Jayco Outback J-Tech suspension

Submitted: Monday, Aug 31, 2015 at 18:49

ThreadID: 130152 Views:9628 Replies:2 FollowUps:3

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Vilma C

We have a Jayco Starcraft Outback 20' with J-Tech Suspension. When we first purchased this van last year Jayco rectified a problem we had with the tyres scrubbing out within the first 3-5000 kms' they replaced tyres and did an alignment.
Now 12 months later the tyres are scrubbing out again and we have only done approximately 10,000 kms!!
Has anyone else experienced this problem ? And if so how did you rectify the problem?

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Reply By: wholehog - Monday, Aug 31, 2015 at 19:01

Monday, Aug 31, 2015 at 19:01

The J tech has adjustable toe in/out.

What is the wear pattern, same/same each side either inside or outside scrub..then its a toe issue

..or more on 1 side than the other?..then camber is a part of the problem.

After eliminating any suspension component issue and user event, an experienced wheel aligner should be able to interpret the tyre wear as to the real alignment issue and correction needed.

Take it to a purpose/professional alignment place..not just ya local tyre shop or suspension joint that will want to replace every rubber in sight..no bull...
and leave the existing tyres on it for them to see...if you want to sort the problem.
You have done it their way..and still have problems.

AnswerID: 589842

Follow Up By: Vilma C - Monday, Aug 31, 2015 at 19:07

Monday, Aug 31, 2015 at 19:07

Thank you, I agree with all you have just said. We have been through all of that with Jayco who fixed it last time but we still have the problem!!
It's scrubbing on outside on left hand side. First time it was on both right and left!! Now right side is perfect but left is scrubbing out !!

FollowupID: 857816

Follow Up By: Ross M - Monday, Aug 31, 2015 at 22:07

Monday, Aug 31, 2015 at 22:07

Sounds like the toe in is too much on that wheels and again requires an adjustment.
Toe in wear, ie the tread removed from the outside edge IS different to too much camber.

Camber will/may wear the outside edge but it doesn't cause the feathering on the inside edges of the tread ribs if it is a camber problem.
A toe in problem WILL wear the tread on the outside, but it also feathers the inner edges of each of the tyres ribs and so is easy diagnosed.

Did they tighten the adjustments when they did the last job???????????

FollowupID: 857825

Reply By: Rangiephil - Tuesday, Sep 01, 2015 at 09:09

Tuesday, Sep 01, 2015 at 09:09

My campomatic has independent suspension which has a bit (4MM total ) of toe in but doesn't wear tyres.

You can check your geometry by getting a couple of pieces of long flat bar, I use aluminium angle.

You place one bit on the a frame near the ball/coupling parallel to the front of the camper and clamp it in place. double check your measurements.

Then run flat bar along the wheels/tyres towards the front and measure the distance each side from the centre of the front bar. If one side is different to the other then you can see the problem. Usually independent suspension have eccentric adjusters to adjust toe in, so one may have slipped over time.

You can measure the distance from the outside of each tyre to give a rough track and also work out the amount of toe in.

Although this is rough and ready, to have feathering of a tyre , the problem should be pretty visible. Just remember that independent suspension trailers often have toe in to make them stable to tow, as the wheels may reduce toe dynamically.

My local tyre places have NFI when it comes to an alignment. LOL
Regards Philip A

AnswerID: 589851