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The inner edge(20%) of the LH rear tyre has worn down in about 3,000 miles.

The worn part of the tyre is feathered (uneven) .

I have tried the following to try to cure the fault.

There is no accident damage & the rims run true.

Diff works ok, viscous coupling appears ok.

Rear wheel bearings changed.Brake shoes changed and brakes don't grab or bind.

Anti roll bar rubber links changed.

The shocks were changed and do appear stiff.But for an esate (wagon) carrying loads, this would seem to be good.

The rear wheel Toe in has been checked by two different mechanics.One with laser gear & the other mechanical .

There are no worn rubber suspension bushes either.

 

Scratch your heads please 'cos I have run out of ideas

 

The car is a 1997 Legacy estate( wagon ) with 130,000 miles on the clock

 

regards Yewman

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The rear wheel Toe in has been checked by two different mechanics.One with laser gear & the other mechanical .

There are no worn rubber suspension bushes either.

 

Scratch your heads please 'cos I have run out of ideas

 

The car is a 1997 Legacy estate( wagon ) with 130,000 miles on the clock

 

regards Yewman

 

Right there he says that he had the alignment checked twice, and it was found to be in spec. Just a shot in the dark (you have already checked the things I would have) but are the tyres properly balanced? Are these new tyres? Has the front toe in been checked at all? If the tyres are new, I would suspect a bad balancing, or a defective tyre.

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Okay, inner edge wear would normally be caused by too much negative camber.

 

However, since it's "feathered" away, that indicates scrubbing, which is the result of a faulty toe adjustment. The tyre in question is being dragged. It must be.

 

So, the alignment must be out. Straighten the steering wheel. Get a long length of thick string and strap it around all four wheels in a horizontal plane. Ideally, over the center of the wheels, but bumpers get in the way and you'll have to do it lower down. This method should be accurate enough to expose the wonky wheel. That'll be the one where the string is gaping at either the front or rear of the tyre.

 

Please try this before you spend any more money on new parts :)

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Thanks to all who have replied to my message.

 

I will try to answer all the points you raised.

The tyre balance is good, with no vibration.

The tyre which is now edge worn was new 12 months ago, but the previous tyre wore the same (but maybe not as quickly).

Front toe in is good and the tyre wear is very even .

 

Thanks Setright- I'll try the string test. I agree that somehow the tyre is scrubbing.I used to drive Triumph Spitfires, whose rear suspension went from pos to neg cam all the time as you were driving, but I will check the camber again.

The parts I have fitted were needed anyway ,over a period of time to pass the UK annual roadworthiness test( MOT). It,s just that everytime I changed something I thought I had cured the problem!!!

 

cheers, Yewman.

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I have been checking out Endwrench.com, a website with good subaru workshop info including pics. Although you have to pay to obtain some info, quite alot is free .The archive bulletins on suspension and wheel alignment are superb.

The info on rear suspension indicates that the rear camber is not adjustable.

Do you know what the camber spec is for my 1997 AWD Legacy Estate (Wagon)?

 

Providing you donT lift off sharply in a fast corner, swing axles are ok, much of the bad press was generated by the press not the owners !!!!

Cheers Yewman

Thank the Lord that the days of Pendulum Axles are over!
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Standard camber on standard ride height is -1.0 degree.

 

You'd need about 3-4 degrees to cause abnormal wear. Which is easily visible and would leave a smooth wear pattern. Toe is harder to see and leaves a rough pattern.

 

 

"Providing you don't liff off.." TRUE, but this can be necessary on public roads :)

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Thanks for the gen.I have just made a rough check with a plumbline and it seems I have about 2 degrees neg.I will go back to mechanic and get an accurate reading.

The info from Subaru says rear camber is not adjustable,there must be damage if it is wrong . There isn't any damage , so the only answer I can come up with is that the new shocks I fitted were not to spec.The brackets welded to the base of the strut dictate the wheel camber.If the centre distance between the strut and the two holes which bolt it to the wheel housing was too short,hey presto too much neg camber.

New shocks from the dealer will cost a fortune, unless I could persuade them to measure a new one to compare those fitted to the car

 

regards Yewman..

 

Standard camber on standard ride height is -1.0 degree.

 

You'd need about 3-4 degrees to cause abnormal wear. Which is easily visible and would leave a smooth wear pattern. Toe is harder to see and leaves a rough pattern.

 

 

"Providing you don't liff off.." TRUE, but this can be necessary on public roads :)

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