Tyres scalloping @ 23,500km???

[brad]

As an interim, put the fronts straight to the back
put the LHR onto the RHF
put the RHR onto the LHF

yes, they will howl

Tyre pressures - 32 is way to low & 40 a bit high depending on what loads you carry. I'd be inclined to experiment with 36psi all round - maybe 36f/40R depending on if it feels like a cart or not.

long term - what are the wheel alignment readings F&R?

I know that most Octavias scallop like a mofo due to excessive -ve camber & stupid toe settings - maybe the Caddy is the same.

[wai]

As an interim, put the fronts straight to the back
put the LHR onto the RHF
put the RHR onto the LHF

yes, they will howl

Tyre pressures - 32 is way to low & 40 a bit high depending on what loads you carry. I'd be inclined to experiment with 36psi all round - maybe 36f/40R depending on if it feels like a cart or not.

long term - what are the wheel alignment readings F&R?

I know that most Octavias scallop like a mofo due to excessive -ve camber & stupid toe settings - maybe the Caddy is the same.

They did a rotation of LHR to LHF and RHR to RHF because of the asymmetric tyre. If they went across the car, the pattern would get screwed up.

I have no wheel alignment readings because they said they checked it and it was within spec.

It is the rear ones that have scalloped, and it is a beam axle. I am not sure what what (if any alignment) adjustment is possible.

[wai]

Ah, yours is a Caddy Life. They've got a more passenger car-orientated tyre on them. Still, it's no excuse for the scalloping.

You can always try the manufacturer for help.

Yes it is a passenger car. It might be based on a commercial vehicle, but it is a passenger car. It is amazing how the dealer changes how they see the car depending on what they want to push.

From past experience the manufacturers are reluctant to do anything until there is a flood of complaints. I had the spare Gooryear Supersteel (never been used) split along the tread groove just sitting in the boot. When I contacted Goodyear they made it abundantly clear they wanted to have nothing to do with it and that I would have to take legal advice if I wanted anything done.

Around 25 years ago I worked for the NSW Department of Motor Transport and we used to get all the manufacturer service bulletins. There was one on windscreen wipers chattering across the screen. It went something like this.

1. Suggest the owner wash the windscreen before each use.
2. Suggest the owner replace the blades (with identical ones).
3. Suggest the owner buy GM Opticlean to add to the washer bottle.
4. If there is still a complaint, replace the wiper blades with the new design wiper blades that eliminate the chatter!

There was a similar thing with the PBR lightweight brake caliper. They caused major problems with "creaking" but GM had PBR developing an integrated master cylinder/load proportioning valve. They did not want PBR to stop developing that so they continued to use the PBR calipers. It was only when the development was complete that GM moved over to the Girlock caliper. My Torana had the PBR calipers and it was only because I was with the DMT that they were replaced with the Girlock units. It is probably the only UC Torana with the Girlock calipers and the old style master cylinder and separate load proportioning valve.

Manufacturers will do everything they can to weasel out of actually fixing things. Actually having 15,000 km/12 month services works out extremely well for manufacturers as they are likely to see the vehicle owner just 3 times with a 3 year warranty, and so minimise complaints.

Ah well, time to consider all options.

[brad]

They did a rotation of LHR to LHF and RHR to RHF because of the asymmetric tyre. If they went across the car, the pattern would get screwed up.

I have no wheel alignment readings because they said they checked it and it was within spec.

It is the rear ones that have scalloped, and it is a beam axle. I am not sure what what (if any alignment) adjustment is possible.

Assymetrics can be swapped side-to-side & the direction of rotation reversed. Directionals can't. You need to reverse the direction to knock the high spots off the trailing edges of the tread blocks.

As I've said in a few dozen posts, monkeys set the alignment to spec & the problem persists, technicians vary the spec to fix the problem. You are right though, if it's a beam axle the options are almost non-existant (would be nice to know the readings though).

My mates X5 keeps getting set to spec at Trivetts & the rear tyres last ~15000km. He goes to an alignment specialist & gets them set outside of spec & they last 30,000km - who's doing the better job? Every time he goes to the dealers he has to put a sign on the dashboard "DO NOT TOUCH THE ALIGNMENT"

[wai]

Every time he goes to the dealers he has to put a sign on the dashboard "DO NOT TOUCH THE ALIGNMENT"

No problem with this happening at NMG. They just do not do anything and put every issue down to being standard for the type of vehicle.

[Umai Naa!!]

I've heard some interesting stories come out of various dealerships during my time within the VW dealer network.

I can tell you now, that most of the customer dissatisfaction stems from management, not the technician.