes in how your wheels sit on the road can cause your tire tread to wear differently. If you take your vehicle to South Park Tire for a professional inspection, they can determine if you have worn ball joints before they cause more significant issues with your suspension system.
Recognising the Signs of Worn Ball Joints
Drivers should never assume that ball joints are the sole reason for uneven tire wear. A professional mechanical inspection by Auto Repair in Littleton, CO service will determine the true cause of the issue. Uneven tire wear may occur without any prior notice.
Ball joints usually wear down slowly
Therefore, the driver has little opportunity to realize there is an issue with the ball joints while driving daily. The suspension system may continue to operate normally even after a ball joint develops some internal play. However, the added motion caused by the internal play can result in changes in the geometry of the wheels as they stop moving forward (when the brakes are applied) or when they are turned. Each time the wheels are moved, there is an uneven distribution of pressure on different parts of the tire’s surface area. Rough road surfaces and constant impacts can accelerate the wear of suspension components.
Other Problems That Can Cause Similar Tyre Damage
There are many other issues that should be taken into account when looking at the potential for uneven tire wear due to worn ball joints; however, there are many other causes of irregular tire tread patterns. One of the most common causes of uneven tire tread is having your wheels aligned incorrectly. Diagnosing the problem accurately is important because simply replacing the tires does not address the underlying suspension fault.
