Rock Warrior Wheel nightmare

[kelly saad]

I installed my Rock Warrior wheels and new BFG AT's tires on my 1998 LC today. I used the 1.25 inch Spidertrax spacers as recommended by Slee. I had Toyota install everything because its far easier than myself doing it in the driveway. The wheels and tires are off my Tundra which I drove everyday and so I know the wheels and tires drive perfectly.

On the first test drive I immediately noticed something was completely different with the steering. When I take a 90 degree turn from a stop and accelerate, the wheel doesn't return to the forward, centered position for about an 1/8 of a mile and its pulling obviously. Then once its returned its wandering and driving odd, as if all my tie rods are old and trashed. It felt like something was loose, but nothing was loose, and nothing is wrong with the steering components or suspension. In fact, the entire front steering and suspension is new, and with all Toyota parts: bushings, steering rack, ball joints, upper and lower controller arms, tie rods, OME lift, shocks, sway bar links and bushings. Additionally, the alignment is perfect, also done at at Toyota. I have taken it back in to Toyota and they tested it, drove it and then removed the spacers and switched the wheels & tires back the the old ones that were on the car previous to the change. It drives perfectly again, as it did before the switch (also BFG AT's). The manager said they have seen this issue before after installation of larger wheels with a different offset on lifted trucks.

So, after my experience with these wheels, I recommend not using them. Although I know many out there have them with no issues, I am a different case. If this matters to anyone, I felt it is my responsibility to pass on the experience to all of you out there.

Super bummed out though, it looked so sweet.

 

[Bomar]

I am not buying what the service manager is saying. I would start by putting in on yourself and then going from there.

I would say it was a tech error on spacer install.

Also the tires might feel perfect from your Tundra but worn down to fit that rig. Just like if you put on someone else's shoes after they had worn for a few years.

I would try new tires when they need them again and I bet a completely different story.

 

[kelly saad]

I am not buying what the service manager is saying. I would start by putting in on yourself and then going from there.

I would say it was a tech error on spacer install.

Also the tires might feel perfect from your Tundra but worn down to fit that rig. Just like if you put on someone else's shoes after they had worn for a few years.

I would try new tires when they need them again and I bet a completely different story.

Thanks for the input. There is no way they were installed incorrectly, I checked everything before I took it back in to Toyota. Hub centric spacers would seem impossible to install incorrectly unless the lugs were loose. I have been a mechanic and worked on cars my whole life also, so I am very knowledgeable. The tires aren't worn at all, only 8k miles on them. For the tires to be the issue they would have to have obvious wear, which the do not. The wandering and pulling and steering not returning to straight position feels pretty severe and nothing could be found. Plus, installing my old tires back on the car without spacers fixed the issue 100%. I personally believe that 1.25" spacers are just too big, and perhaps the offset of the Rock Warrior wheels may be adding to the problem, just a theory though.

 

[jclarke450]

I know that when I put 200 series wheels on my 2004 100 that the steering felt significantly different because of the offset. I personally didn't care for the feel. I also know that running RWs on a 100 works just fine as I have done that as well with smaller spacers. Too say the wheels are the problem is a bit of a stretch with the number of people that have and are doing it without issue.

And the input is appreciated. That's what makes this forum go around!

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Do you have the same experience with the wheels when the spacers are removed?

FWIW- In the past I had some custom made spacer $$$ that were hub and wheel centric for some billet wheels and 37's that did require a little more care on installation than I thought they should given the design and cost for the best results.

 

[Slickspawn]

Maybe some crust on the rotor wheel mounting surface wasn't cleaned properly.

 

[lrowe_csp]

I pulled a set of Goodyear Duratrac's off my 80 series and mounted them on my 100 with slee spacers. The duratracs felt fine on the 80, but were absolutely terrible on the 100 with spacers, lots of vibration and constantly pulling left every time I accelerated. I finally sold the duratracs to another guy with an 80, and I also checked the t-bars - one was 1/2" off from the other, so I lowered it to make them both equal. I am now running slee spacers on my 100 series with 295 terra grapplers/18's and everything feels tight, solid and straight, good return to center, and very little torque steer except when I get on the supercharger.

 

[SHREDwagon]

Same set-up here. You have changed the wheel offset with spacers, which you will notice turning at slower speeds. Not ideal for 4lo. But at highway speeds you will notice a more stable feel over stock. If this is not your experience, then yes, you have something else going on which the increase in offset has exacerbated.

Edit: Try a test drive without the spacers....

 

[re_guderian]

You say you're lifted, what are your front/rear hub-fender measurements? First step in factory OEM alignment procedure will adjust for correct "stink bug". Pulling under acceleration can be due to front end too high, also could exacerbate issues with spacers maybe?

 

[kelly saad]

Do you have the same experience with the wheels when the spacers are removed?

FWIW- In the past I had some custom made spacer $$$ that were hub and wheel centric for some billet wheels and 37's that did require a little more care on installation than I thought they should given the design and cost for the best results.

can't mount those wheels without spacers.

 

[kelly saad]

You say you're lifted, what are your front/rear hub-fender measurements? First step in factory OEM alignment procedure will adjust for correct "stink bug". Pulling under acceleration can be due to front end too high, also could exacerbate issues with spacers maybe?

Sure, that makes sense. I was thinking that cranking in the toe-in would help,but thats a guess and Im not experimenting. Drives perfect again with the old wheels so I give up on the idea of spacers. Thanks for the idea.

 

[kelly saad]

I know that when I put 200 series wheels on my 2004 100 that the steering felt significantly different because of the offset. I personally didn't care for the feel. I also know that running RWs on a 100 works just fine as I have done that as well with smaller spacers. Too say the wheels are the problem is a bit of a stretch with the number of people that have and are doing it without issue.

And the input is appreciated. That's what makes this forum go around!

I don't mean the wheels are the problem, but the wheels with the 1.25 spacers is a problem. I would bet that the wheels mounted without the spacers would be totally fine, but thats a guess.

 

[kelly saad]

Same set-up here. You have changed the wheel offset with spacers, which you will notice turning at slower speeds. Not ideal for 4lo. But at highway speeds you will notice a more stable feel over stock. If this is not your experience, then yes, you have something else going on which the increase in offset has exacerbated.

Edit: Try a test drive without the spacers....

Cant try it without spacers unless I grind out the center where the center cap snaps on. It tapers inward at the end of the hole.

 

[kelly saad]

I pulled a set of Goodyear Duratrac's off my 80 series and mounted them on my 100 with slee spacers. The duratracs felt fine on the 80, but were absolutely terrible on the 100 with spacers, lots of vibration and constantly pulling left every time I accelerated. I finally sold the duratracs to another guy with an 80, and I also checked the t-bars - one was 1/2" off from the other, so I lowered it to make them both equal. I am now running slee spacers on my 100 series with 295 terra grapplers/18's and everything feels tight, solid and straight, good return to center, and very little torque steer except when I get on the supercharger.

So did you have the same issues that I am explaining before you adjusted the T-Bars? Lowering mine would be too much because I still have the rake. That is something to think about though, thanks.

 

[mmaakk]

I'm running the 1.25" spacers with 18" rims on 35x12.5 KM2's with no issue in the front. No issues with steering and goes straight as long as I don't punch the accelerator.