1992 Honda Civic Lower Control Arm bushing wear on low prof

MICHELESOPER

MEMBER
1992 HONDA CIVIC
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
183,000 MILES

Hello my name is Michele and

I own a 1992 Honda Civic with 18 in rims and 215 35 R18 tires, recently had a front end alignment on my car and within 2000 miles my front tires are completely worn on both the inside and outside. When I took it back to where I had the alignment done they told me that my lower control arm bushings were completely bad and that when they did the alignment they were fine. I asked how that could be and they stated that low profile tires causes wear on the control arm bearings. I was wondering if this was true and if it is I was wondering other cons of having low profile tires on a vechile and effects on the suspension. Thank You!!

1 Reply

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Hi Michele,

When tires wears on the inner and outer sides it can be due to low tire pressures.

The other possibility is the wheel alignment out of specs, the camber is negative and toe-in is excessive or you are a fast driver who takes corners hard.

When suspensions are lowered, the camber would be affected and this would cause tire wears on the inner side of tires as the wheel would be slanting inwards at top.

Low profile tires do not affect the arm bushes but wide wheels and tires do as the extra contact area would increase the weight and stress on the bushes, wearing them prematurely.

With the age of the vehicle, bushes should be hardened and any extra stress on the bushes would wear them off fast.