Hey all sorry if this issue has been coveted before!
I've recently bought a 1.2 8v 04 punto active sport as my first car.
I noticed a few days after buying it that about an inch on passenger side front tire on the outside edge was worn more than the rest.
Noticed today that this area is now pretty much completely smooth! While rest of the tire isn't showing much wear at all.
All 3 other tires seem normal.
I've got 2 new tires for the front just need them fitting.
Wondering what could be the issue and possible solutions, so It doesn't happen to the the New one aswell.
Thanks in advance


*Edit* Can attach pictures tomorrow, if anyone thinks it could help

its usually a balljoint issue
have it checked

s and b said:

its usually a balljoint issue
have it checked

Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice

I did notice on past Mots the Offside balljoint cover has been marked as an advisory. I thought offside was drivers side though. Sadly the bloke I bought it from put his own mot on it, and since found out he's dodgy as hell!
Rear silencer fell off 2 weeks after was really badly corroded, when I complained he told me "you can't tell if its corroded on an mot". So i dont actually have a clue what things could potentially be on the way out on the car.
I'm going to take it somewhere this week, just wondering if it's something I could do myself. And how much it could sting my bank

If a tyre is worn badly on the inner or outer shoulder, its udually because there is an alignment issue

Caused by a bad setup/worn ball joints/previous damage etc

If youve got an advisory ball joint
Get it sorted

If u dont fix it - itll just destroy the new tyres as well...

Ziggy

Ziggy122 said:

If a tyre is worn badly on the inner or outer shoulder, its udually because there is an alignment issue

Caused by a bad setup/worn ball joints/previous damage etc

If youve got an advisory ball joint
Get it sorted

If u dont fix it - itll just destroy the new tyres as well...

Ziggy

Click to expand...

For 2 years up until this year it had an advisory for a ball joint cover on the other side of the car. Nothing on the same side as the wear. However all advisories mysteriously disappeared this year as was mot'ed by the owner the day of purchase.
Tracking and alignment seem ok, so assuming it is the ball joint.
Going to ring a garage near my work tomorrow and see if they can fit it in to have a look.
If they say it is a balljoint, how much is it likely to set me back roughly?
Or would it be something I could do myself? I've got a good head for mechanical thing, just lacking experience

Thanks to you both for replying though, much appreiciated!!

Most Garages these days dont bother repalcing the balljoints, they just change the entire swing arm as it's quicker and cheaper

Scudmonkey said:

Most Garages these days dont bother repalcing the balljoints, they just change the entire swing arm as it's quicker and cheaper

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I agree
Plus rhe rubber bushings do fail over time so fitting a new arm helps prevent further issues

Track rod ends are 10ea
Arms about 40ea
Labour 1hr max
Tracking 25

A split cover allows crap in and wears it faster
Also the alignment may have 1 wheel striaght but the other out... thats why it needs a 4wheel alignment

Ziggy

Thanks for the reply guys, did have the wheel off yesterday. Ball joint seems solid still, got it booked in a garage Saturday for a professional opinion though.
So kinda hoping its just a alignment/tracking issue.
At least if it does all need changing it's not going to cost the earth

Garage update?

Ziggy122 said:

Garage update?

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Sorry did mean to update you guys been a busy week and slipped my mind.
Got it checked, the ball joint is solid with no play. But the tracking was miles out the guy said, so got it retracted and 2 new front tyres on so should be problem solved

Thanks again for all the replies

Keep an eye on those tires....!!

Peter Pick-Up said:

Keep an eye on those tires....!!

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I'm going too now! Hoping it's problem solved tho, fingers crossed at least!

You can tell how a tyre is wearing by running your hand over it
If its smooth both ways = not wearing uneven
But if you feel rough / knotchy / feathered one way and smooth other, it may be a sign of an alignment issue or pressure related
However its only a rough guide

Monitoring tyre pressures is also.important
Rememeber check when its cool and not in direct sunlight

Ziggy

Ziggy122 said:

You can tell how a tyre is wearing by running your hand over it
If its smooth both ways = not wearing uneven
But if you feel rough / knotchy / feathered one way and smooth other, it may be a sign of an alignment issue or pressure related
However its only a rough guide

Monitoring tyre pressures is also.important
Rememeber check when its cool and not in direct sunlight

Ziggy

Click to expand...

I'll bare that in mind, just keeping very close eye on them at the moment.
Was definitely not even wear before lol.

Although devolved a rattle a couple hours ago so be underneath it tomorrow sorting that. Thinking it's a heatshield come lose.

So gonna have a look at whole front end to make sure everything solid. And I haven't missed anything to do with the wear issue