anyone have this problem?

Ok, I used to have a three inch puck lift which rode like a freaking bucking bronco but I never had this problem with them. I put on some Icon ext. co's with lr ucas new wheels and tires and new cv axles. Now my truck feels very unstable when I hit little man holes or pot holes and its even worse when I am going about 30 on a turn and hit one. my steering wheel shakes bad and my front end like shifts over really hard almost like it hops. I am just wondering if anyone has experienced anything like this or if anyone could lend some insight on what could be the problem. I have my sway bar off could this be the problem I don't know

 

Was ur sway bar off when u had the spacer lift on.

 

no it was on with the spacer

 

Sure sounds like a vehicle without a sway bar to me! Is your alignment good?

 

How is your alignment?
How much preload on the Icons?
Could be just the fact that you're not used to not having a sway bar too...
Also, the Icons are really stiff with factory valving and will "hop" a little at low speed...

 

What tires are you running? What is their load rating? You might want to try airing them down a little.... could be that the side wall is too stiff, combined with Air pressure that is too high for the truck.

I had the same issue with my 98 4Runner, when I added my 33" Maxxis Bighorns.... I aired down, and the truck rides much better.

 

No it doesn't. Removing the sway bar doesn't make the front end feel like its about to fall off. If that were the case I'd put mine back on.

IMO the problems could involve, but are no limited to:
-LCA bushings shot
-One or more balljoints shot
-UCA not installed/torqued properly <--- I'd start looking here, especially if Joe Snuffy alignment company had no idea what they were doing when you got it aligned
-Check the tie-rod ends for shits&giggles, but I doubt that's the problem

I've driven several miles with bad LCA bushings on a lifted Yota with 33" wheels, and the symptoms were very similar. How on earth you got the truck aligned in its present condition is beyond me. A good shop would have told you what was wrong and why that keeps them from aligning it.

Also:
-Consider replacing the R&P bushings (fair wear and tear at this point anyway)
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/wheelers-off-road/284936-05-steering-rack-bushings.html

 

I cant remember what my alignment numbers were. but I do remember my caster being 3.1 driver and 3.6 passenger. the ucas when I installed them were just tighted by hand then I lowered the vehicle and torqued to 75lbs then ball joint to 110lbs.

I have fierce attitude m/t tires load range E they are at 38psi 285/75/16

On the icons I have a little under 2" on drivers side and 1.5" on passenger

 

Guys running 285s can chime in with what they are running, but I'd drop them to 32 psi and see how it is if everything else looks OK.

 

I think it's probably a combination of things. Those Icons are a lot stiffer than stock, and that's a good amount of preload on them. And, removing the sway bar does affect the way it steers. It actually feels better to me; feels like I have more control. But others have said that it feels unstable. Also, letting air out will always give you a softer ride, but you also don't want the pressure too low.

 

"Now my truck feels very unstable when I hit little man holes or pot holes and its even worse when I am going about 30 on a turn and hit one. my steering wheel shakes bad and my front end like shifts over really hard almost like it hops."

^^^Not a single symptom he gave has much to do with the sway. The sway bar has nothing to do with how the truck "steers". All it does is pull down on the opposite spindle to keep the vehicle from leaning in an effort to keep a little more weight on the inside tire. Because he has preloaded the coils there is even less of a need for the sway bar.

I say again: If I had any of these symptoms after pulling my sway bar I would have put it right back on.

There is more to be said for his preloaded coils, that being that they will compress much less than they should over small bumps. That factor, combined with a stiffer "E" rated tire will give a much bumpier ride.

If the bushings, ball joints, and UCAs are all in good working order than the next logical step would be to air the tires down and look into a set of coils which will provide lift with the Icons set at "0", thus increasing the front struts ability to compress properly over bumps.

 

I would start with an alignment. Cuz u lifted the suspension and the truck normally need an alignment after that. Plus it may help give u an idea if numbers are off. Also when they do an alignment they check to make sure the ball joints and everything are ok

 

He did. His caster is "ok" for aftermarket UCAs.

 

Oops my bad. I misread.

 

I would like to see alignment numbers as well, because to be quite honest, that's what it really sounds like.

And, I acknowledge that the sway bar doesn't affect the actual mechanics of the steering, but it definitely changes the "feel" of the steering. Or at least it did on my truck.

I guess it also depends on how bad the problem is. What the OP is describing doesn't sound that bad to me. If on the other hand he "feels like the front end is about to fall off", then yes, that is a different situation entirely...

 

Bold type is mine.

 

I concur, good sir!

 

I would have dropped the issue a long time ago, but I couldn't let the sway bar comments go unanswered. Too many guys are terrified of removing it because of too much misinformation floating around out there.

 

You made all of these mods at the same time.
My first thought was bumpsteer which is affected by the caster.
With all the other changes you made, I don't know what to think.
I'd look at the caster first.

The rear leaf spring TSB has the alignment specs.
After I lifted my 4banger and had the alignment done, the outside tread of the front tires were showing noticeable wear from the Bulldog stance.

I took the truck to a different shop and instructed them to use the V6 camber specs in the TSB I provided them.
The visual camber isn't perfect the way I want but the tire wear is better and the truck corners like a race car.

 

He did, his numbers aren't stellar but they aren't cause for concern.