STT's pulling to the left
Submitted: Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 19:52
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equinox
Hi all,
Every since I have had the Coopers the ute has been pulling to the left.
I have had one Coopers dealer and Toyota Service do wheel alignments and the vehicle is OK.
I've swapped the tyres around - no matter what combination they pull to the left.
Toyota says it's the tyres. The first Cooper Dealer I went to about it (the ones who sold them to me) don't want to know. Haha - he even gave me a "how to drive a 4WD" DVD as he pointed me at the direction of the door.
The second Cooper dealer I went to was more forthcoming with info. He said that it was a known problem and no-one knows why it happens. He said that a few cruisers do it, but mainly Prados and also Patrols. He didn't elaborate further and I didn't really push him.
Have I got my head in the sand here? Anyone else got dramas? Is there a "off the shelf" fix that I can get at the local 4WD store?
By the way I do intend to keep them as the durability, toughness whatever - makes up for the deficiency of the pulling to the left.
Cheers
Alan
Reply By: Member - Mick O (VIC) - Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 19:54
Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 19:54
Hi Alan. How are the front shocks?
Mick.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: equinox - Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 20:03
Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 20:03
Hi Mick,
Just checked. Seem OK. Ute was only serviced three weeks ago - they didn't report a fault.
I should have added a few of things.
- It started pulling to the left as soon as the Coopers were installed.
- It's not the camber of the road as it still pulls to the left on the wrong side of the road.
- On rough, dirt tracks it's hardy noticeable as the whole ute is moving around anyway :)
Cheers
FollowupID:
552164
Reply By: Willem - Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 20:19
Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 20:19
Al
You may recall....I swapped my STT's for a slab of VB......best deal I've ever done...:-)
Cheers
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: equinox - Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 20:34
Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 20:34
Now Willem are you stirring me??????
At least you drink good beer.
1
puncture for every 50 kms off-track in the Gibson is good enough for me and the Coopers shall stay. However, the Gibson isn't the roughest country on Earth and my recent trip to
Esperance has left me with the notion that I should perhaps keep my ears open to other ideas, for future reference.
Regards
FollowupID:
552174
Follow Up By: Willem - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 08:11
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 08:11
Nooooooo...not stirring..............
BUT....lol...I have posted my troubles with STT's here before. I asked too much of them.
Almost at the same time as buying the second set of STT's(the first set cracked the beads at 30,000km) I got a reasonable deal on a set of 265x75x16 Eldorado's ZTR which I ran on my trailer. I suffered numberous punctures on them...sidewall as
well as tread stakes. I still have these tyres. Eldorados are made in the Cooper Factory. I use the Eldorados for running around on the bitumen. Yesterday I had flat tyre number xxxxxxxx! I have lost count. I pumped the tyre up at the servo and no doubt it will present itself as flat this morning. These Eldorados have paper thin sidewalls and the inner tread is not much better. In fact I have had more punctures with these than I had with my
Dunlop Road Grippers.....LOL
Bloody Tyres!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers
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Reply By: lunchbuckett - Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 20:21
Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 20:21
equinox had the same trouble with my coopers upt tyres pressure to 42 psi no more pulling to left and better economy and tyres ware better LB
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: equinox - Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 20:28
Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 20:28
Thanks LB, Sounds a bit high 42, but will give it a go. I normally run at 34 on the highway.
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Follow Up By: thepunter - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 19:48
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 19:48
I run 40 on my STT's. I tried everyting and anything lower the steering seemed vagueand sloppy. At 40 they steering runs true.
David.
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Reply By: spinifex - Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 20:44
Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 20:44
RTC (Return to centre) steering dampers seems to do a good job of masking minor problems.
Regards
Spinifex
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: equinox - Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 21:11
Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 21:11
Thanks Spinifex (Like the nick)
Had a bit of a look just then on the net and seems like it may be my answer. I will look into RTC Dampers further. Hopefully they are cheap to install. Apprieciate the tip.
