3" ome highway stability

[iamadam1122]

My 2000 is somewhat unstable at highway speeds. It floats or wanders left and right and I have to constantly be steering on straight roads. It has a full ome lift and 285/75/16 duratracs which I've put about 5k on. It's been like this since the lift and tires.

Would this be solved with uca's and factory spec caster? I read somewhere about duratracs wandering so I don't want to spend money on uca's if it won't solve the problem.

The steering wheel also doesn't return to center on its own at low speeds and even higher speed. Is this from the caster being incorrect?

 

[white_n_slow]

Have you had an alignment? I would start there.

 

[jmildoc]

More air in the tires? What is the rating?

 

[iamadam1122]

Have you had an alignment? I would start there.

Yes camber and toe are in spec but I think caster is not.

 

[iamadam1122]

More air in the tires? What is the rating?

I have 39 in the front 37 in the rear. That seemed to give the best contact and wear so far. They're load range E.

How much stability do the uca's add? Is it significant? It drove good stock and even now there is no actual play in the steering, new inner and outer tie rods and new lbj's. Truck has 125k miles.

 

[white_n_slow]

Well then, yes, I would say caster is your problem. I don't even know how to adjust it in an IFS truck, do those UCA's have an adjustable ball joint for caster correction?

In my old rigs, I just put a shim on the leaf spring pack and called it a day. Caster correction did solve the wandering problems, although it's kind of an apples/oranges comparison.

 

[iamadam1122]

Well then, yes, I would say caster is your problem. I don't even know how to adjust it in an IFS truck, do those UCA's have an adjustable ball joint for caster correction?

In my old rigs, I just put a shim on the leaf spring pack and called it a day. Caster correction did solve the wandering problems, although it's kind of an apples/oranges comparison.

Ya I believe the balljoint bolts into an oversized hole and can be slid around then torqued down.

So I guess adjustable upper control arms are the fix. I figured, just wanted to hear some input before spending ~$600.

Anyone that has aftermarket uca's let me know how much the ride and handling improved, thanks.

 

[Mellow77]

You might check into play in the steering rack as well. My setup is similar to yours and I've rebuilt the whole front end and it definitely got tighter but the added weight of my 285/70/17 (e rated as well) is a little much for the stock setup I believe.

I'm looking into swapping the steering guide and then likely adding a steering stabilizer.