Highway handling

canlib · **Posted:** Sat May 31, 2008 11:38 pm

My KJ is a daily driver and I'm looking to improve highway handling. With the Revos, it goes where I want off-road....further, I'll take the ATV. What I would like is a capable all weather highway cruiser that doesn't feel like its going to fall over sideways in the turns. I'm sure its not as tippy as it feels...has anyone had one go over sideways? I know nose to tail rollovers happen at speed with a sharp turn, but I expect that in a short vehicle.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Sat May 31, 2008 11:44 pm

Not sure what you are asking
you drive an suv with a high COG and it will roll long before a car in a fast turn so dont do it
If you are asking how far can you lean one or drive side hill that is hard to say
most times you will panic long before the Jeep will roll on a side hill
If it feels "squirrely" on the highway then check things like tire psi and bushings as you may have an issue

or explain what you want to know better

jeepskate · **Posted:** Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:02 am

I run the Revos and I've never felt like it was tippy. I stick like glue. It's amazing how well it corners, before and after the OME lift. I've got a full complement of skids and boulder bars. Maybe that weight helps. But I love the Revos. Stable as heck for me.

501 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:15 am

I have the Firestone Destination AT's and they handle great on the road and still lets me play offroad.

JIMMY JEEP · **Posted:** Sun Jun 01, 2008 4:42 am

You can buy shortened sports springs for the kj ,but you will be compromising off road capabilties

Dave08 · **Joined:** Fri Nov 02, 2007 4:17 pm **Posts:** 250

I know it sounds crazy but mine did get MUCH more sure footed, even with stock tires after my OME HD lift... stronger springs really help out on body roll

KJ Taz · **Posted:** Sun Jun 01, 2008 10:44 am

It sure sounds like you have an unrelated issue and are blaming it on the tires..................................

More information would be nice.

canlib · **Posted:** Sun Jun 01, 2008 11:16 am

I guess I didn't explain very well. The tires are fine and there is nothing to indicate a problem with the stock suspension. I was wondering if there were after market suspension components...springs, shocks sway bars..which would help reduce the body lean on corners. I don't like the idea of reducing clearance. I'm intrigued to hear more about handling with a lift...hard to imagine it would be better.

Thanks

dirtykj · **Posted:** Sun Jun 01, 2008 11:25 am

I have Revos on my wife's 4x2 KJ and I had to avoid a car running red light. I ended up spun around 180 degrees in my lane, but didn't roll. It felt close to rolling at the last moment before I whipped the steering wheel around, though. This one is not lifted. I'm pretty sure that if I had taken my KJ that night I would definitely have rolled it for sure.

That said, I like the stiffness of the springs on my lifted KJ much better.

If you feel like your unlifted KJ is tippy, try replacing the springs with stiffer ones, maybe?

Dave08 · **Joined:** Fri Nov 02, 2007 4:17 pm **Posts:** 250

I changed from stock to a 400lb/ inch spring, it's a stiffer ride, however a very controlled one. Before my dad blamed the trac loc in the rear for the understeer, even at low speeds like 35, around gentle curves. Since changing springs it now turns, it's amazing, now I can actually feel safe turning from the outside lane into the inside lane on a hill/ curve at 35/40 mph. On the same curve before at 40 it would actually pull from the outside lane INTO the turning lane because of understeer. Haven't had it on the highway yet, tires come tuesday and allignment soon after

Inc · **Posted:** Sun Jun 01, 2008 11:39 am

This is kind of funny actually. Jeep lowered the KJ suspension in mid 02 I think, to make the kj safer and less apt to roll. I run a a lift w/ OME springs, shocks and struts and it sits 4" higher than it did. Now it feels less likely to roll than it ever did stock. The springs seem to handle turns better and the jeep has more control. It handles better even with the rear swaybar off. Upgrade your springs etc. and it should ride much better.

canlib · **Posted:** Sun Jun 01, 2008 9:05 pm

Dave08 where did you get your springs?

I've seen a video of a KJ end over end roll shot from a CHIP car-cam and have read reports of similar high speed flips, but I haven't heard of anyone putting a KJ on its side in a turn. Maybe they do slide instead of roll. That would be my preference!

Pablo · **Joined:** Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:06 pm **Posts:** 1201

I have a CRD and a Frankenlift. That thing in 4-Full time carves corners. I could not believe it but when I came back from Northern AZ on a LOST trip I took the <undisclosed> backroad towards Globe. Not a soul on the road-- not a human soul that is. Hairpin corners. Mountain grades, no guardrails. Half paved, half dirt roads, very washboard, massive drops. Hardly ever a road sign. No semi trucks allowed. Awesomest road ever. Like what you would see in Car and Driver (except with dirt roads in portions and paved in portions). The CRD stuck to the corners like glue in Full Time. I confess I went faster than I should have but I will not confess how fast I took those corners but the uphill inside corners I got pretty darn brave on.

Those 500 pound springs in the front of the CRD are the trick. <b>DON'T buy gasser springs-- apples and oranges</b>. Your CRD already has 410 pound springs (which are waaay too soft and the reason it can't corner for shiz and every time you hit the brakes it nose dives). The gasser are even softer. For your CRD-- you need 460-500 pound springs.

Dave08 · **Joined:** Fri Nov 02, 2007 4:17 pm **Posts:** 250

For a CRD you can go for the OME 790's, give the people at www.boulderbars.com a shout. My dad has a CRD, and his handled SO much better than mine. Now that My gasser is on stiffer springs she does actually turn. His you can take offramps at 70/75.. Mine was to the point to be at all comfortable it was 60 or lower.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:03 pm

Best advice is to drive the speed limit in your area or stay under the speed limit. The KJ will tip over but more often, it'll slide out from under you and cause you to spin into a ditch. A/T or Off Road tires weren't designed for dry handling so keep that in mind.

scarletbegonias · **Posted:** Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:41 pm

I hated that tip-over feeling with the stock setup..it's like a fat hippo on ballet shoes. I solved this problem easily by putting on Spidertrax (in combination with slightly larger tires) and I haven't looked back since! those Spidertrax work wonders, I swear.

KJ Taz · **Posted:** Wed Jun 04, 2008 12:17 pm

sleeve84028 wrote:

Best advice is to drive the speed limit in your area or stay under the speed limit. The KJ will tip over but more often, it'll slide out from under you and cause you to spin into a ditch. A/T or Off Road tires weren't designed for dry handling so keep that in mind.

Good advice, but I would like to also note that out of all the SUVs and small pickups I have owned the Liberty is just as stable if not more so than the others. Sometimes I hear stories and I wonder "have you all ever really driven a top heavy vehicle before?" I guess it comes down to if you are acustom to driving these types of vehicles there really shouldn't be a problem. There are inharent problems with the handling etc. My old CJ5 was far scarier than any of the newer vehicles on the road today......................... Heck my 73 suburban was scarier than the libby, I did manage to put that one on its side back in High School during the 80's.

Highway handling

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