Cheers
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Reply By: PradOz - Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 21:40
Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 21:40
Hi - run my coopers at 40psi and no problems. Done 65000 and still going strong with plenty left in them yet cheers mick
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Follow Up By: equinox - Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 22:43
Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 22:43
Thanks PradOz. Ill be lucky to get 35000 or less even out of
mine, but I do give them a hard time :) I'll try the higher pressures and see how I go.
Regards
Alan
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Reply By: Eric Experience - Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 22:02
Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 22:02
Alan.
One of the most important factors to look for is the load on each wheel. If one front wheel is loaded more than the other it will pull to the heavy side. A simple way to
check the load is to measure the exact centre of the rear axle and then jack up the vehicle with a piece of angle iron on the trolley jack to act as a pivot, that is with the angle at the top, place the pivot under the exact centre and lift. If all is OK the sills on both sides at the front will be the same distance from the floor, If that is OK reverse the whole procedure and lift the front axle. You will have found the problem now. Good Luck Eric.
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Follow Up By: equinox - Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 22:39
Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 22:39
Gee Eric I hope you're not implying that I redistribute the centre of balance of the long axis. I think that RTC damper might be easier. I have made no mods at all so I am trusting Toyota here (and their tray building contractors). Plus as I said, before the Coopers there was no problem.
Appreiciate the comment though.
Cheers
Alan
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Follow Up By: Eric Experience - Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 23:01
Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 23:01
Alan.
You want to know why, The
test is very simple, A damaged or displaced spring is the most likely cause. Eric
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Follow Up By: Member - Mick O (VIC) - Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 23:07
Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 23:07
Hmmmmm. If you really need help Alan.........?
Image Could Not Be Found
Disclaimer; Just wanted to see if the new photo loading facility works. Postee does not differentiate between standard arguable items...ie Owns 2002 3L T/D Nissan - Covets Toyota 76 series T/D V8 ute with custom tray. Engel/Waeco - owns one of each. Coopers/BFG -
Well Can't really complain about the ST's. Worth a laugh though!
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Follow Up By: equinox - Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 23:11
Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 23:11
Mick - You are a smart arse, and I never took you for one :))
Eric - If there was damage done to the spring it would have happened in the
shop, and that wouldn't surprise me.
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Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 00:21
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 00:21
Alan not an answer to your question but a question to you. Apart from your current issue how do you find the STT's looked at a vehicle today that had them and the tread partern extending down the side wall would suggest that they would be quite stake resistant?
I'm considering a set of M/T's for my next tyres and the STT's look the goods although I'm not normally a fan of Coopers based on observations of their A/T class of tyre.
BTW I ran my BFG A/T's at 34psi and the tyre place told me to up the pressures to 40psi. Would suspect a muddy would need higher road pressures.
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Follow Up By: Member -Signman - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 13:20
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 13:20
Hey Mick O
Did I spy your vehicle in the
carpark at
Bright a few weeks ago??
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Follow Up By: Member - Mick O (VIC) - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 13:47
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 13:47
Wasn't me signman. The above facetious comment was on the rear bumper of a bloke from Queensland who was camped down in the
Otways over the Long weekend. He's doing a year long trip with the camper trailer and family. Couldn't resist a photo. Cheers Mick
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Reply By: Voxson - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 08:56
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 08:56
Alan,
The second i put the STT's on my Patrol they pulled to the left.
They pulled harder than a 15 year old school boy looking in a womens weekly.
It is so bad that i started to get a tired arm from trying hold the car straight on a slightly cambered road/highway.
I am so used to it now it doesnt matter.
They guy that said he has 65,000 and still going strong with his STT's,,,, i say FrogManure....
He is probably talking ST's.
I can vouch that tyre pressure is a huge factor with STT's.
42psi isnt far off the mark.
I have done 30,000k's and they are looked rag-ged.
If i got 40,000 they will be shagged...
