20' Series Tyres scrubbing

[Dove]

Just got back from Tibooburra and crawling around under the van I found my right hand tyre is scrubbing out again on the inside edge. Last time my dealer replaced the axle and tyres under warranty. Now out of warranty.

After doing some measurements today it would seem that the right hand side is 5mm further forward than the left. According to Alko's notes on axles more than 4mm or more is no good. Looking thru this thread it seems Jayco aren't big on helping in this situation. I will be contacting a truck wheel aligner.

Question: For those who have gone to a specialist wheel aligner what was the cost?

My StarCraft is a single axle.

Regards,
Peter.

 

[Drover]

@Dove if your van is only a single axle and you have managed to work out that you have a 5mm change in alighnment then you are more than capable of adjusting it yourself...................From the central point on your tow hitch measure an equal distance to your chassis rail on each side, this makes it easier to measure to the front of axle inline with the spring centre bolt, with the van on jack stands and wheels off the ground you can loosen the U bolts on the out of whack side and give the axle a tap with a decent hammer till the measurement matches. This should get you back in line, if both tyres are scrubbing then your axle would need a slight bend adjustment.
Make sure the spacer, between axle and spring is in place and always recheck tension on U bolts after a few hundred klicks then every 10,000kms.

Oh PS: Check your tension on U bolts and any movement on spring shackle bushes, loose U bolts will allow movement you described at the centre bolt/spacer, a worn spring bush will give enough movement to chop out a tyre, greasable bolts with new bushes may be the answer.
Basically if you can turn the nut on the U bolts half a turn they weren't tensioned enough, not a drama really, while your down there, replace the washers with HT washers less chance of tension loss later.

 

[Dove]

Thanks Drover. You are probably correct. But I will still get the professionals to do this one. Clearly my dealer didn't get it right when installing the last axle. I also measured the positions of the front grease nipples for the leaf springs. The right hand side is 5mm forward. So even the hanger points aren't right.

 

[Drover]

I added a PS while you were posting but yep that sounds like a job for the proper blokes, go for someone who does truck aligns, they will sort it out easy as..............tyre mobs and van places don't have the gear to set things up, replacing an axle is really a last resort.

 

[daznmel]

Hi Dove,

Can not say what a single axle would cost, but mine was $330.00 (GST included) to do a dual axle van.
Could not be more happy with the results. Them did the once over the van, and fix the alignment problem, including the one I did not know about.
Gave me piece of mind, and no issues on my Qld trip.

Hope you get it sorted.

Cheers

Darren

 

[Dove]

Thanks for the replies. I took the van to a heavy truck specialist to day. The axle has been realigned, as has toe and camber.

 

[Jags73]

Thanks for the replies. I took the van to a heavy truck specialist to day. The axle has been realigned, as has toe and camber.

Sounds great @Dove , did they press bend the axle to get the camber & toe in

 

[Drover]

If you went to a dealer it would have taken a couple of weeks then some other drama no doubt, wheels, tyres, axles go to a specialist no drama have a coffee while it gets done....................Caravan dealers, specialists in selling caravans...................

 

[Dove]

Yes pressed the axle. And they served coffee and bickies. I didn't go to the dealer as it would have been weeks of arguments and still not fixed properly as I know they don't have the expertise to do it properly.

 

[straydingo]

I had noticed the passenger side tyres scrubbing out. But lately become a lot worse - completely flattened on the inside leading tyre and heading that way on the trailing tyre. About 35000kms.

Aware of this thread, I figured it was alignment, but had a undercarriage specialist I know check it out. Both solid beam axles bent. Reckons I hit a pothole or rock or something at some point, combined with poor Alko suspension setup and 45x45 axles (undersized for that van). Now $1600 ish for new axle and 2 tyres, and refit using old brake and hubs.
Plus another $1600 if I want an improved modified susp setup instead of the basic rocker roller Jayco uses.

Not ready to trade in yet so figured needs to be done.
$$$

 

[Crusty181]

I had noticed the passenger side tyres scrubbing out. But lately become a lot worse - completely flattened on the inside leading tyre and heading that way on the trailing tyre. About 35000kms.

Aware of this thread, I figured it was alignment, but had a undercarriage specialist I know check it out. Both solid beam axles bent. Reckons I hit a pothole or rock or something at some point, combined with poor Alko suspension setup and 45x45 axles (undersized for that van). Now $1600 ish for new axle and 2 tyres, and refit using old brake and hubs.
Plus another $1600 if I want an improved modified susp setup instead of the basic rocker roller Jayco uses.

Not ready to trade in yet so figured needs to be done.
$$$

Ouch. Out of warranty I presume.

 

[Drover]

2 new axles, tyres and fitting, price isn't too bad I suppose, replacing with 50mm axles can be a DIY job which isn't all that hard if you have the flat surface and minimal tools, a mate and some common dog..................replacing springs can be so easy or a can of worms, so many variables to their set up..............................I would probably go for just the new axle set up, springs if I was using it for a big tour maybe but not worth a few weeks a year sort of thing.

 

[straydingo]

Update:
$220 later all fixed. Insurance covered the rest.

Was advised; front axle 20mm out of alignment. But Jayco can be 70mm out so that was a good factory day. Now only 7mm (adjusted as far as possible without cutting). Brakes were barely touching and bearings adjusted the wrong way (both serviced 3000km ago). A few other repairs and adjustments while apart.
Needed to replace 2 tyres, but the Mk3 replacements of the GT Radials were too different (and poor quality) so grabbed a full new set of 4 decent boots. (extra $354 for the two not covered by insurance)
Something learnt; TUO stamped on old tyres and jayco rims - means Trailer Use Only and not strong enough to use as OEM replacement on any vehicle (not that I would - but is an indication of strength and quality) and also limits PSI air pressure in tyre.

Highly recommend Hornby Engineering, 11 Beach Ave, Mordialloc 95882394.
(If one were to read the history of Alko on their webpage, one would see Hornby Engineering mentioned as the original axle manufacturer who Alko bought out. This one is the son of the first Hornby and just as knowledgeable)

 

[bigcol]

good stuff its been sorted @straydingo
did it take long?
sounds like this guy knows his stuff though

interesting about the rims.............. TUO... hmmmm
but

I would never have thought of putting Jayco Alloy rims on my 4x4..........

maybe its just me....

 

[straydingo]

@bigcol just a few days.
Wouldn't use the rims on mine either, but apparently some do cos they're cheap. But its not just Jayco rims, its any. And to those who are suckered in on ebay....

which of these are TUO? And which one is mining spec?

View attachment 4.jpg
View attachment 5.jpg


edit...not sure why photos 4 & 5 aren't displaying...

 

[Drover]

Well always good when it's all sorted, I wouldn't go back to whoever did the earlier service, sounds like they didn't even look at it other than tick Bill paid......................................It's the magic stamp on the rim that says it all, easy once you decipher it.....................I think the car bible site has the translation info.

Actually I thought that the Trailer Use Only was just on those sizes for boat trailers etc, small rims, didn't think it went into rims above 12" ........ Have the Aust Standards book for rims and tyres here somewhere

 

[straydingo]

answer to above
#1 - mine spec
#2 - TUO
#3 - TUO
#4 - CSA 4wd
#5 - CSA 4wd

 

[Drover]

No one would know didly from a pic, really pays to check whats stamped on them....................