solace

My expedtion has 18,000 miles on it and the steering wheel started shaking.
I took it to the dealer and they told me I needed 4 new tires because of
cupping. I saw the tire that ihas the cupping. The front driver side tire.
Do you think if I rotate the tires the cupping with fix it self. Seems
crazy to me to have to buy 4 new tires at 200 a piece when I only have
18,000 miles. Has anyone else had cupping troubles?
Btw the dealer was not very helpful at all!

 

Rich

This should be covered under warranty. For tires, I believe it is pro-rated.

Rich

On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 11:24:17 -0400, "solace" wrote:

>My expedtion has 18,000 miles on it and the steering wheel started shaking.
>I took it to the dealer and they told me I needed 4 new tires because of
>cupping. I saw the tire that ihas the cupping. The front driver side tire.
>Do you think if I rotate the tires the cupping with fix it self. Seems
>crazy to me to have to buy 4 new tires at 200 a piece when I only have
>18,000 miles. Has anyone else had cupping troubles?
>Btw the dealer was not very helpful at all!
Come check us out at www.kincardinesoccer.com

Unca' Bob

My understanding is that cupping occurs due to worn out shocks/struts. If
these suspension components are not replaced - the cupping will occur again.
This is not normal tire wear due to the lack of tire rotation.

Unca' Bob


--
ASP since September 2000
"solace" wrote in message
news:4b4ce35e8f6f7982d6d61a99a4385e68@localhost.talkaboutautos.com...
> My expedtion has 18,000 miles on it and the steering wheel started
> shaking.
> I took it to the dealer and they told me I needed 4 new tires because of
> cupping. I saw the tire that ihas the cupping. The front driver side tire.
> Do you think if I rotate the tires the cupping with fix it self. Seems
> crazy to me to have to buy 4 new tires at 200 a piece when I only have
> 18,000 miles. Has anyone else had cupping troubles?
> Btw the dealer was not very helpful at all!
>

Scott

"solace" wrote in message
news:4b4ce35e8f6f7982d6d61a99a4385e68@localhost.talkaboutautos.com...
> My expedtion has 18,000 miles on it and the steering wheel started
> shaking.
> I took it to the dealer and they told me I needed 4 new tires because of
> cupping. I saw the tire that ihas the cupping. The front driver side tire.
> Do you think if I rotate the tires the cupping with fix it self. Seems
> crazy to me to have to buy 4 new tires at 200 a piece when I only have
> 18,000 miles. Has anyone else had cupping troubles?
> Btw the dealer was not very helpful at all!

Same problem with my Ranger with 22,000. Have the alignment
and front end checked by a good alignment shop and put your
front tires on the rear. The rears shouldnt be cupped.

Backyard Mechanic

"Unca' Bob" wrote in
news:ZIJLe.1666$MH1.22@trndny01:

> My understanding is that cupping occurs due to worn out shocks/struts.
> If these suspension components are not replaced - the cupping will
> occur again. This is not normal tire wear due to the lack of tire
> rotation.
>
> Unca' Bob
>
>

yer understanding is wrong.

Most cupping, anymore, occurs due to poor tire-builds.

Jim Warman

With only 18,000 miles I would consider replacing only one or two tires.
Obviously, the cupped tire should go and may or may not be covered under the
tire manufacturers warranty. If another tire is exhibiting any abnormal
wear, it should also be replaced and both new tires installed on the same
axle.

Tires should be rotated regularly as well as having the pressures checked at
each service.

As a sidebar.... many buy their vehicles from the "cheapest" dealer with no
regard to after sales service. While it is not supposed to happen, "loyal"
customers will indeed get preferential treatment. Dealers that offer red
carpet after-sales service build this consideration into their selling
price. While buying a vehicle from dealer X at a higher price may sound like
poor economics, one must consider the inconvenience experienced when your
concern is sidelined by a prefered customer....or the disappointment of an
uncaring service department at the cheapy dealer.