I never ever travel faster than 95kmh on bitumen either.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: tuck 01 - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 10:19
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 10:19
Alan
Have STT's (285-75-16) on 100 series. Have lots of ARB steel bolted on to it so it weighs in at about 3.3 tonnes before I load up for a big trip.
Normally run at 40 psi, but higher if heavier & high speed, lower in the rough, sand etc.
Runs absolutely true, no pulling either way.
Forgot who posted the "frogshyte" post on claimed mileage, but my last set gave me 65,000km, probably 85-90% of that on bitumen. I could have run them for another 5-10,000, but had a high country weekend coming up with rain predicted, so I wanted new rubber.
I never rotated after first 10,000. When I got rid of them the wear all round was perfectly even. A few cracks between the treads (probalby too high pressure on
Birdsville and
Oodnadatta Tracks) and a few lugs partially gone (
Vic High Country), but good enough that the dealer passed them on to someone who was going to put them on their vehicle.
Cheers
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Voxson - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 13:58
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 13:58
Ok.. Maybe i was a bit harsh with my "frog manure" comment.
But i dont let my tyres get under 3/4 worn because it i
too easy for rocks to
puncture between the tread in remote areas.
If my 4x4 didnt do much country then i could almost see STT's reaching 65,000kms because i wouldnt be as worried about punctures.
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Reply By: Keith_A (Qld) - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 12:00
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 12:00
Hi Alan - exactly the same experience as you. Fitted Coopers to the GU - got a tired arm holding the wheel. Took it to my mechanic for major service - repacked front hubs etc - no difference. His only comment was that his GU pulled harder to the left than mine.
GU issue or Coopers ?
I now
run TOYO Open Country Muds - holds perfect centre - (either that or my right arm is compensating from driving the Coopers for 60K.)
.............................Keith :)
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Follow Up By: Shaker - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 12:24
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 12:24
His GU would have been lifted.
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Follow Up By: Keith_A (Qld) - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 13:38
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 13:38
Yes Shaker -you are right.
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Reply By: John Davies - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 12:23
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 12:23
Follow this link to the toyo tyres website. Very good technical info
on tyre and alignment problems.
http://www.toyo.com.au/TechInfoPDFs/TTT-160%20Steer%20Pull%20and%20Corrective%20Action.pdf
Regards
John D
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Reply By: Moose - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 14:43
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 14:43
G'day Alan
Are those tyres uni-directional? If not why not try mounting them with the normal outside (the white lettering side) to the inside on the rim and see if they're any better.
Ran STT's (the older model) for a few years and found them brilliant. But I hated wearing them out on the bitumen (
wife running to school, shops etc) so switched to ATs.
Cheers from the Moose
AnswerID:
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Reply By: equinox - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 19:36
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 19:36
Thankyou all for all of you responses. It would seem I am not alone with my dramas. I now have a few leads to work on anyway.
All the best!!!
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Follow Up By: John S (NSW) - Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008 at 00:44
Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008 at 00:44
equinox,
One thing that has not been mentioned is tyre bias. Swap the two front tyres over and see if it makes any difference.
I had new tyres fitted to a car years ago and had the same problem. Took it back and the dealer said that the car had been in an accident and was not straight - the pulling to the left could not be fixed. So I swapped the front wheels over and the car pulled straight.
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Reply By: Member - Glenn D (NSW) - Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 21:16
Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 at 21:16
Hows it going Alan,
Patrols pulling left is fairly standard. A while ago it was fairly standard discussion on this site.
The problem is the Camber from the factory is not set up right and cannot be simply adjusted at the local tyre
shop.
I went to one of the
places advertised at the time in 4wd mags , Shim-a-line . I had the upper plate that holds the bearing in the left swivel hub replaced with an offset one that corrected the camber the correct amount , I have even tyre wear and no pull to the left.
Hope this helps you out.
Glenn.
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