[flappist]

Hi all

I have owned my 98 2.0 JLX Vitara for several months now and it is a great vehicle. I have done a lot of bitumen road and sand driving and it is great.

I have, however, had a rather interesting experience in it yesterday and I thought I would ask here is others have found the same.

I was travelling at 100-120km/h on a dirt road with slight undulations and a couple of times the rear got quite skatey, so much so that I had to aggressively steer the vehicle to bring it back under control.
It seemed to get unsettled after hitting a series of short bumps and while the front stayed true the rear decided to go for a wander forcing me to steer into it and match engine to wheel speed (no back pressure or extra torque) to bring it back.
This was in 2WD, the vehicle is basically standard but is fitted with cheap chinese dual mode tyres.

I am just wondering if this is just because it is so light, due to the cheap nature of the tyres or a combination of both and if others have observed the same.

[atari4x4]

sounds like normal vitara handling characteristics, lifting will improve it somewhat & the tyres probably aren't helping.

read this viewtopic.php?f=5&t=47259&hilit=roll+centre

[murcod]

Worn out shock absorbers could also contribute.

[atari4x4]

both of mine had 70 & 82 thou on them when i pick them up stock as a rock & in good condition all round, both long & short were squirrelly to the point of being unnerving when punting them along at any great rate of knots, eg 1000kms in 10hrs.

[flappist]

Thanks guys, I will sus out the shocks next week but they were ok at the last service 5k ago.

Moral of the story, don't go fast if you have wife in left seat

[Reubs]

Maybe a better idea to engage 4x4 when travelling on dirt roads. 120km/h is also a bit excessive in any Vit on dirt.

[jdk81]

Reubs wrote:

Maybe a better idea to engage 4x4 when travelling on dirt roads. 120km/h is also a bit excessive in any Vit on dirt.

+1

[Marko_SJ]

Reubs wrote:

Maybe a better idea to engage 4x4 when travelling on dirt roads. 120km/h is also a bit excessive in any Vit on dirt.

Was about to say this.

Its higher than you guys actual bitumen speed limit.

[atari4x4]

Marko_SJ wrote:

Reubs wrote:

Maybe a better idea to engage 4x4 when travelling on dirt roads. 120km/h is also a bit excessive in any Vit on dirt.

Was about to say this.

Its higher than you guys actual bitumen speed limit.

ever tried averaging 100kph over 1000kms including fuel stops?

[Marko_SJ]

atari4x4 wrote:

Marko_SJ wrote:

Reubs wrote:

Maybe a better idea to engage 4x4 when travelling on dirt roads. 120km/h is also a bit excessive in any Vit on dirt.

Was about to say this.

Its higher than you guys actual bitumen speed limit.

ever tried averaging 100kph over 1000kms including fuel stops?

Not in a zook. I dont reckon it would be too easy in a sierra.

[atari4x4]

Marko_SJ wrote:

atari4x4 wrote:

Marko_SJ wrote:

Reubs wrote:

Maybe a better idea to engage 4x4 when travelling on dirt roads. 120km/h is also a bit excessive in any Vit on dirt.

Was about to say this.

Its higher than you guys actual bitumen speed limit.

ever tried averaging 100kph over 1000kms including fuel stops?

Not in a zook. I dont reckon it would be too easy in a sierra.

It's a fair job in anything.

[shep]

I am a believer in using 4wd when on dirt roads, cars drive much safer and if ya hit a patch of sand/bull dust you still have steering.

[SierraDan]

If I am going on extended drives on a dirt road I'm in 4wd.