Took off the wheel and on the strut you can see where the tire is rubbing because the paint is rubbed off the strut to the metal. It seems the strut is leaning ever so slightly out at the bottom. If you look at the vehicle from the rear, it is apparent that the wheel and tire are leaning out at the bottom.

There doesn't seem to be any adjustment at the top of the strut where it is mounted, and none at the bottom....I am at a loss and need some help. I have a neighbor who wants to buy this car but will not sell it to her until I have this fixed. I don't like the idea of selling vehicles to anyone I know to begin with, but she loves this car, and it has been great except for this issue.

Any clues as to what is going on with this car? It rides as smooth as can be, handles great, but rubs the tire down to the steel. It handles like new. Bought used like this.
Thanks,
Harley_Girl

 

BTW, has anyone else experienced this with this car, or maybe another one? What would be causing this?

 

There's a couple of possible issues.

If I am not mistaken the rear toe and camber are set at the factory and are not adjustable. Any problem with this is a sign of structural/frame damage, most often the result of an accident or the rear end sliding into a curb with significant force.

There is also the possibility that the rear strut tube or hardware has bent or deformed over time and heavy loads.

By any chance is the rear tire in question wider than the manufacturer recommended tire? This would account for any tire on strut wear marks. For a while I ran 245 60 16's stock recommendation is 225 and they would rub on the struts in turns. But that would not explain any significant wheel lean.

 

Excali is right on the money. The only thing I'll add is that some tire shops will do a 4 wheel alignment on these cars by drilling and shiming. If the parts are not worn out, it's less than $100 at most places.

 

I will check the tire size, I DO love to run as wide a tire as I can.
Looking at the strut tube, it does seem to be just a speck fat at the bottom. I will check it to see if it really is, and I really appreciate your help, guys. I will post what I find. I have it at a shop today to see if they can figure anything out. Thanks, again.
Harley_Girl

 

A-Haa!
It is and ever so slightly bent strut just above the spindle!
It is so slight it had to be measured to really verify that the strut was our of round. So now, a new strut and it will be like new again, and I don't have to worry about selling it to someone. THANK YOU ALL, for your help.
This is a great site.
BTW.....the last Dodge I owned, was a 1988 Dodge Dakota, with 17,000 miles on it. When I sold it...there was well over 700,000 miles on it. It was our 'shop truck' during the day, and I drove it whenever I felt like it, nights and weekends. It was a GREAT TRUCK. It sat for over a year when someone wanted to buy it, and I agreed. He doubted it would start, but, I knew it would. So, I went out, unlocked it, and she fired right up....the guy couldn't believe it. But, I had to laugh because that was a good truck and I knew it would.

 

Glad to hear you got it sorted, and it was something simple.

Like I said before, sometimes age, weight, and just the right pothole can cause those struts to get the slightest of bends in them. When that happens the whole geometry of the wheel spin goes hay-wire.