Bad Tire Wear, Need Help!

[imported_DIYperformance]

Okay, I did my rear disc brake swap about 6 weeks ago. At that time my front and rear tires were very similar in tread. But since the swap, my rear tires are completely bald! I'm not even kidding, I'd take a picture if I hadn't broken my camera! I don't know what the hell could be wrong.

Here's what I did so far to hopefully fix it: I remember the only problem I ran into (except fitting the control arms in) was getting the Integra E-brake cables to reach the bracket on the E-brake handle. It's not like it was too short, but I did have to pull really hard with pliers the get the cable to reach. So I'm thinking maybe the E-brake was never 100% released causing the tires in back to drag a little bit??? So I loosened the brackets' bolt almost all the way off which moved it back probably a half inch.

Also, since the swap, my cars' rear end makes all kinds of squeaking/creaking sounds from both sides. I don't know what the hell that could be, but I checked all bolts and they were still all torqued good.

I also installed a camber kit at the time I did it, but didn't have it aligned. We ghetto aligned it with a leveler, but due to the camber kits dramatic changes for each setting, it seems pretty obvious when the camber is correct, and the leveler agreed! LOL

Any body have any opinions as to what else may be causing this?

[B18bEK]

Are the tires wearing evenly? If it were me, i would go to sears and get a 60$ alingment, even if the tires are alinging evenly. that would be just for peice of mind.

[Calesta]

Did you bolt up everything correctly? Did you remove the compensator arms? If you did and didn't get an alignment after everything went back together, you screwed yourself.

[imported_DIYperformance]

I changed the compensator arms to the new ones from the integra trailing arms. They look exactly the same, but the integra ones I got weren't rusted like mine were (damn Vermont car!). I didn't bother getting an alignment because I ordered wheels going to a 15" setup from my 17's. So I am waiting until my tires come in and I will get it aligned. I also have to install the front camber kit still, which I will do before the alignment.

I did have the car aligned about 1 month before I did the brake swap due to a horrible shake at 70-85mph, but it didn't fix anything even right after the alignment. I figured the shake may be being cause by uneven tire wear due to not having the camber kit up until now (1yr and a half), so again I was waiting to get the new setup on first (15" slipstreams w/ Kumho MX's).

But Calesta, when you say "remove" the compensator arms, was there something I was supposed to do in this swap that eliminates them? Because I don't see a way to connect the end of the arm without the compensators.

[Smooth_Imports]

you need to take it to a shop and have your toe fixxed. I've seen this happen with alot of disk swaps the toe becomes off even if you marked it before uninstalling the drum setup.

[imported_DIYperformance]

^Excuse my ignorance here because I've never done my own alignments until I just got this camber kit, BUT... how do you adjust REAR toe? Theres no tie rods in the back. ??? Sorry if thats a newbie-ish question, I've just never run into it.

Also, I had to put on new aftermarket control arms because all of the bushings on the integra ones were shot and rusted, and they looked waaay to long when held up to my civic ones. But all the aftermarket ones are 3/4" shorter, which resulted in the rear end becoming much more noticeably looser- like oversteer. Could moving in the wheels by a total of 1.5" closer affect it (the alignment) even though the camber is good? (well, IF the camber is good HAHA)
If that's the problem I could just use some 20mm spacers to cure it right? Or doesn't it sound like a good idea to put the spacers on and widen out my stance again?

[simplegreen]

you need to stick around more.. and not just come around when you have a problem. You'll read more and retain all this information.

Mike i dont believe civic's have rear toe adjustment, i could be wrong though

[Smooth_Imports]

Originally posted by mdlax1@May 20 2005, 01:50 PM
you need to stick around more.. and not just come around when you have a problem. You'll read more and retain all this information.

Mike i dont believe civic's have rear toe adjustment, i could be wrong though

you could be right, But i though i remember the guy that did my ailightment saying somthing about. "The furthest front bolt on the trailing arm" Adjusts something the the affect of camber,caster,toe. I know it's not camber or cast so i thought it was the toe. And just thinking about it in my head it does make sence but again i'm not 100%

[Doughboy]

he is right, I had to have my toe adjusted twice already. When you go for an alignment they give you a before and after result on the printout.

[imported_DIYperformance]

WAIT! I think I got it! When smooth import mentioned Toe it made me think, I may have adusted camber but it just clicked into my head. If I put an aftermarket control arm on that is about 3/4" short of the stock arm, wouldn't that obviously throw my toe of by 3/4" since it's pulling the assembly from the rear while the front stays the same???
Hopefully that is it. When the new tires come in for my new wheels I'll have it done and hope that was the problem, because looking at the wheel it doesn't seem like anything is wrong. But I know the slightest difference can cause a big problem.