Front tire wear

1483 Views 17 Replies 9 Participants Last post by doorstop v, 7 mo ago

CWF

Discussion Starter · 7 mo ago

My 2014 CTS-V frequently wears the front tires to the cord on the inside edge of the tire. All of the front suspension alignment specs are correct. What is the problem and how can it be fixed?

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

RocketSled

· #2 · 7 mo ago (Edited)

Use more throttle so the rear tires wear at the same rate.

Seriously, if the wear is abnormal, your alignment cannot be "correct", there is no other possible explanation. Go find someone else to check it. Whoever is checking it now is doing something wrong.

I generally don't get more than 10K miles on a set of tires. I've been through 5 sets on my 14 Coupe. None of them showed any unusual (for me, anyway) wear.

tinman

· #3 · 7 mo ago

I can eke out maybe 20,000 on my PS4S, but that is pushing it. But seriously, you need a new alignment shop. Get a Before and an After printout.

db-guru

· #4 · 7 mo ago

Agreed on the alignment. Besides the alignment check the suspension components for wear. Also, the V2 is known for wearing out the inside of the front tires more heavily than the outside. But not to the extent that you described. Mine go 20-30% faster so there's still some tread showing when the rest of the tire is ready for replacement. The rears wear way faster for some reason

Reactions: 2

MrSurly

· #5 · 7 mo ago

1. Alignment is wrong or
2. Worn components are being overlooked by alignment shop.

How many miles are on the car?

Blades1_99

· #6 · 7 mo ago

When I first got my car, it was wearing the inside. Had a very good alignment shop changed stance both front and rear.....been perfect since. BTW it was under 5k miles and "factory" spec.

"Pearl" is a 2011, V Coupe, A6, Recaros, Skyview.

Mods: Airaid - Red filter, Side Swipe, Mamo LS7 Ported TB, ZL1 lid, Fasterproms underhood tank, BMR Catch Can, .... 503whp - 522wtq @ 8 psi boost on 110 Octane
GP Tuning Stg 2 Cam kit with BTR pushrods, springs, timing chain, and trunion upgrade, GripTech 10 bolt 2.45 upper, FIC 1300, WeaponX Track Attack II Heat Exchanger, TSP 2" Ceramic coated w/Hiflow Cats, TR71x, Accel Ceramic wires, DSX 100mm relocated idler, stock IC pump ... 615whp -596wtq @ 10.2 psi boost on 110 Octane... 1/25/20 added DSX flex fuel sensor and CWA 100 IC pump 6/25/20 added ATI Balancer with 8.66 lower. 93 oct 627whp-613tq 40%E blend 652whp-642tq...Xtreme CFM heads Jokerz Supercharger....Feb 25 2021 710whp-645tq on 93, April 2021, DWS 300S, ALM hat, G-force axles on widened coupe wheels 11" running 325s. Sept 2021 swapped to NW 103 with DDP Cold Air Intake System.

subaru335i

· #7 · 7 mo ago

Mine did the same thing. I honestly think it is the factory alignment specs that do it. A combination of camber and too much toe.

It is "correct" and handles well but it wears out the inside shoulder like hell.

A specialty alignment shop can dial it in however you want and reduce it.

Reactions: 1

tinman

· #8 · 7 mo ago

Where do the Nordlock washers come into play?

RocketSled

· #9 · 7 mo ago

The keep the control arm setting from moving, better than the factory bolts do on their own. They have nothing to do with proper alignment and everything to do with retaining proper alignment...

Reactions: 1

tinman

· #10 · 7 mo ago

Thanks. I wasn't sure how they 'fit' into this conversation, but I wanted to bring it up just in case.

Reactions: 1

Blades1_99

· #11 · 7 mo ago

I'm pretty sure I have a set of them around.

"Pearl" is a 2011, V Coupe, A6, Recaros, Skyview.

Mods: Airaid - Red filter, Side Swipe, Mamo LS7 Ported TB, ZL1 lid, Fasterproms underhood tank, BMR Catch Can, .... 503whp - 522wtq @ 8 psi boost on 110 Octane
GP Tuning Stg 2 Cam kit with BTR pushrods, springs, timing chain, and trunion upgrade, GripTech 10 bolt 2.45 upper, FIC 1300, WeaponX Track Attack II Heat Exchanger, TSP 2" Ceramic coated w/Hiflow Cats, TR71x, Accel Ceramic wires, DSX 100mm relocated idler, stock IC pump ... 615whp -596wtq @ 10.2 psi boost on 110 Octane... 1/25/20 added DSX flex fuel sensor and CWA 100 IC pump 6/25/20 added ATI Balancer with 8.66 lower. 93 oct 627whp-613tq 40%E blend 652whp-642tq...Xtreme CFM heads Jokerz Supercharger....Feb 25 2021 710whp-645tq on 93, April 2021, DWS 300S, ALM hat, G-force axles on widened coupe wheels 11" running 325s. Sept 2021 swapped to NW 103 with DDP Cold Air Intake System.

