Wander on highway

[jjrbus]

Originally Posted by KurtFranz

Wind possibly

Thanks, but only on windy days. I am going to try different tires and rims. No difference and I have another alignment specialist to take it to.

[jjrbus]

And now for more of the story.

I purchased 4 supposdly oe steel rims from a salvage yard, they say from a 98 Savana 3500 but I did not see wheels on vehicle. The looked like the right rims and the lug pattern fit but the hub hole was slightly smaller, I cleaned up the rim and hub but rims would not go on, little difference I am sure I could have forced them on. Took them back and yard tried to help me and insisted that only one rim was used for several applications. From what I read they are right, no part number on the rims to verify anything.

Picked up 2 rims at a pick and pull near me $10 each which I removed from a 2000 GMC Savana 3500, mine is a 2001 Chevy express 3500. Brought them home and they go right on. Bought 2 decent used Bridgestone LT 245 75 16, 10 ply from a local place for $50 each mounted and balanced. I really do not like buying used tires!

Installed and even though the weather is crappy 20-30 mph winds, took a ride including 20 miles on the interstate. Right out of the driveway noticed a difference. The steering seems firmer. Highway is noticably better even with 20-30 mph winds and 2 suspect tires/wheels on the rear. Noticeably better but still not right, need to find a couple more wheels.

At this point it appears something is out of sync with the tires/wheels, I run 65 psi front and 80 psi rear. I bought the tires Bridgestone V Steel Rib LT 245 75 16 at Discount tire 2 years ago in Alabama and the aluminum rims off Amazon 1 1/2 years ago. Nothing was a what the heck is wrong after installing tires, wheels or shocks it sort of developed.

[KurtFranz]

Originally Posted by jjrbus

And now for more of the story.

I purchased 4 supposdly oe steel rims from a salvage yard, they say from a 98 Savana 3500 but I did not see wheels on vehicle. The looked like the right rims and the lug pattern fit but the hub hole was slightly smaller, I cleaned up the rim and hub but rims would not go on, little difference I am sure I could have forced them on. Took them back and yard tried to help me and insisted that only one rim was used for several applications. From what I read they are right, no part number on the rims to verify anything.

Picked up 2 rims at a pick and pull near me $10 each which I removed from a 2000 GMC Savana 3500, mine is a 2001 Chevy express 3500. Brought them home and they go right on. Bought 2 decent used Bridgestone LT 245 75 16, 10 ply from a local place for $50 each mounted and balanced. I really do not like buying used tires!

Installed and even though the weather is crappy 20-30 mph winds, took a ride including 20 miles on the interstate. Right out of the driveway noticed a difference. The steering seems firmer. Highway is noticably better even with 20-30 mph winds and 2 suspect tires/wheels on the rear. Noticeably better but still not right, need to find a couple more wheels.

At this point it appears something is out of sync with the tires/wheels, I run 65 psi front and 80 psi rear. I bought the tires Bridgestone V Steel Rib LT 245 75 16 at Discount tire 2 years ago in Alabama and the aluminum rims off Amazon 1 1/2 years ago. Nothing was a what the heck is wrong after installing tires, wheels or shocks it sort of developed.

It all went full circle ey? The entire issue began with the aftermarket wheels

[jjrbus]

Originally Posted by KurtFranz

It all went full circle ey? The entire issue began with the aftermarket wheels

I do not know yet, could be the tires. I have read several reports that claimed changing tires was the solution, not one post on the wheels being the issue. Trying to figure best way to do this and hopefully get some reimbursement if it is the tires. 5 Bridgestone LT tires are not inexpensive!

[jjrbus]

Well it is official, after a very frustrating search for OE steel wheels I managed to pick up 4 yesterday at a pick and pull for $10 each. Sounds nice but this took several weeks and a few long wasted drives.

Went to Discount tire in Ft Myers FL and had 2 of the Bridgestone tires on the aluminum rim dismounted and mounted and balanced on the OE steel rims. Waaaay different on the highway. Still not right as have the 2 aluminum wheels on the rear.

Aluminum wheels were the culprit!

[jjrbus]

Have all the aftermarket aluminum wheels off the RT and the OE steel wheels installed with the 2 year old 10K Bridgestones on them. Took it on the highway for about 30 miles, night and day, completely different to drive, steering feels tight and responsive, no more wander.

Aftermarket wheels have been the problem all along.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[booster]

Originally Posted by jjrbus

Have all the aftermarket aluminum wheels off the RT and the OE steel wheels installed with the 2 year old 10K Bridgestones on them. Took it on the highway for about 30 miles, night and day, completely different to drive, steering feels tight and responsive, no more wander.

Aftermarket wheels have been the problem all along.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That is good information as it is the first, at least the I have seen, that we had to deal with the question of putting the wrong offset on a van that is offset too much positive. We normally see vans with wheels that are offset too much negative, like the standard aluminum wheels that Roadtrek used on the 2003 up Chevies.


It appears that having 28mm positive error direction causes more issues than having 34mm too much negative does. There are lots of the too much negative vans running around out there, but they don't report the horrible handling that you did, although there probably is a degradation in them also that some notice and some don't.


Perhaps someone with a 2003+ Chevy will want your now orphaned wheels, which appear to be clones of the +28mm offset OEM Silverado wheels that also can be used on the vans.