2003 Ford Ranger Shocks and Tire Cupping
 

I took my Ranger in for an oil change and tire rotation at Meineke. It has
13,400 miles on it and is 2WD. It had 18 miles on it when I got it from the
dealer.

This was the first time that I had the tires rotated. I'm sure it was over
due but I didn't think it was by much. The mechanic called me out to the
garage and showed me that the all 4 tires were cupping and said that it was
because of defective shocks. He said that the front tires were the worst
but the back tires were in trouble too. He knew that it didn't have many
miles on it and suggested that I raise hell with the dealer to have the
shocks replaced before it ate up my tires any more. He did rotate them left
to right so as to leave the better tires on the back for traction.

I called the service desk at the dealer and he told me that the cupping
would not be caused by bad shocks and that it had to be because of
misalignment or lack of rotation. He said that the front wheels had to be
misaligned and the back tires had been rotated so they were also showing the
wear also. I know that this is not the case since they had never been
rotated before.

So here are my questions to you guys:

Do bad shocks lead to cupping?

How does lack of rotation cause cupping on the back tires when it has a
fixed axle that needs no alignment?

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

Bad shocks could lead to your condition, but with that many miles,
probably not. I can see the fronts being caused by misalignment but not
the rears. If the rears are cupped it's either the tire pressure being
too low, an out of balance condition or the tires themselves. I would
think if they are out of balance enough to give you your wear pattern,
you should certainly feel it while driving so this theory is a stretch.
Good luck.

It's due to misalignment. You need an alignment (most likely toe
problems). Then you need new tires. If you continue to drive it with
the cupped tires, you will have problems with stuff shaking loose from
your car (I was losing transmission pan bolts and oil pan bolts due to
tire cupping).

You have defective shocks. There is no other way all 4 tires can be
cupped.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Helvis wrote:
>
> I took my Ranger in for an oil change and tire rotation at Meineke. It has
> 13,400 miles on it and is 2WD. It had 18 miles on it when I got it from the
> dealer.
>
> This was the first time that I had the tires rotated. I'm sure it was over
> due but I didn't think it was by much. The mechanic called me out to the
> garage and showed me that the all 4 tires were cupping and said that it was
> because of defective shocks. He said that the front tires were the worst
> but the back tires were in trouble too. He knew that it didn't have many
> miles on it and suggested that I raise hell with the dealer to have the
> shocks replaced before it ate up my tires any more. He did rotate them left
> to right so as to leave the better tires on the back for traction.
>
> I called the service desk at the dealer and he told me that the cupping
> would not be caused by bad shocks and that it had to be because of
> misalignment or lack of rotation. He said that the front wheels had to be
> misaligned and the back tires had been rotated so they were also showing the
> wear also. I know that this is not the case since they had never been
> rotated before.
>
> So here are my questions to you guys:
>
> Do bad shocks lead to cupping?
>
> How does lack of rotation cause cupping on the back tires when it has a
> fixed axle that needs no alignment?
>
> Thanks in advance for your opinions.

On 25 Feb 2005 04:21:49 -0800, "pater" > wrote:

>Bad shocks could lead to your condition, but with that many miles,
>probably not. I can see the fronts being caused by misalignment but not
>the rears. If the rears are cupped it's either the tire pressure being
>too low, an out of balance condition or the tires themselves. I would
>think if they are out of balance enough to give you your wear pattern,
>you should certainly feel it while driving so this theory is a stretch.
>Good luck.


The rear tires likely spent a portion of their life in the front,
hence the cupping.
RR

On 25 Feb 2005 04:21:49 -0800, "pater" > wrote:

>Bad shocks could lead to your condition, but with that many miles,
>probably not. I can see the fronts being caused by misalignment but not
>the rears. If the rears are cupped it's either the tire pressure being
>too low, an out of balance condition or the tires themselves. I would
>think if they are out of balance enough to give you your wear pattern,
>you should certainly feel it while driving so this theory is a stretch.
>Good luck.

Sorry for me recent post about the tires being on the front for a
while. I missed the OP noting that this was the first rotation. I
need to pay more attention.
RR

Bad Tires!!!!!!!! BAD TIRES !!!!!!!!!! A manufacturing problem. Don't ask
for an explanation, I do not wish to spend the rest of my life educating you
about tires.
"Mike Romain" > wrote in message
...
> You have defective shocks. There is no other way all 4 tires can be
> cupped.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> Helvis wrote:
>>
>> I took my Ranger in for an oil change and tire rotation at Meineke. It
>> has
>> 13,400 miles on it and is 2WD. It had 18 miles on it when I got it from
>> the
>> dealer.
>>
>> This was the first time that I had the tires rotated. I'm sure it was
>> over
>> due but I didn't think it was by much. The mechanic called me out to the
>> garage and showed me that the all 4 tires were cupping and said that it
>> was
>> because of defective shocks. He said that the front tires were the worst
>> but the back tires were in trouble too. He knew that it didn't have many
>> miles on it and suggested that I raise hell with the dealer to have the
>> shocks replaced before it ate up my tires any more. He did rotate them
>> left
>> to right so as to leave the better tires on the back for traction.
>>
>> I called the service desk at the dealer and he told me that the cupping
>> would not be caused by bad shocks and that it had to be because of
>> misalignment or lack of rotation. He said that the front wheels had to
>> be
>> misaligned and the back tires had been rotated so they were also showing
>> the
>> wear also. I know that this is not the case since they had never been
>> rotated before.
>>
>> So here are my questions to you guys:
>>
>> Do bad shocks lead to cupping?
>>
>> How does lack of rotation cause cupping on the back tires when it has a
>> fixed axle that needs no alignment?
>>
>> Thanks in advance for your opinions.

Neat dealership trickery...

cupping tires ARE caused by worn/weak/leaking shocks. the tires aren't
fully being allowed to stay on the ground so as you drive the tires are
bouncing vs. staying put.

If the tires were out of balance you'd notice it as you drive, as your
steering wheel would be pulsing and probably moving back & forth on its own.

Go get a set of Bilstein's.. stay away from stock/OEM.. they're worth the
money.


"Helvis" > wrote in message
...
> I took my Ranger in for an oil change and tire rotation at Meineke. It
has
> 13,400 miles on it and is 2WD. It had 18 miles on it when I got it from
the
> dealer.
>
> This was the first time that I had the tires rotated. I'm sure it was
over
> due but I didn't think it was by much. The mechanic called me out to the
> garage and showed me that the all 4 tires were cupping and said that it
was
> because of defective shocks. He said that the front tires were the worst
> but the back tires were in trouble too. He knew that it didn't have many
> miles on it and suggested that I raise hell with the dealer to have the
> shocks replaced before it ate up my tires any more. He did rotate them
left
> to right so as to leave the better tires on the back for traction.
>
> I called the service desk at the dealer and he told me that the cupping
> would not be caused by bad shocks and that it had to be because of
> misalignment or lack of rotation. He said that the front wheels had to
be
> misaligned and the back tires had been rotated so they were also showing
the
> wear also. I know that this is not the case since they had never been
> rotated before.
>
> So here are my questions to you guys:
>
> Do bad shocks lead to cupping?
>
> How does lack of rotation cause cupping on the back tires when it has a
> fixed axle that needs no alignment?
>
> Thanks in advance for your opinions.
>
>