Ranger tire update

My advise is to get everything in writing then tell the dealer you want to speak to a factory service representative. Did you call ford yet? I believe the # is 1.800.241.FORD Check your owners manual.

Tell them your story, if they don't seem interested call an attorney. Keep in mind lemon law is 12/12. It's more difficult when you past 12/12

When you call Ford they will contact the dealer and send you back but insist on a factory rep. Have all of your documentation ready. Don't tell them you will absolutely not buy another Ford. It takes away their incentive to help you. Tell them you want to buy another Ford in the future however the handling of this situation will determine your next purchase.

John

.. Ranger tire update Group: alt.trucks.ford Date: Sat, Sep 27, 2003, 9:43pm (CDT+2) From: snipped-for-privacy@ca.inter.net (Glen=A0Smith) As promised, here is a follow up to my previous posts where I was complaining about uneven and premature tire wear on my 2002 Ranger 4x4. When I noticed excessive tire noise after the last servicing. I found the tire were worn and scalloped. First the dealer said it was due to lack of rotation but they do that as part of the regular servicing. I checked with Goodyear as they are Wrangler RT/S tires. They won't do anything, saying it is the fault of the truck. So it was back to the dealer where I had them check a few things like shocks, ball joints etc that were mentioned here. Everything was fine so the said it was the alignment. I had it aligned back in April when I took the snow tires off so I went back to the shop where it was done and had them check it. They checked it and gave me a printout showing it was dead on. Back to the dealer again. I showed them the printout and they warranty manager finally looked at the tires and said they shouldn't be wearing like that. He then said he wanted to check the alignment in their shop. I don't know why they didn't do that the first two times it was in. To their credit, they did admit that the alignment was off after they checked it. Unfortunately he phoned the next day to say they wouldn't do anything and they were going strictly by the book. They have no idea why the tires are wearing like they are but they have only about 1/3 of the expected 70,000 km life. Any ideas or advice? Am I beating a dead horse and should just give up? I had hopes that when I pay off the truck, I would get a Mustang but it looks like that idea is shot as I likely won't ever buy another Ford product. Glen Smith Nova Scotia .....................................................

Glen, sorry, but I missed your original post and the thread on it......and I'm too damn lazy to try to hunt it up, which tires are scalloping? Fronts? Rears? All?

However.....some input for you, by what I know from THIS post.

"Scalloped" tires are caused by one thing and one thing only. Tire hop!!

"Tire hop" being defined by me as....... The tire being allowed to hop up and down while the vehical is going down the road. A steadily wosening condition, because the actual "scallop" pattern accentuates the hop of the tire.

Basically....the wear pattern worsens because the scallop condition actually promotes tire hop. The tire hops more and more as the scallop condition worsens.......the scallop condition worsens because the tire hops more and more.

Common contributing factors to Scalloped tires are known to be caused by the driving with, on, in, during, or over ........the following.......

bad shocks (leading cause) railroad tracks washboard pavement railroad tracks cold weather railroad tracks overloaded vehical railroad tracks cheap tires railroad tracks any combination of the above railroad tracks

remove all known good parts and non-existant conditions from the above list and you will most likely find the culprit.

Scrib Abell

you probably had the tires out of balance...causing a hop and then scalloping the tire tread. I would be happy with the new alignment, buy new tires and shocks (factory shocks are junk and leak)....get some good shocks and new goodyears.

I phoned Ford's toll free after the first visit when I first noticed the noise. They brought up the service record and phoned the dealer but were of no help. I then phoned Goodyear but she wasn't much more. Then I went back to the dealer.

It's the front tires that are the worse but it only became noticable after the last rotation when they were moved to the front. For some reason I suspect the problem may be with the limited slip rear end but it has been checked a couple of times. When I asked how they test it, I was told the mechanic takes it up back on the graveled part of the lot and makes tight turns. Not exactly scientific in my opinion.

My next move is to track down the district rep and get his take on the matter and if necessary write a few letters. Beyond that, I'll have to bite the biscuit and hope it doesn't happen with the next set.

I was glad to finally get an explaination of what causes the tires to wear in this manner. Tire hop. Since I don't cross too many railway tracks, would it be logical to assume the shocks may be at fault?

I have learned one thing from this. My next vehicle will be aligned within a week of purchase and each time it's done, I'll be asking for a before and after printout of the specs for my records.

We have two Ford dealers in town. Would it be wise to get a second opinion or is that considered Taboo? What about taking my truck to the other dealer for servicing?

Someone also suggested contacting the salesman who sold me the truck. Turns out he ended up in the service department soon after and has recently disappeared on what was stated as 'maternaty leave'.

Thanks for all the advice.

Glen Smith Nova Scotia

I Have the same Problem With my 1997 Ranger worn so bad had to change them at

49,000. I was told it was because ford uses light duty shocks to give the truck a softer ride. The under rated shock will not allow the tires to be held firmly to the ground causing premature failure of the tires. RESEARCH

Thanks for the advice. A few others have also suggested that this is the cause of the problem.

Does anyone know of a simple but reliable way of testing shocks besides bouncing the truck up and down? I have noticed that when I cross a speed bump at low speed, I hear a squishing sound from the front shock(s) like that of air escaping. Is that normal?

If I should change the shocks, what new ones should I look at? My offroading is pretty tame so I don't need anything really heavy duty but I would need a shock that will solve the problem while giving a decent ride.

I'm a little ticked that I have to start putting money into parts for a truck that is a little over a year old. The reason I bought a new truck was so I would have at least a few years of no extra expenses.

Once again, thanks for all the advice.

Glen

Rancho 5000's worked for me! I had a duel shock setup on my pickup since '75 until a couple years ago when I went to the Rancho 5000's.

-Any- off roading is going to need something other than the stock setup if you want something "good". Going half-way with the new shocks is going to be a waste of time and money! :) I bet I could fix that sucker but you might not like it. :) First, I'd put on the heaviest front springs Ford makes for it and some Rancho 5000's and then go from there to see if it needed antyhing else.

Now, please understand I ain't an off-roader, I'm a dirt-roader. ;) And a big-time experimenter. Stiff springs are the way to go.

I'm sorry but qualifications put on the vehicle like "decent ride" or "good ride" really rub me the wrong way. :/ It's like- the ride is what it is, after, you make it "work right" or "work best".

Certain old guys don't go along with me on that and I tell 'em "buy an old LTD or Cadillac instead of a pickup then dammit". ;)

Funny thing tho, they like the way my pickup rides, it's not bouncy and not rough either. BTW, bouncy has an "unpleasantness" all it's own when going over a rough dirt road.

Oh well... :(

Did that with my '75 F150 too. $79 for Sears (Dana) speed control. Then a home made duel shock setup, Sears Super-Duty (Monroes). $31 for a saddle blanket seat cover. Had to argue for a stock rear bumper that I paid for, but they put on extra heavy-duty front springs under warranty even tho it was over 12,000 miles.

Shocks can't do it by themselves, first you have to have good stiff springs then good shocks will work. In my not-so-humble opinion anyway! :)

Alvin in AZ