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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: TN_Tracker on March 21, 2004, 02:14:09 AM

Title: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: TN_Tracker on March 21, 2004, 02:14:09 AM
It's Spring here in the Southeast and Spring means wind, lots of it. After adding the bigger Coopers to the Tracker it has become almost uncontrollable in high wind. Do I need a Steering Stabilizer or is this something that I just have to live with? :-/
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: wildgoody on March 21, 2004, 02:17:24 AM
??? A stock Trucklet is almost uncontrolable
in the wind, I swear if somebody sneezes out
the car window I go over half a lane, I think
it's a live with it issue, Sorry   :(

Wild
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: NY_SIDEKICKER on March 21, 2004, 03:18:20 AM
I'LL TELL YA THE WIND REALLY MESSES WITH MY KICK, ON 32'S........YOU'LL BE DRIVING ALONG AND THEN WOOOOSH  YOUR ROCKING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK & FORTH JUST TO STAY IN YOUR LANE. IT USED TO BE A BIT SCARY, LIKE WHAT THE HELL , IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE FRONT OF THIS THING OR WHAT. AFTER A FEW ROADSIDE INSPECTIONS & ALL APPEARED TO BE WELL , SO NOW I JUST FEEL AS IF I'M IN MY UPS TRUCK THAT HAS ATLEAST 3- 6" OF PLAY IN THE WHEEL . BUT HELL ITS GOT 655,000 MILES ON IT, SO I GUESS ITS LUCKY TO STILL BE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. THE BEST IS WHEN YOUR STEERING INTO THE WIND OUT IN THE  FLATS, AND THE WIND STOPS, & YOU NOW CROSS OVER THE LINE & PEOPLE THINK YOUR SWERVING AT THEM  ;D SO I GUESS ITS A LIVE WITH ISSUE. MATTY D.  8)
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: Maiden Hell on March 21, 2004, 04:01:09 AM
The Sidekick/Tracker are very prone to high winds.  I've had some freaky moments too, especailly out in the country, but nothing overly serious.
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: Mike71 on March 21, 2004, 06:01:14 AM
i have just a stocker..but when i switched to a hard top the wind has kind of left me alone..head winds or side winds i can drive across the bay bridge and dumbarten bridge w.o vering all over the road lol
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: TinTopper on March 21, 2004, 07:06:24 AM
Open your windows - remove your doors - wind passes right on through.
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: TN_Tracker on March 21, 2004, 07:46:38 AM
Quote
i have just a stocker..but when i switched to a hard top the wind has kind of left me alone..head winds or side winds i can drive across the bay bridge and dumbarten bridge w.o vering all over the road lol

Very interesting! I find it hard to accept that a vehicle so well engineered would handle so poorly in a windy situation. There has to be a cause.
Upon further inspection it seems I have a bad sway bar bushing. It may be the problem.
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: Mike71 on March 21, 2004, 08:31:50 AM
they do have a wind problem just because of the ammont of surface area on the sides and lack of weight..but what may be for u is that the problem is even worse because of the bushing or some other thing..u should feel out of controll in the car just the wind should be more of a presence then in other cars
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: Speedracer7c on March 21, 2004, 10:36:07 AM
my tracker is all over the road too. I think its probably just cause they don't weigh anything and they are shaped like a block. Not exactly aerodynamic.
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: Samurai_Hamster on March 21, 2004, 10:46:23 AM
With the stock uni-won't royals, handling in high winds was a bit of an adventure.......even in a stock 4 door!  :-/

Since I installed Cooper Weathermasters, that issue is not nearly as bad but its still there.  Makes the bunghole pucker up big time when an 18 wheeler is a hammerin' down in the left lane and you're on a rather high bridge!  :o 8) ::)
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: TN_Tracker on March 21, 2004, 10:52:55 AM
It seems Autozone sells greasable poly bushings and brackets for the sway bar. Anybody know what the sway bar diameter is on a '96 Soft Top Tracker?
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: Mikerpm4x4 on March 22, 2004, 07:05:04 AM
Wind is my worst enemy. Weve had 35mph winds lately and they have been kickin my rigs ass all over the place. One day last week I was driving into a nasty headwind and had to shift into 3rd! My top speed was only 42mph for at least a mile. :o The way home was a breeze.... :P


I really hate the sidewinds. Most of the time its just a little anoying but the other day I actually got off the freeway and took sideroads.  However, I did see other vehicles having trouble too.

