Sudden Jerk of the Wheel

[xdviper]

My hearts still pounding after this incident.
Today, going back home, some ******** in a red Camry at the last minute changes lanes onto my lane, if I didn't hit the brakes on time, I would have T-boned him. So me having all this road rage, decide to floor it and cut him off quickly and hit the brakes hard, just to give him an scare (not hard enough to have him hit me from behind). At this moment I'm probably going about 45mph, I get in front and change lanes real quick, hit the brakes real hard, and I lose control of the X. The car starts swerving left to right, I'm trying to steer straight, but the moment just has me turning the wheel opposite to the cars movement. I actually felt the right side of the X come up real quick and when I steering to the left, it hit the ground and stopped.
Wow, all my friends consider me as a safe driver, but this road rage had just got to me and had me doing this stupid move.

Now I want to rule out, how I could prevent it, I know an sway bar will be a good start. And last week, I inflated my front tires up to 35PSI, the right side might be a little more but that shouldn't affect it, will it?
I've also noticed before this happened, that my ball joints on the drivers front side is also squeaking while turning the wheel or going over potholes.

Would different tire pressures on both the back (less air) and the front(more air) and including the more air in the right front, with the squeaking ball joints have any effect on this incident?

 

[NYMount21]

last summer, i had my car aligned only to be informed my Mounty needed a Camber Kit (its common for our trucks after awhile). The tech put them on, and aligned the car but for the next to days i would be driving and my car would jerk randomly like something was catching. (the guy did something wrong and quickly fixed it for free a few days later).

I would consider seeing if you need an alignment and if you cambers are in bad shape or not. There are certainly guys on here that know more than I do, but thats my opinion, good luck pal

 

[gijoecam]

You have just experienced the joys of driving a relatively high center-of-gravity SUV. A rear sway bar may have helped with the stability, but you simply need to do two things:

1) Keep your emotions in check. Getting pissed off at another driver isn't going to make him or her a better driver.
2) Drive your SUV like an SUV, not a Corvette.

It really is that simple.

 

[my98nnj]

Now I want to rule out, how I could prevent it,

That's easy.


By not doing this stuppid a$$ move ever again.

I decide to floor it and cut him off quickly and hit the brakes hard

Seriously, WTF were you thinking?
The Camry made a mistake, you made things even worse and put yourself and everybody on the road around you in danger by your foolish reaction.

 

[techieman33]

That's just crazy, I've got a few dollars in my suspension and it's a lot better than stock, and would probably be able to make that kind of maneuver without killing myself, and have done it a couple of times on wide open roads just to see how it would react, minus the braking. But there is just to much as risk to do something like that in front of another car, just one little screw up on his or your part and your in a serious accident. What if he hit you while you were still off kilter and rolled you over? It wouldn't take much force when your suv is already way off balance like it was.

 

[xdviper]

I know it was really just an stupid move on my part. I'm glad the Camry stopped about 15ft behind me when I started losing control.
heh, the road rage just took over me and I didn't think about it, just did it. But now forget it, it was an big enough scare for me to never attempt an stupid maneuver like that again.


But damn, so the tires with different air pressures wouldn't any effect on the stability of the SUV?
Also I've realaized that the front tires, the tread thats on top of the sidewalls, are cracked, that wouldn't pose an problem down the road will it? I put about 10K miles on these already.

 

[96eb96]

I know it was really just an stupid move on my part. I'm glad the Camry stopped about 15ft behind me when I started losing control.
heh, the road rage just took over me and I didn't think about it, just did it. But now forget it, it was an big enough scare for me to never attempt an stupid maneuver like that again.


But damn, so the tires with different air pressures wouldn't any effect on the stability of the SUV?
Also I've realaized that the front tires, the tread thats on top of the sidewalls, are cracked, that wouldn't pose an problem down the road will it? I put about 10K miles on these already.

I don't think air pressure would affect stability, unless it was like 15 lbs difference. What may have happened is the rear wheels locked up a bit and the tire slid due to the sharp lane change before the ABS took over. That is what stability control may (or may not) prevent.

Not going to preach but an explorer is a truck and has to be driven like one. Obey speed limits, look far ahead, anticipate, leave at least 5 car length distance etc. Drive like the guy in front of you is going to stop short at any minute. Tires should be 30-33 psi cold. If they don't look right have them checked/warrantied.

Never do anything stupid. Even a car can spin out when you do something like that. Why do you think people spend thousands on lowering springs, special shocks, brakes, etc when they want to race on a track.

Do you think professional CDL drivers play games when they drive? A big rig or commercial vehicle can get into serious trouble with a fast maneuver or improper braking. Imagine if a Bus or Rig makes a fast lane change...
Never Ever do an in and out/ swerve back and forth lane change with a truck.


Do you have stock shocks? Sensatrac or Reflex shocks can help your handling. Shocks help hold tires to the ground too. Nothing could really prevent issues from serious driving mistakes though.

 

[alohamonte]

I think everyone covered the stupid move business...

It will take more than proper air pressure to make an SUV handle better, and by better I mean better than stock, but way worse than a car.

Lowering springs
Sport tires, taller rims at least 18s
Heavy Sway bar front and back
Replace rubber suspension bushings with polyurethane

Sounds like you need new tires. Are they different pressures because one of them is not holding air? The cracking sounds like dry rot which normally signals the end of the life of the tire. The different air pressures certainly didn't help you any in this situation.

And 15ft is scary close to a truck that's out of control.

 

[BIGHVM]

Nearly came unstuck--Lucky man really- I hope you stay safe!

 

[xdviper]

Thanks guys for your suggestions, Ill be looking to replace the shocks and install an sway bar this summer. And the front tires are drying rotting... how long till they crap out on me?