Tire Cupping

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

I have had cupping problems with the left front tire. All the suspension seems to be tight and I have had the alignment checked twice. Still the left front continues to cup. I rotated tires to that side that were good and they cup. The tech that did the alignment wanted to know if there were some different alignment specs for the lifted Jeep because everything was in tolerance.

Anyone have any ideas what I may need to do to fix this?

Kasmir Jones · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:31 pm

I think you might need JBA arms.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:53 pm

What are the alignment specs? Got the printout? If so post a pic of it.

Just because it's "in spec" does not mean it still can't wear tires.Worn or non-functioning shocks will also cause tire cupping.

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

tjkj2002 wrote:

What are the alignment specs? Got the printout? If so post a pic of it.

Just because it's "in spec" does not mean it still can't wear tires.Worn or non-functioning shocks will also cause tire cupping.

I have the printout, but I don't know how to post a picture.

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

jimymc wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

What are the alignment specs? Got the printout? If so post a pic of it.

Just because it's "in spec" does not mean it still can't wear tires.Worn or non-functioning shocks will also cause tire cupping.

I have the printout, but I don't know how to post a picture.

And the shocks are fine.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 9:43 pm

jimymc wrote:

And the shocks are fine.

Know that 100%?

The only way to tell is to remove and push/extend by hand.A shock can be bad and not leak also.New shocks can be bad also,even high end shocks.

ibHenry · **Posted:** Wed Mar 28, 2012 5:30 am

This link should help you. http://www.ehow.com/about_5509983_cause ... tires.html

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

ibHenry wrote:

This link should help you. http://www.ehow.com/about_5509983_cause ... tires.html

Thanks. I have already read all of this before. I was looking for something that might be unique to the Liberty.

I had the alignment done before and thought that they would check the components while they were doing the alignment. NOT! After the alignment I found that the inner tie rod was loose and had it replaced. That may have started the cupping in the first place. It was on the correct side where I am having the problem. I have also replaced the upper control arm on the other side because of a worn ball joint and replaced all the bushings on the stabilizer bar. Everything else on the suspension seems to be pretty tight. I do hear a little bit of looseness somewhere in the front end when I go over a small, sharp bump like a root or rock, but I can't seem to find what is causing it.

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

Anybody else?

jimithing78 · **Joined:** Thu Jul 28, 2011 1:40 pm **Posts:** 13

I know you said they're fine but cupping is usually caused by worn/bad shocks. I would especially think that's the case if it's only happening on one tire. A bad alignment would lead to uneven wear, not cupping.

patmaz · **Joined:** Sat Jan 01, 2011 2:52 pm **Posts:** 134

jimithing78 wrote:

I know you said they're fine but cupping is usually caused by worn/bad shocks. I would especially think that's the case if it's only happening on one tire. A bad alignment would lead to uneven wear, not cupping.

X2,excessive cupping=bad shock,excessive vibration or rebound,does the libby stand straight when you look at it?sometimes a car can look lower from one corner,which can be a good sign of a suspension problem,like a worn coil spring...Check that out!

But im pretty sure its a shock problem...

jimymc · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:51 pm **Posts:** 248

patmaz wrote:

jimithing78 wrote:

I know you said they're fine but cupping is usually caused by worn/bad shocks. I would especially think that's the case if it's only happening on one tire. A bad alignment would lead to uneven wear, not cupping.

X2,excessive cupping=bad shock,excessive vibration or rebound,does the libby stand straight when you look at it?sometimes a car can look lower from one corner,which can be a good sign of a suspension problem,like a worn coil spring...Check that out!

But im pretty sure its a shock problem...

I'll see about having the strut removed and checked. It surely passes the bounce test, but I guess it is best to have it removed and checked outside the Jeep.

I got a Carfax report when I bought the Jeep. It said that it had been involved in an accident. If the cradle was bent in the accident could the alignment look OK to the alignment machine, but I still have problems with a mis-aligned frame?

67Customs · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 1:45 pm

This might be too obvious and maybe a dumb question, but what about tire pressure? Checked often?

Tire Cupping

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