Poor handling over bumps- shock and tire questions

I have my new 1st here in Nassau, now fitted with Duratracs (265/75-16). Stock height on stock shocks. I notice that when cornering over uneven pavement the truck is unstable and know that this could be a function of a few factors.

I'm getting 5100s- possibly leaving the height as is. I think this cannot but help- stock shocks have 132k miles and must have done their tour of duty. Btw- my Gen2 with TRD/Bils has nothing like this problem. So question is what others have observed in terms of handling after changing out to Bils or newer/better shocks.

Secondly for those with Duratracs which sidewall do you have (C or E) and what types of pressures are you running as these could also be factors.

TIA

 

I just bought an 04 ext cab with 133k miles last week (stock susp) so I figured I'd chime in.
I'm GUESSING that some of your odd handling is coming from those tires rubbing. Believe me, I did a TON of research last week when I was buying new tires, to see if 75's would fit, rather than stock 70's. Some said yes...MANY said no (minor to annoying rubbing). ESPECIALLY with 130k on stock suspension, it probably is a little lower than when younger. I'd check for rubbing to start with. As you might guess, I bought 265/70/16 stock sized tires.

Other than that, I ordered 5100's myself. Plan on putting the fronts (with stock coils) on the middle 1.5" setting and leaving the back leafs alone and just adding the 5100s. I'll see how that goes. I figure there's always room to get more crazy in the future with either new leafs, an AAL, cranking the front 5100s to the top 2.5", or doing OME coils on the front 5100's at the 0 setting, etc etc.

 

Thanks for chiming in. I'll look for signs of rubbing but I sure don't hear it.
Newer (stiffer) and better dampeners (5100) will likely help even at stock height with rubbing. But if necessary I'll AAL in rear and raise slightly.

I also think my Duratracs are C walled and not E. I just learned that there are both available. Knowing that I just bot an E walled set for my Gen2

 

tire pressure can definitely have an effect on handling characteristics.........and bad shocks/struts will add to poor handling as well. what pressure are you running in the duratracs?

 

Could be the weight of the tire and the fact that the shocks have some mileage on them. Looks like a big tire on stock suspension. I'm surprised you dont at least feel some rubbing with them.

 

i dont have the trd option on my truck, and it was pretty rough with the old suspension. when i put the 5125s on the back with deavers springs, it was a bit rough at first. lots of bumps in the roads around here, and it doesnt ride like a sports car, obviously. i just aired my back tires down a little, and it helped out a lot. i think that you should try doing that. they had almost no sag in the walls before, and now its a tiny bit mushy at the bottoms... seems much better now.

 

No evidence of rubbing- none. So don't think its that.

Someone made off with my pressure gauge but they look overinflated to me. No tumblehome to speak of. I'll get a gauge tomorrow and soften them up a bit at a time.

There's a particular spot in the road where this occurs ( curve with very shallow 1-2" deep trench running diagonally across it) so I can make adjustments and test the effect. Its a bit scary at 50 mph the way it hops. I take it at 60 in my wife's Outback and 75 in my 911- you notice the dip but both cars remain in control. A truck is not a car but something's not quite right.

But I don't think there is any getting around the fact that I need new shocks.

 

New shocks definitely wouldn't hurt. Tire pressure could also be a factor, but I doubt you have it that far out of whack (Even if you bought a VW bug w/ the engine in the wrong spot!)

 

New shocks should help with that...I just had time to put my rears on the other night (5100s) and it's worlds better than the rear. No more bouncy bouncy bouncy and a nice (normal) feel.

Anyway, being a car guys, I'm sure this is no shock to you...but what you're describing, IMHO, is classic solid axle rear vs IRS. When ONE of those wheels hits a bump, the whole deal pops up and the rear will pop out or bounce around. Make sense?

 

Follow up: tire pressures 35 psi all around (warm).

 

Sounds about like my 03 trd ext cab when I first bought it. It had 45K miles on it, 265/75/16 tires, and the original shocks. It was pretty sketchy on bumpy or undulating highway curves.

To address the problem, I put on bilstein 5100s front and rear. I found that the old rears were completley shot with virtually no rebound or compression dampening left. That was probably the main source of my poor highway handling.

I set the front shocks on the middle height setting and had a front end alignment done.

That fixed all my highway handling problems.

My thoughts on your tire size: The 265 75 16 tires (hercules terra trac AT-4ply in my case) aren't really that much bigger than the stock 265 70 16s, maybe half an inch wider and 1 inch bigger in diameter. Eight or Ten ply tires like you have usually run a little bigger than 4-ply tires of the same size. The inside will rub on the frame at full turn, and rub on the mud flaps at full turn on rough terrain, but it's not big deal. It certainly wouldn't happen at highway speeds because you'd never turn the wheel that sharp on the highway.

I'd say get some new shocks. If you mess with the front end ride height, get an alignment done.

 

Will do- thx.

 

Bump- 5100s, dust boots and new bushings on their way.

 

Not to threadjack, by I'll report in in a bit too. Putting on my front 5100s in a few hours, then all 4 will be on! I'm going for the middle setting too...stock springs, stock height rear.

If you ordered the dust boots, thats fine, but I dont think you need them. Mostly hear that they crack or break off. I think the rears must have better use for them since they come on those.

 

Someone else in Flag!

 

Got my 5100s on. Ride is much improved. Certainly still a truck, but not nearly as loose.

 

my truck wiggles over bumps too, i took it to get aligned and the guy said that most people diagnose it as bad ball joints, but he said look closer and its the steering rack is damaged. its this peice

http://www.partsgeek.com/gbproducts...content=YN&utm_campaign=PartsGeek+Google+Base

at least thats what mine is and thats what sounds like your bump problem