Wandering...

66 CJ5 chassis and running gear with a Saginaw swap.

I just switched to my 33" rubber and took it above 50 for the first time today. I get over 50 and it wants to wander, but I have no play in the wheel when sitting, it feels like there is play going down the road.

Everything seems to be tight... I had to take it up to 55-60 because I had a short freeway jaunt, and minimum speed on the expressway here is 55. I never had it over 45 with the old rubber, so I do not know if it wandered then.

Where should I start looking for the cause, I was white knuckles the whole time R)

 

frame spring bushings can cause wander if they are bad....

 

Lots of places.

I'd guess the kingpin bearings, if you have not rebuilt the knuckles.

What else did you do when you changed tires?

 

It appears to be a 2" spring lift, and I put YJ shackles on that are not much longer (if any) then stock. It clears 33's easily.

I will look at these again more closely

I personally have not rebuilt the knuckles, but they are tight and I believe someone already has been through them upon inspection. Heck they even hold straight 80-90 without leaking the seals are so new.

I did not do anything other then bolt on my new rims and tires, the pressure is lower then I used on the YJ with these tires and I think this might be amplifying it.

I will look at the bushings and increase tire pressure and se what happens. I am running 22psi in them right now -- I ran 25-28 when they were on the YJ, but that is 2000 more lbs too.

Pic of the new setup...

 

Could be you are running too low a pressure. When I put on the 30x9.5x15's I run the pressure at 30 - which may still be too low, but I don't run over 55 mph either.

 

I run my tires (33x12.5x15) at 15psi. I only get wandering on uneven roads that have ruts in them. I even have really worn out spring bushings. Other that that it drives really good. Also helps with the bounce from the stiff springs.

 

Don't think tire pressure is the problem unless they are not all set the same side to side.
I only run 12psi in the YJ (33s) and have no issues, ran 10-12 psi in my '71 cj5 with 33s with no issues.

 

My Jeepster with 35's has only ever seen death wobble once, I had all 4 tires at 20 lbs. I put the front ones up to 25 lbs and problem went away. With that wide a tire you can see how a little movement can happen between the tire and rim. It's free to try a higher pressure.

Paul

 

It honestly felt like it was catching the grooves in the pavement from the heavy tractor-trailers allowed here in MI (up to 80k lbs)

I guess I will play with it and see what happens, probably should hook the power steering up and see if that helps, I blew a line and haven't had the extra cash for a new custom one.

 

Did you measure the toe-in?

 

Low pressure is certainly going to give you a weak sidewall. This would cause your symptom.

 

100% true - wider tires will grab every rut or groove there is - a higher pressure will help a bit.
What I have done is rub a chalk line across the tire and drive STRAIGHT ahead 20 feet or so, then check to see where the chalk is scrubbed off -
center - drop 2-3 psi, edges - add 2-3 psi until the scrubbing is even across the tread.
Good Luck!

 

x2, and soft rubber bushings, too. It happened to me. I run my 33x12.50 rubber at 12-15psi on the street with 1/16"-1/8" toe in and 6deg castor; the JEEP drives straight as an arrow.

 

Toe in might be the issue... I think I set both sets of tires equal distance form the frame

What is the procedure for setting it... ?

 

Easy. Set the front axle on jack stands with both tires off the floor. Spin each tire and use a piece of chalk to make a heavy line around the center of the tread. Draw a thin line through that with a nail or other pointy object. Measure the distance at the back and at the front of the tire, and compare.

 

And you are bringing the centerline of the front of the tires closer to the frame correct? The rear would be further from the frame when toed-in?

When JHC talkes about 1 1/16 " is that each side of total?

 

oh glad you pointed that out! I could swear I read about an inch... Thought that was an awful lot....

 

I hear you on wandering. It has been my experience the wider tires will wander more. I am looking forward to when I can get some narrow tires.