Handling up sh!t creek

[Tekka]

Hey guys just wanted some input on what could be my problem, Ive put 18inch rims on my Vp calais and its really screwed up my handling. When im cruising at like 80 and take a gentle bend it feels the car will jack knife?? its hard to to describe the feeling but it has all new shocks and springs in it and rear camber kit on it.

Ive been told it's possibly my bushes and that i need front camber kit, can anyone of you mechanicaly minded people confirm this.

Thanks!

[tunsa]

mate its the wheels they handle like **** when u put bigger wheels on

[friedchicken]

Have you have a wheel alignment? Bushes are worth checking. How low is it/what springs are you using? What are the rims/offset?

If everything is fine it could just be the tyres, certain tyres will tramline a lot more than others.

[1991_Vn2nV]

mate its the wheels they handle like **** when u put bigger wheels on

And why do they 'handle like **** when u put bigger wheels on'?

Larger wheels will just let you feel any other pre-existing issues in the suspension.

[Tekka]

Yeh ive had a Wheel alignment done and the springs im using are super low king springs with gt gas monroe short shocks. Not sure what you mean by rim offset but the rims themselves are 18inch xhp.

[1991_Vn2nV]

Can you describe the handling issue a little more?

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Putting bigger rims on throws the alignment specs out, as they are for the stock sized rims. The side wall of the tyre has less give with a low profile so it won't absorb any road feel. With bigger rims, you need more positive camber and more toe. Something like -0.5deg camber and about 3mm toe. Also drop your pressure down to 35psi on the front. If the radius rod bushes are worn it will make it feel worse with 18's on it.

[Cheap6]

I would be looking at the rim offset. VP's with IRS used wheels with a unique offset. Using wheels with a standard Commodore offset narrows the track by 34mm.

[Emackulation]

make sure the people who aligned it done it right...

[Tekka]

I'll try describe the best i can

When I’m taking a sharp corner or even a gentle corner, doesn’t matter which way I’m turning, when I have the car in the turn it will kind of jerk into the corner and its like I have no control over it for a bit then it will correct itself. It kind of feels like I could put into a roll without much effort.

One night coming home along the high there was a bend in the road and as I negotiated the bend I almost shat myself as the car jerked on it and almost wanted to bite the ground and flip.


It’s the best I could describe it as, I think I might need to have a specialist jump in it and see what he says

[Morton]

Sounds like you could even have a fouled swaybar link pin bush? Get underneath and check all the rubber things that connect stuff. If any of them appear shagged, cracked, or otherwise unhappy, take a photo and post it up. Could also be radius rod bushes (badly, if it's causing what you describe), or some other rubber wigwag which has decided to give up under the extra stress of your wider front tyres It's not uncommon for big wheels to make old parts die.

[azkwazere]

sounds like you have the same issues as me at the moment mate.... however, mines casued because i have 18x8's on the front and 15x6 on the back..... have an alignment done id say... my wheel tracks are out by alot! hahaha

its fine with 4x18's on it.... only cos i spent like 2k plus on new suspension for it!

aZk.

[Jack87]

!!!!!!This is exactly whats happening to mine now with the VR 17's on it!!!!!! What about the tram lining of the tyres like friedchicken said? Im on kumhos atm tekka what are u running?

[Luka]

me too. recon joint ends? bearings? thea next to throw on anyway.

[Morton]

Well, I just purchased a new set of front tyres on Saturday, and ALL my tramlining issues have ceased. Highway Maxx on a Michelin asymetrical tread pattern - DAMN sticky things - and they track in a dead straight line, even when braking, and over some pretty awful roads.

[Paiste402]

tyres? I had new tyres on the front of my car and put them on the back, the 2 back ones werent the same tread or brand (same size, thickness n all) and then it felt like i was driving a boat on a knife edge. No control in corners and felt like it was going to flip over any time. But the 2 newies back on front and no worries at all. Who knows really mate but it can be sorted.