OT - Struts

I was getting the oil changed in my Saturn at this tire shop and I was told
by the Tech that the struts where shot and they were shredding the tires.. I
have never heard of that before... Can someone help me on that one? I know
it isn't a Jeep question, but I thought that the shredding tire thing was
interesting...

Ben
95 YJ 2.5L

Ben did pass the time by typing:
> I was getting the oil changed in my Saturn at this tire shop and I was told
> by the Tech that the struts where shot and they were shredding the tires.. I
> have never heard of that before... Can someone help me on that one? I know
> it isn't a Jeep question, but I thought that the shredding tire thing was
> interesting...

Failing struts, just like bad shocks, can cause excessive tire wear.
It is usually felt as "cupping" caused by the tire bouncing.

Cupping can be felt by moving your palm around the tire tread and feeling
depression/bump/depression/bump/etc

Not 100% on this but I think struts also affect the front geometry in
those types of vehicles and can lead to other tire damage such as fethering.

Feathering can be felt by moving your palm one way (where it just slides
around) and then the other way where it feels like the tire is grabbing your
palm.


--
DougW

I'd run ... ok, drive, to a Saturn shop for a second opinion. My experience
with other makes and with normal driving, struts last a long long time.

"Ben" > wrote in message
...
> I was getting the oil changed in my Saturn at this tire shop and I was
told
> by the Tech that the struts where shot and they were shredding the tires..
I
> have never heard of that before... Can someone help me on that one? I know
> it isn't a Jeep question, but I thought that the shredding tire thing was
> interesting...
>
> Ben
> 95 YJ 2.5L
>
>

Hi Ben,
The tires show cupping like Doug said to check? Pictured:
http://www.billhughes.com/tireWear.pdf Remember the strut holds the
wheel spindle on these econo boxes. The alignment man say anything about
crash, burn and die?
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O


Ben wrote:
>
> I was getting the oil changed in my Saturn at this tire shop and I was told
> by the Tech that the struts where shot and they were shredding the tires.. I
> have never heard of that before... Can someone help me on that one? I know
> it isn't a Jeep question, but I thought that the shredding tire thing was
> interesting...
>
> Ben
> 95 YJ 2.5L

Struts or shocks (two items that do the very same job in almost identical
manners) can fail in a manner that will cause the tires to wear badly along
the edges, especially if the tires are underinflated.

The wear pattern is called "feathering" or "cupping". You can feel this
feathering by sliding your fingers along the tread. In advanced cases, you
can see the feathering quite plainly.





"Ben" > wrote in message
...
> I was getting the oil changed in my Saturn at this tire shop and I was
told
> by the Tech that the struts where shot and they were shredding the tires..
I
> have never heard of that before... Can someone help me on that one? I know
> it isn't a Jeep question, but I thought that the shredding tire thing was
> interesting...
>
> Ben
> 95 YJ 2.5L
>
>

I would stay as far from the dealer as I could. I would never go there for a
second opinion. I would perhaps go to another tire store or similar such
service center.

Struts last no longer than any other type of shock absorber, and the OP
didn't give us any clue as to how old his Saturn is. It could easily have
shocks that are due for replacemnt.





"bowgus" > wrote in message
...
> I'd run ... ok, drive, to a Saturn shop for a second opinion. My
experience
> with other makes and with normal driving, struts last a long long time.
>
> "Ben" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I was getting the oil changed in my Saturn at this tire shop and I was
> told
> > by the Tech that the struts where shot and they were shredding the
tires..
> I
> > have never heard of that before... Can someone help me on that one? I
know
> > it isn't a Jeep question, but I thought that the shredding tire thing
was
> > interesting...
> >
> > Ben
> > 95 YJ 2.5L
> >
> >
>
>

Other than he said his tires were shredded. That kinda describes my
Brother's Bimmer: http://www.billhughes.com/jerrybmw.jpg
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O


Jeff Strickland wrote:
>
> I would stay as far from the dealer as I could. I would never go there for a
> second opinion. I would perhaps go to another tire store or similar such
> service center.
>
> Struts last no longer than any other type of shock absorber, and the OP
> didn't give us any clue as to how old his Saturn is. It could easily have
> shocks that are due for replacemnt.

If the shock absorber was the only thing that held the wheel on.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
http://www.billhughes.com/

Jeff Strickland wrote:
>
> Struts or shocks (two items that do the very same job in almost identical
> manners) can fail in a manner that will cause the tires to wear badly along
> the edges, especially if the tires are underinflated.
>
> The wear pattern is called "feathering" or "cupping". You can feel this
> feathering by sliding your fingers along the tread. In advanced cases, you
> can see the feathering quite plainly.

Yet another observation from Captain Beside-the-Point. Can I get a group
"DUH!"?








"L.W. (ßill) Hughes III" > wrote in message
...
> If the shock absorber was the only thing that held the wheel on.
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> http://www.billhughes.com/
>
> Jeff Strickland wrote:
> >
> > Struts or shocks (two items that do the very same job in almost
identical
> > manners) can fail in a manner that will cause the tires to wear badly
along
> > the edges, especially if the tires are underinflated.
> >
> > The wear pattern is called "feathering" or "cupping". You can feel this
> > feathering by sliding your fingers along the tread. In advanced cases,
you
> > can see the feathering quite plainly.

Heh, good one Jeff.

Jeff Strickland wrote:
> Yet another observation from Captain Beside-the-Point. Can I get a group
> "DUH!"?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "L.W. (ßill) Hughes III" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>> If the shock absorber was the only thing that held the wheel on.
>> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
http://www.billhughes.com/
>>
>>Jeff Strickland wrote:
>>
>>>Struts or shocks (two items that do the very same job in almost
>
> identical
>
>>>manners) can fail in a manner that will cause the tires to wear badly
>
> along
>
>>>the edges, especially if the tires are underinflated.
>>>
>>>The wear pattern is called "feathering" or "cupping". You can feel this
>>>feathering by sliding your fingers along the tread. In advanced cases,
>
> you
>
>>>can see the feathering quite plainly.
>
>
>

--
Jerry Bransford
PP-ASEL N6TAY
See the Geezer Jeep at
http://members.cox.net/jerrypb/