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Really stiff steering after wheel change?

Started by _Chriskoss-79uc_ , Dec 22 2008 06:37 PM

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22 replies to this topic

#1 _Chriskoss-79uc_

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Posted 22 December 2008 - 06:37 PM

Hey guys,

I currently swapped my 13x6 wheels for some 15x7 CSA alloys.

Now the car has really stiff steering, its almost unbearable feels like im driving a truck?

Anyone know why? The wheels are not scrubbing against the guards or anything

cheers

P.S I drove first with the 15's on the back and 13's on front and it was fine(dah).. then I changed the fronts over and its way too stiff. Does it have something to do with more load on the wheel bearings because of larger wheels? Or does it now need to be lowered?

Edited by Chriskoss-79uc, 22 December 2008 - 06:45 PM.

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#2 76lxhatch

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Posted 22 December 2008 - 07:24 PM

Something isn't quite right, maybe check through your steering system (rack, bearings in column, uni joints) for any obvious problems which are probably appearing now that the load is a bit more. I have a UC front end (incl UC rack) with around 1 deg negative camber and 15x8s with 225/50s and the steering is reasonably light.

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#3 TerrA LX

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Posted 22 December 2008 - 07:29 PM

How much do the wheels differ in the offset?

Are the front tyres evenly worn?

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#4 Toranavista

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Posted 22 December 2008 - 07:37 PM

Have you checked the tyre pressure

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#5 FastEHHolden

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Posted 22 December 2008 - 08:05 PM

umm..yeah..pump them up..doesn't help that you have an extra couple of inches of rubber to push around.

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#6 _Chriskoss-79uc_

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Posted 22 December 2008 - 10:49 PM

They are pumped up fine.

Also I just realised after a short drive whenever i swing the wheel right, the left front hand side wheel sounds like scraping or the brake caliper scraping etc. Not sure of the offset, they seem to fit fine. Maybe they need spacers? The steering is nuts its just so stiff.

Any more suggestions? cheers all

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#7 FastEHHolden

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Posted 22 December 2008 - 11:14 PM

round and black..or you actually know how many PSI are in them?

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#8 ls2lxhatch

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Posted 22 December 2008 - 11:31 PM

What is the steering like with the wheels off the ground?

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#9 TerrA LX

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Posted 22 December 2008 - 11:51 PM

^ it aint got that much power

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#10 fuzzypumper

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Posted 23 December 2008 - 12:19 AM

Um, your rims are 15x7 but what width/series are the tyres you have on them compared to the tyres you had on the 13x6 rims?

Yes, what is the steering like with the wheels off the ground?

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#11 _Chriskoss-79uc_

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Posted 23 December 2008 - 12:34 AM

havent checked, ill have a go in the mornin'

tyres are 205/50/15's.'

I think I may have #@$^%& the steering arms because I used a jack in that spot, not the best of ideas ay

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#12 GML-31

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Posted 23 December 2008 - 07:17 AM

that will do it....

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#13 TerrA LX

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Posted 23 December 2008 - 07:26 AM

No torana owner can be that silly, or drunk, Im going with the tyre wear/pressure or directional or a combination of the three.

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#14 _Chriskoss-79uc_

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Posted 23 December 2008 - 10:39 AM

Fingers crossed Terry boy

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#15 76lxhatch

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Posted 23 December 2008 - 01:56 PM

No torana owner can be that silly, or drunk, Im going with the tyre wear/pressure or directional or a combination of the three.

It'd probably be all over the road trying to drive it if the directional tyres were backwards, might feel like you're drunk... :tease:

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#16 _Chriskoss-79uc_

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Posted 23 December 2008 - 08:55 PM

Well I pumped up the tires more, the stiffness is bearable now. Have to get used to muscling around larger wheels I guess.

Second problem : The front LHS wheel is rubbing onto the brake caliper and above it when I turn full lock. took out 1-2 mm of metal?
This isn't happening on the front RHS wheel though, whys that?

Edited by Chriskoss-79uc, 23 December 2008 - 08:56 PM.

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#17 FastEHHolden

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Posted 23 December 2008 - 09:03 PM

Are your wheel bearings loose?

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#18 _Chriskoss-79uc_

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Posted 23 December 2008 - 09:16 PM

Shouldn't be.. Took the wheels off and gave it a tug, nothins loose?

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#19 FastEHHolden

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Posted 23 December 2008 - 11:20 PM

Thats not how you test a wheel bearing..jack it up and grab the wheel at the top and the bottom and try to rock it...push the top away and the bottom toward you..and vice versa.

What part of the wheel did the damage? it wasn't the wheel weight was it..if so go to stick on weights.

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#20 dpz

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Posted 24 December 2008 - 07:46 AM

Hi Guys

I used 14 inch HK premier wheels on my LJ torana a few years back. Had 205 front and 215 rear. Completely rebuilt front end etc.
The steering became heavy. Six months later I sold the car and removed the wheels. The stock 13s went back on.

Lo and behold the steering became lighter again. It felt like power steering!

If all else is ok mechanically with the car I would say it is an issue with offset or tyre width as mentioned.

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#21 _Chriskoss-79uc_

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Posted 24 December 2008 - 10:24 AM

Thanks dpz, I'm starting to think its an offset issue and perhaps 7'' on the front is killing it a bit.

I'll take it to a suspension joint and see what they say.

Cheers

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#22 _Yella SLuR_

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Posted 24 December 2008 - 09:18 PM

Wheel change may just be coincidental. You checked your lower ball joints lately? FastEH's method will tell you if that is what it is, i.e. jack it up and try wobble wheel top to bottom.