"solace" wrote in message
news:4b4ce35e8f6f7982d6d61a99a4385e68@localhost.talkaboutautos.com...
> My expedtion has 18,000 miles on it and the steering wheel started
shaking.
> I took it to the dealer and they told me I needed 4 new tires because of
> cupping. I saw the tire that ihas the cupping. The front driver side tire.
> Do you think if I rotate the tires the cupping with fix it self. Seems
> crazy to me to have to buy 4 new tires at 200 a piece when I only have
> 18,000 miles. Has anyone else had cupping troubles?
> Btw the dealer was not very helpful at all!
>

Backyard Mechanic

"Jim Warman" wrote in
news:hsKLe.221298$on1.141406@clgrps13:

> With only 18,000 miles I would consider replacing only one or two
> tires. Obviously, the cupped tire should go and may or may not be
> covered under the tire manufacturers warranty. If another tire is
> exhibiting any abnormal wear, it should also be replaced and both new
> tires installed on the same axle.
>
> Tires should be rotated regularly as well as having the pressures
> checked at each service.
>
> As a sidebar.... many buy their vehicles from the "cheapest" dealer
> with no regard to after sales service. While it is not supposed to
> happen, "loyal" customers will indeed get preferential treatment.
> Dealers that offer red carpet after-sales service build this
> consideration into their selling price. While buying a vehicle from
> dealer X at a higher price may sound like poor economics, one must
> consider the inconvenience experienced when your concern is sidelined
> by a prefered customer....or the disappointment of an uncaring service
> department at the cheapy dealer.

In fact, for problems such as yours, taking the thing to a nearby Chebbie
dealer who gives good service may be fruitful.

We neglected to answer one of your questions:
NO, 'cupping' NEVER fixes itself.. in fact it wears your shocks and struts.

solace

Thank you all for the replies and info. I have done a little more research
into this matter and have found other 2004 expedition owner that have had
this same trouble and their dealerships have replaced the steering rack
and shaft and after many hours in service the trouble wasn't fixed. They
found that if they had a road force balanced done it fixed the shaking. My
concern now is that have I done damage to my steering shaft and rack? I'm
very displeased with the service I got from the ford dealership. We did
not buy the vehicle at this dealership but you would think pride in Ford
would have better service ppl
Oh and the tire with the cupping is gone, right? so no matter what I need
a new tire for that spot? I also found that this brand of tires may not be
all that great, continental tires. So now it brings me back to getting 4
new tires. Which I would love for ford to pay for. ( in my dream, eh)
sorry so long

Backyard Mechanic

Whether or not "Solace" comes back..
For the Record:

Road force balancing is only needed to make up for assymmetry in the tire
build. Sad that it's come to that, but overall be glad at the
price/performance of the modern tire, once you get it right.

The downside, I usually discard my tires long before they lose appreciable
traction and WAY before they get to wear bars, but still get about 50,000
out of them. With about 50% return under warranty.



"solace" wrote in
news:fd42ad6add243d3978be4b1a8d086519@localhost.talkaboutautos.com:

> Thank you all for the replies and info. I have done a little more
> research into this matter and have found other 2004 expedition owner
> that have had this same trouble and their dealerships have replaced
> the steering rack and shaft and after many hours in service the
> trouble wasn't fixed. They found that if they had a road force
> balanced done it fixed the shaking. My concern now is that have I done
> damage to my steering shaft and rack? I'm very displeased with the
> service I got from the ford dealership. We did not buy the vehicle at
> this dealership but you would think pride in Ford would have better
> service ppl Oh and the tire with the cupping is gone, right? so no
> matter what I need a new tire for that spot? I also found that this
> brand of tires may not be all that great, continental tires. So now it
> brings me back to getting 4 new tires. Which I would love for ford to
> pay for. ( in my dream, eh) sorry so long
>
>

solace

Well, I have drafted a letter to send to ford. I am also going to send a
letter to NHTSA to see just how wide spread this issue is.

Backyard Mechanic, are you saying that Road force balancing isn't
something that will help my problem?