Driving speeds

G

Geordiewolf

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Gateshead, England
Hello,

I have a 3.5" lift and have just fitted 30 x 9.5 General AT2's, However, last weekend took a trip from North East England to Ben Nevis in Scotland to climb the mountain. Usualy I would crouse at about 60mph but this time found it very difficult to get to 50mph, at times just 45mph. I was pulling my XJ axled trailer so some oversteer due to that, but it did make the usual 5.5 hr journey into 7 hrs! Just wondering if poly steering bushes would give back some front end responsivnesss?
Thanks,
 
did you do an alignment after lifting? your toe should be way off, and would make for really scrubby, slow steering.
 
Bigger tires=
More sidewall flex and less responsiveness
Harder to accelerate and maintain speed up hills
Need to brake sooner - more rolling mass and more leverage against brakes

This and hauling a trailer could slow you down a lot.
 
Thank you for your comments,
Firstly, not done any re alignment. I had been running the stock tires for a couple of years and found no problems with wear patterns. The main problem I have found is the front end wanders alot with side winds due to the steering being very loose. This is noticable on the flat, terible on decline but ok on incline. Where I could power up hill there was not a problem.
However, after reading some info on the trailer forum I have found that the cause could be the fact that I do not have a rear anti roll bar. This was removed when the lift was done, as per the instructions supplied! This would account for the exessive under steer, and could possible be un loading the front end causing the loosness?
I have started enquiries to see if I can locate a modified, longer anti roll bar. Would you agree?
 
Geordiewolf said:
Thank you for your comments,
Firstly, not done any re alignment. I had been running the stock tires for a couple of years and found no problems with wear patterns. The main problem I have found is the front end wanders alot with side winds due to the steering being very loose. This is noticable on the flat, terible on decline but ok on incline. Where I could power up hill there was not a problem.
However, after reading some info on the trailer forum I have found that the cause could be the fact that I do not have a rear anti roll bar. This was removed when the lift was done, as per the instructions supplied! This would account for the exessive under steer, and could possible be un loading the front end causing the loosness?
I have started enquiries to see if I can locate a modified, longer anti roll bar. Would you agree?
Click to expand...


You do not need a rear sway bar. Thats a bunch of crap. In fact, they deleted the rear swaybar on the tow package equipped XJ's. The slop in the steering could be from worn components. Check all of those out. Since you are from the UK, let us know what year, model and engine you have. Also the Jeep is rated to tow 5000lbs. are you exceeding that? you could try a load leveling hitch if you are carrying a lot of weight.
 
OK, wasn't sure if you had a TD XJ or not.
 
Geordiewolf said:
The main problem I have found is the front end wanders alot with side winds
Click to expand...

Mine wanders a lot when it's windy. 30" tires have a lot of sidewall flex and the side of an XJ is like a sheet of plywood =)

Check for loose components in the front. If everything is tight you might want to look into a tire with a thicker sidewall.

Also check your tire pressures. Bigger tires need less air. To much air can make it squirrely.
 
jonnyghost said:
Mine wanders a lot when it's windy. 30" tires have a lot of sidewall flex and the side of an XJ is like a sheet of plywood =)

Check for loose components in the front. If everything is tight you might want to look into a tire with a thicker sidewall.

Also check your tire pressures. Bigger tires need less air. To much air can make it squirrely.
Click to expand...

Good call on the tire pressure! I completely spaced that!
 
Tire pressue, When I got them fitted last month I'm sure it was 33 all round! I will reduce them tomorrow and give it a test. I will also check out steering components. I did notice some tire rubbing on the front anti roll bar break away arm, but this would only occur at slow manouvering speed. The other factor that may have some influence could be the height of the trailer. It is built on the same axle but has my old std leaf springs, and now my old std tires, it may need a spring lift or 30" tires to level it?
 
Shouldn't matter. tongue weight need's to be within spec though. You could get a hitch that has more drop to level your trailer out if it seems uneven.
 
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