MP4.2+6.0

Total miles on car?

Doc_A8

105k.

Mister Bally

Where did you buy your upper control arms from? About how much were they apiece?

Doc_A8

I listened to the forum wisdom on those and paid up for the lemforders from ECS, should be solid.

Hannibalacp82

When I lived in Western PA where the roads are terrible I would go every few months for a check up. Wheels were mounted by my local Walmart and they would check balanc every 3-4 months. Alignments were handled by Firestone and they would perform an alignment along the same schedule. Both places had lifetime deals at the time so I didn't pay a penny for the service.

I did make sure to throw a $20 down for the tech who was performing the work to make sure everything was taken care of. Never had a problem with uneven wear on the Civic, MDX or S2K.

I guess my point is I would never got 9 months between balance and alignment but again our roads were crappy.

MP4.2+6.0

So with those miles, not so much I would expect tie rods, but it is possible. I had inner tie rod issues on my C5 A6 4.2 by around those miles, but those were somewhat smaller dimension parts than more beefed up D3 parts. In back it could be a bent part possibly too.

Whole suspension should be looked over carefully. All the bushings and typical wear parts, along w/ another alignment check and search for anything bent.

mishar

Just looking at those pictures your tires are fine. From the text (as MP said) check all bushings an perform 4 wheel alignment. Check inflation. I didn't see tire milage or brand.

Doc_A8

The pictures don't do them justice apparently. The inner edges of the fronts are literally down to where I can see cords starting to come out. The rears are visibly 'lumpy', like serious cupping.... but worse.

Tires are Continental DWS06, in nine months I'm guessing I've put 15k miles or so.

Greg5OH

I see the pics and know what you are talking about. high wavy hi low pattern typicaly is caused by worn shocks (tuire bounces) or bad balance (creating uneven pressure as the tire oscillates while rolling)

IMO like everyone said, bushings or loose susp components. if your fronts are getting worn on the inside like that, it looks like the toe is going out of spec while driving. toe will chew tires faster than any other misalignment.

inner tie rods? or those bushings like everyone mentioned.

Doc_A8

Funny you mention balance. These tires have never balanced correctly, not from day one.

I've taken it back in twice for re-balance, to no avail. Learned to live with the slight shimmy at 55 mph.

Darn.

Thanks for all the help guys. I'm obviously in for a new set of tires- and quite possibly a trip to the dealership.