CWF

Discussion Starter · #12 · 7 mo ago

Hey I couldn't agree more with the answers to my post. I purchased the car with only 8K miles on it and this problem existed then, so can't be worn suspension. I have had the suspension aligned three times at three different locations, each time to the factory specs and I was given a print out of the settings. I agree that that extreme inner tread wear is "impossible" with the specified factory specs, but it is happening. I would think that it would be totally impossible for me to cause this extreme wear even if I tried to do it.The car drives great. I have done track days and I run the car in Open Road Racing at a 150 mph average speed.
I was hoping that someone would say, "the simple solution is.......". I guess I'll just have to start experimenting with different alignment specs.

Blades1_99

· #13 · 7 mo ago

CWF said:
Hey I couldn't agree more with the answers to my post. I purchased the car with only 8K miles on it and this problem existed then, so can't be worn suspension. I have had the suspension aligned three times at three different locations, each time to the factory specs and I was given a print out of the settings. I agree that that extreme inner tread wear is "impossible" with the specified factory specs, but it is happening. I would think that it would be totally impossible for me to cause this extreme wear even if I tried to do it.The car drives great. I have done track days and I run the car in Open Road Racing at a 150 mph average speed.
I was hoping that someone would say, "the simple solution is.......". I guess I'll just have to start experimenting with different alignment specs.

A really good tech, like I seemed to have lucked into, knew how to adjust the stance by "reading" measurements he was getting. Just going to factory seem to be the problem for you.

"Pearl" is a 2011, V Coupe, A6, Recaros, Skyview.

Mods: Airaid - Red filter, Side Swipe, Mamo LS7 Ported TB, ZL1 lid, Fasterproms underhood tank, BMR Catch Can, .... 503whp - 522wtq @ 8 psi boost on 110 Octane
GP Tuning Stg 2 Cam kit with BTR pushrods, springs, timing chain, and trunion upgrade, GripTech 10 bolt 2.45 upper, FIC 1300, WeaponX Track Attack II Heat Exchanger, TSP 2" Ceramic coated w/Hiflow Cats, TR71x, Accel Ceramic wires, DSX 100mm relocated idler, stock IC pump ... 615whp -596wtq @ 10.2 psi boost on 110 Octane... 1/25/20 added DSX flex fuel sensor and CWA 100 IC pump 6/25/20 added ATI Balancer with 8.66 lower. 93 oct 627whp-613tq 40%E blend 652whp-642tq...Xtreme CFM heads Jokerz Supercharger....Feb 25 2021 710whp-645tq on 93, April 2021, DWS 300S, ALM hat, G-force axles on widened coupe wheels 11" running 325s. Sept 2021 swapped to NW 103 with DDP Cold Air Intake System.

CWF

Discussion Starter · #14 · 7 mo ago

I used to do my own wheel alignment on my older GM vehicles so I have a pretty good grasp of the process. I checked the front toe using my old measuring devices. Well now, the front toe was 7/16" toed out. I put my CTS-V up on jack stands and crawled under it. It was obvious that the front A arm bolts had indeed moved since the alignment. Of course since these bolts are just in a slot, with enough force (150-160 mph speeds on a public highway?) they can indeed move. A camber kit, which would prevent this movement is not available for the Cadillac. If I can't find a kit, I will make my own.
I'm pretty sure that the front tire wear is due to the front suspension not retaining it's alignment with time and use.

Prairie v

· #15 · 7 mo ago

I believe fdf fab makes a plate kit . I’ve seen a video on it but no first hand experience and it’s not on their website . I’m thinking of it as an option when I switch to creative steel bushings just have to research it a bit to see if it’s a viable option .

subaru335i

· #16 · 7 mo ago

Yeah my alignment guy has a 5th gen camaro

CWF said:
I used to do my own wheel alignment on my older GM vehicles so I have a pretty good grasp of the process. I checked the front toe using my old measuring devices. Well now, the front toe was 7/16" toed out. I put my CTS-V up on jack stands and crawled under it. It was obvious that the front A arm bolts had indeed moved since the alignment. Of course since these bolts are just in a slot, with enough force (150-160 mph speeds on a public highway?) they can indeed move. A camber kit, which would prevent this movement is not available for the Cadillac. If I can't find a kit, I will make my own.
I'm pretty sure that the front tire wear is due to the front suspension not retaining it's alignment with time and use.

That is definitely a problem and the dimpled washers/nordlock washers are a pretty good solution to keeping alignment from moving.

However I had my alignment set at factory specs and then had heavy inside shoulder wear and had the alignment checked again and it hadn't moved at all.
Zero toe helped a lot along with some other alignment changes outside of OEM spec (I don't remember what the numbers were exactly).

CWF

Discussion Starter · #17 · 7 mo ago

As far as the nordlock washers go, do you put one at each end of the A arm bolt? Anyone know what size that I would need for my V?

doorstop v

· #18 · 7 mo ago

My V ran through the fronts pretty fast and I was told by the alignment shop to replace the control arms because they could not adjust the camber any more than it already is. I have minimum knowledge on camber and all of that just thought it was interesting.

Reactions: 1

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