Lifted X feels unsafe, any sugg's?

[BonesDT]

i have a 3" body lift and TT/shackles. the steering is drastically different and feels very unsafe. when i hit pot holes, the car shifts over lanes. the ride is also a lot stiffer. i bumped my front tire up on a large curb to check out the articulation, and it seemed to have none as the whole car went at an angle.

ive never driven an off-road modified truck before. i was wondering if this is all normal, or if there are things i can do to make it feel safer. would i want stiffer or softer shocks? torsion bars? are there steering stabilzers? should i widen the wheel base?

 

[Alec]

The reason your front didn't flex much is that you still had the swaybar attached. When you go offroad, you should disconnect your swaybars for much more articulation. However, this will make it much more squirrely onroad, so only do this when going on trails.

If you're using your stock rims that could be an issue. A wider rim with a smaller backspacing will make the truck more stable, widening the load.

Also I'd just get everything checked out: wheel balance, alighnment, steering. I had a bad tie rod end and it was doing some of the things you describe. You can even just crawl under there and make sure everything seems tight until you can take it to a shop.

I know mine feels much more stable than stock. It does get tippy when I corner hard, but when you raise the center of gravity it will do that no matter how wide you go.

I also recommend getting adjustable Rancho 9000 shocks. They have 5 settings so you could tune them to the setting you want and change them when you go offroading.

 

[BonesDT]

thats what i think it is, the stock rims. but i dont really have the cash to get new rims yet. woudl i want softer or firmer shocks?

 

[Alec]

adjustable ones

Honestly that all depends on the driver and truck. Most people go with firmer shocks when they lift, but this can make the truck darty and uncomfortable sometimes. That's why I like my adjustables: 3 most of the time, 4 on long highway trips, 2 on bad roads, and 1 when wheeling. 1 is the softest.

 

[becker69]

I think Alec really covered everything I think; wider wheels, adjustable shocks... getting under it and giving a keen look. I know you said $ is tight, but you could always give a look to an aftermarket sway bar for use when you are on the street. Between the shocks and the sway bar you should feel more in command.

Sidebar; after doing the TT/Shackles I had OEM 16x7 wheels w/ 255 70 16's.... I noticed a HUGE change in driving characteristics when I got a set of 15x8 wheels and 32x11.50 tires.... (used).

 

[Alec]

Bones already has a beefy front swaybar, they changed them in 98. A better rear one couldn't hurt, but IMO it won't do much and you might as well use that money for something else.

 

[KEbert]

I've never rally been a fan of the Ranchos, not to say there is anything wrong with them. I reccommend Bilsteins. They work great everywhere and you don't have to adjust anything.

 

[Stic-o]

Another idea

If money is tight you use RS9000 Pro- comp shock cheap and very nice! Also is body torqeed down properly? Kind of a dumb question but..... just try'in to help

 

[asterus]

HOw about instead of buying new rims, get wheel spacers. I put them on my truck and they work fine.



David Larson