So I was checking out my tires the other day, and noticed that my front tires are starting to get kinda choppy on the outside edge. The inside edge and tread in the middle are smooth and seem to be wearing evenly, so I don't think it's an inflation issue. The rear tires are wearing evenly and smooth, if it makes a difference.

I'm running a '90 GXL with the stock AAS suspension, stock rims with a Uniroyal Touring Trak 205/60R15 tires. I had all four replaced about 5,000 miles ago, but I haven't rotated them at all yet.

Is it possibly a camber issue or just a damper starting to go after 20 years?

 

Could be a small toe issue. Wouldnt be too much to have alignment checked and fixed if needed. Much less than a new set of tires.

 

or might be time for new struts or lack of rotation.

 

it might be lack of rotation. rotate tires or maybe repair or replace axle and suspension parts

 

Although it's usually due to alignment issues, you should get the shocks/struts replaced, then align it. Before you do that, you should also perform a suspension check. With the car supported on jack stands, shake the tire side to side, and top to bottom. Check the ball joints by lifting the car by the control arm, and lifting up on the tire with a large pry bar, checking for play in any joint or bushing. Then rotate and balance your tires, and it should all be taken care of.

 

I did check most of the suspension while I had the car up on jack stands with a busted oil cooler a week ago, so I'm pretty confident it isn't a ball joint or the like. If it's a strut problem, I'll probably just rotate and balance the tires and look into getting coilovers and get an alignment afterwards; it's something I've been planning to do anyways. It's not a very pronounced chop, so it'll probably correct itself on those tires when I move them to the back.

 

Right on man. If you don't want to spend the money on coilovers, you can get some kyb's for about $250 all around.

 

Excess wear would indicate too much positive camber. Choppiness, or scalloping, is usually a combination of a camber problem AND a heat problem - usually a toe problem.

Get a front end alignment and make sure your ball joints are in good shape.

 

Usually if a tire is wearing smooth only on the outside/inside a camber problem, but if the tire is feathered or choppy on the outside, too much toe in as the tire is being dragged over the road.