Poor Handling

[Sixty's Guy]

Hi all. My HJ60 has a problem in that it handles poorly, mostly ont he highway when changing lanes and in particular when turning corners. I have OME Heavy springs in the front with a bull bar and winch. I did have extended shackles, but removed them 2 weeks ago to see if that was an issue, but the problem is still there. The shocks are Enforcers and are about 20,000km old. Tyes are BFG MT 35x12.50x15.

I took it to a local steering/suspension shop and the guy there had a 5 minute look and said that my drag links needed adjusting. I did this and the steering was heaps better, but the 'wallowing' still remains.

I read somewhere that rebuilding the front axle can help with problems like this. Or maybe it is more steering related?

Advice needed please.

Thanks in advance.

Mark.

 

[klinetime574]

35's on OME suspension?

 

[Sixty's Guy]

Sorry, it also has a 2" bodylift.

 

[made4surf]

With all that heavy stuff in the front and 35's I personally think a beefier swaybar may help you out.

 

[Mark W]

So did the alignment shop align it or not?


Mark...

 

[Sixty's Guy]

No, there was no alignment done. I called in there one day when I was passing by. He had a quick look and said it was the drag link ends that needed to be tightened.

I had some mechanical work done on it last week and the mechanic mentioned to me that it doesn't drive well. He said he thought it was the large tyres causing the problem.......

 

[Mark W]

We drive wagons on 36s and 38s with no real complaints about the steering.
I've seen more OMEs under wagons that need shims than ones that don't. I'd bet that your caster is off.

Have the alignment checked.


Mark...

 

[Sixty's Guy]

I had shims with the extended shackles, but I took them out when I took the shackles out. I'm going put my old 33x10.5x15 tyres back on over the weekend and drive it around to see how it goes. Then I might go to a different steering shop to get it checked out.

 

[goldchaser]

this is what ive done sixtys guy and mines pretty good,little bit better and it'll be like a new car:
replaced both steering unis on column
made sure ball joints are good
drag links wound tight,then back half turn
arb springs
shocks
adjusted freeplay on steer box(not too much)
alignment
im runnin 285 75 x16s

ive got very very slight wander over bumpy roads,bit more fiddling and i reckon i can get it real good,make sure before you do anything all you joints are tight,after 20yrs they are gettin a bit tired.
cheers goldchaser

 

[Sixty's Guy]

Thanks goldchaser. Yeh, I think that I will get the whole lot in terms of the steering overhauled or at least checked properly. You tyres are approximately the same as my 33x10.5x15 tyres that I will put back on. So after all that it should be heaps better. Thanks for your input mate.

 

[oldwineo]

Just some more ideas

Have you checked your front wheel bearings? Any slop there will cause those 35's to catch the lines in the road. Repack them often with 35's.

Old worn tires also will grab the lines in the road.

How much play/slop is there in the steering wheel? You may need to adjust the preload on the steering box. Screw and locknut on top of box.

Might be time for new tie rod ends.

Did you replace the spring bushings with the OME springs?

 

[tonkota]

Even though your shocks are newer, they may not be up to the task. Are they hydraulic? Nitro charged? gas-a-just?

I just put new shocks on my wagon, it felt wallowy on the road, the shocks were only 20K miles old too. One was bad and it made the wagon feel a little scary to drive and change lanes.

 

[phishincruisin]

what pressure are you running your tires at? troubleshooting my friends sas toy pickup we played around with that and it helped tremendously. I think hes running his 33s at 28psi now.

 

[Sixty's Guy]

Have you checked your front wheel bearings? Any slop there will cause those 35's to catch the lines in the road. Repack them often with 35's.

Old worn tires also will grab the lines in the road.

How much play/slop is there in the steering wheel? You may need to adjust the preload on the steering box. Screw and locknut on top of box.

Might be time for new tie rod ends.

Did you replace the spring bushings with the OME springs?

No, I haven't checked the wheel bearings - I'll add it to the list.

The tyres are about 5000km old, so no problems there.

There is a little bit of slop in the steering wheel. Thanks for the suggestion.

Yeh, new tie rod ends are on the list.

Yes, replaced the spring bushings already.

Thanks very much.

 

[Sixty's Guy]

Even though your shocks are newer, they may not be up to the task. Are they hydraulic? Nitro charged? gas-a-just?

I just put new shocks on my wagon, it felt wallowy on the road, the shocks were only 20K miles old too. One was bad and it made the wagon feel a little scary to drive and change lanes.

The Enforcer shocks are Nitro charged. My latest thought are that the shocks could be suspect. I have been thinking of replacing them with Ranch 9000 or something else.

 

[Sixty's Guy]

what pressure are you running your tires at? troubleshooting my friends sas toy pickup we played around with that and it helped tremendously. I think hes running his 33s at 28psi now.

I usually run 32PSI. I tried 40PSI but no difference.

I'm off to a steering/suspension place today to book it in for a good look over.

 

[Sixty's Guy]

I'm swapping my BFG MT 33x10.5x15 tyres on 15x8 wheels back on tomorrow to see how it goes.

Does anyone lese think this is a lot of flex in the sidewalls?

http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/markcullen/60/?action=view&current=DSCF0267.flv
http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/markcullen/60/?action=view&current=DSCF0268.flv

35x12.5x15 BFG MT on 15x8 steel wheels.

PS I know how funny those vids seem - If it's a rockin, don't bother knockin!

 

[tonkota]

The Enforcer shocks are Nitro charged. My latest thought are that the shocks could be suspect. I have been thinking of replacing them with Ranch 9000 or something else.

It sounds to me like your wagon is pretty heavy. Heavier than the shocks are valved for anyway. It takes a lot of damping power to slow all that weight down. The slop seems ok to me.

 

[bigluxs]

Hi all. My HJ60 has a problem in that it handles poorly, mostly ont he highway when changing lanes and in particular when turning corners. I have OME Heavy springs in the front with a bull bar and winch. I did have extended shackles, but removed them 2 weeks ago to see if that was an issue, but the problem is still there. The shocks are Enforcers and are about 20,000km old. Tyes are BFG MT 35x12.50x15.

I took it to a local steering/suspension shop and the guy there had a 5 minute look and said that my drag links needed adjusting. I did this and the steering was heaps better, but the 'wallowing' still remains.

I read somewhere that rebuilding the front axle can help with problems like this. Or maybe it is more steering related?

Advice needed please.

Thanks in advance.

Mark.

sounds like my old man steering.
after you replace the tierod ends and if it is still doing it you may want to look at the power steer boxs as you can get a bit of play in them to

 

[Sixty's Guy]

Well I fitted my old 33x10.5x15 BFG MT's back on today. It now behaves on the road. It doesn't handle like a race car, but I don't expect it to. It is a little vague in the font end, but that's how I remember it being. Just for interests sake I took my mates standard 80 series with 31z for a drive and my 60 is no worse than that. So, I'm happy that my Cruiser now behaves on road, I guess I'll take it off road next week and wish I had the 35z still! The geraing is so much better now too (4.11) and I have heaps more power and 5th gear is now an option.