Mike
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: Mike71 on March 22, 2004, 07:16:10 AM
why does shifting into 3rd help with the wind? i dont understand ???

i know im slow bare with me =)
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: TN_Tracker on March 22, 2004, 07:19:16 AM
A little update. I crawled under the Zook today and it was worse than I thought. Seems the Auto Trans Lines had been leaking just enough to ruin the rubber sway bar bushing, it's turned to jello. Put a caliper on the bar and comes out to be 24mm. Of course Autozone doesn't stock this size and I have to order it. Does anybody have experience with Energy Suspension Products, good stuff?
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: Mikerpm4x4 on March 22, 2004, 07:27:17 AM
Quote
why does shifting into 3rd help with the wind? i dont understand ???

i know im slow bare with me =)



Cause I was bogging out in 4th and 5th. The headwind was that strong.

Mike
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: Mike71 on March 22, 2004, 08:12:11 AM
ooooooooooohhhhhh :o told u i was slow  :-[

but that is insaine..my lil 8v would probably just shut off on me lol
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: Samurai_Hamster on March 22, 2004, 01:10:25 PM
Quote
Wind is my worst enemy. Weve had 35mph winds lately and they have been kickin my rigs ass all over the place. One day last week I was driving into a nasty headwind and had to shift into 3rd! My top speed was only 42mph for at least a mile. :o The way home was a breeze.... :P


I really hate the sidewinds. Most of the time its just a little anoying but the other day I actually got off the freeway and took sideroads.  However, I did see other vehicles having trouble too.

Mike



You were at redline?

Right? ;D
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: NY_SIDEKICKER on March 22, 2004, 01:31:54 PM
Quote
Open your windows - remove your doors - wind passes right on through.

THAT MIGHT WORK IN FL.  :P    BUT NOT IN THE GREAT NORTHEAST  THIS TIME OF YEAR  ;D
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: Zukipilot on March 22, 2004, 08:59:25 PM
Quote
Does anybody have experience with Energy Suspension Products, good stuff?


Some of the custom built Jeep guts in the Club bought bushings from them and have been pleased with the results.
Zig
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: Bobzooki on March 23, 2004, 12:41:27 AM
Umm, OK folks...  I don't get this.
I have SOME wind issues, but nothing like you're talking about.

This time of year, in the Front Range of Colorado, 60MPH gusts are common.  I have Bridgestone Deuller AT's (standard size, 205-75-15's?) on my stock daily driver (4-door Kick), and Goodyear Wrangler MT/R's (31X10.50-15's) on my trail rig (2-door kick).

With 40-60mph cross winds, at 55 MPH, I get a LITTLE jumping around from side to side, but nothing TOO severe.  Maybe a foot max.  Now with a 40-60mph headwind, I do have issues - like Mike said, down to 3rd gear and 4,000 RPM, but hey, that's something like 50 mph or so, anyway.

I have power steering on the 4-door, and manual with a steering stabilizer on the 2-door.
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: TN_Tracker on March 23, 2004, 04:55:56 AM
Quote


Some of the custom built Jeep guts in the Club bought bushings from them and have been pleased with the results.
Zig

Thanks Zig ;D

TN_T
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: Mikerpm4x4 on March 24, 2004, 01:39:22 PM
Quote
Umm, OK folks...  I don't get this.
I have SOME wind issues, but nothing like you're talking about.

This time of year, in the Front Range of Colorado, 60MPH gusts are common.  I have Bridgestone Deuller AT's (standard size, 205-75-15's?) on my stock daily driver (4-door Kick), and Goodyear Wrangler MT/R's (31X10.50-15's) on my trail rig (2-door kick).

With 40-60mph cross winds, at 55 MPH, I get a LITTLE jumping around from side to side, but nothing TOO severe.  Maybe a foot max.  Now with a 40-60mph headwind, I do have issues - like Mike said, down to 3rd gear and 4,000 RPM, but hey, that's something like 50 mph or so, anyway.

I have power steering on the 4-door, and manual with a steering stabilizer on the 2-door.



Heres my problem... Im running 35s with 8 inches of lift. ::) ;D

Mike
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: Mike71 on March 24, 2004, 02:34:20 PM
^bastard.....bastard  :'(
Title: Re: A Really Annoying Wind Problem
Post by: Twins on March 24, 2004, 02:39:28 PM
Quote
Wind is my worst enemy. Weve had 35mph winds lately and they have been kickin my rigs ass all over the place. One day last week I was driving into a nasty headwind and had to shift into 3rd! My top speed was only 42mph for at least a mile. :o The way home was a breeze.... :P
Mike


WOW!  I thought 60 flat out into a 35 mph headwind was bad.  I would think 60 indicated would be about 66-7 with 29's,  so maybe I'm making all 80 hp.

I have learned to drive like (I'm not a Nascar fan so insert favorite driver here) when on the E-way.  Draft untill you are about to rearend someone then shoot out to the fast lane and hope the momentum will get you through the wall of air the car you are passing is pushing.

My Track is blown around more than any of our other cars (GN-Typhoon-3" lifted XJ on 30's) but I guess it isn't too bad in my mind, considering the fact that it's shaped like a boot and ways nothing.