2017 Q70 3.7 - Inner Tire Wear & Floatiness - Suspension?

ClearTheCode admin answer:

Inner tire wear combined with a 'floaty' feeling in your 2017 Infiniti Q70 3.7 are strong indicators of worn suspension components and/or an alignment issue. Here’s a breakdown of what's likely happening:

1. Causes of Inner Tire Wear:

   • Excessive Negative Camber: This is the most common cause. If the top of the wheel is tilted inward too much, the inner edge of the tire bears more weight and wears faster. This can be due to:
     • Worn Control Arm Bushings: These rubber components can degrade over time, allowing the control arms to shift and alter camber/toe angles.
     • Worn Ball Joints: Play in ball joints can also affect wheel alignment.
     • Bent Suspension Components: Less common without a significant impact, but a bent control arm or strut can cause alignment issues.
   • Incorrect Toe Setting: While excessive toe-out usually causes feathering across the tread, severe toe-in can also contribute to inner wear.

2. Causes of a 'Floaty' Ride:

   • Worn Shock Absorbers/Struts: As shocks/struts age, they lose their ability to dampen suspension movement effectively. This leads to excessive bouncing, a 'floaty' sensation, and reduced control, especially over bumps or during cornering.
   • Worn Bushings: Beyond affecting alignment, severely worn control arm or sway bar bushings can also contribute to a less stable, floaty feel by allowing too much uncontrolled movement in the suspension.
   • Tire Issues: While you're experiencing wear, underinflated tires can also contribute to a floaty feel, but you've checked pressure.

3. What to Do:

   • Professional Suspension Inspection: It's crucial to have a qualified mechanic perform a thorough inspection of your Q70's suspension system. They will check for:
     • Play in ball joints and tie rod ends.
     • Cracked, torn, or excessively soft control arm bushings.
     • Leaking or weak shock absorbers/struts.
     • Sway bar end links and bushings.
   • Wheel Alignment: After any worn components are replaced, a full four-wheel alignment is absolutely necessary to correct the camber and toe angles and prevent further premature tire wear.

4. When to See a Shop:

   • Immediately: Premature tire wear is costly, and a floaty ride compromises safety and handling. Addressing these issues promptly will save you money on tires and improve your driving experience.
   • Comprehensive Approach: Don't just get an alignment without checking for worn components first. An alignment on worn parts is a temporary fix and the problem will return quickly. Replace the worn parts, then align.