Rear breaking loose on gravel roads

A while back we drove our X on some steep and winding gravel forest roads. We're not talking 4x4 trails here, just 1-lane gravel roads.

At moderate speeds (25 mph or so), when taking corners, the back tires would break loose just a little bit and the back end would begin to slide. I'm used to driving a Suburban, and that's never happened.

Anyone else?

Me too. I live off a dirt road that gets the washboard effect over the winter (you know the little groves about an inch thick and an inch apart), and it seems like whenever i go around a curve, even if i'm not going that fast, the back bounces, and swings out to the side.

I tried it in my mom's grand cherokee and it didn't seem to be as bad as in the X. I don't understand it because there about the same size and the X is fairly heavy.

The back end breaks loose easier becuase chances are you have the limited slip in the rear. Rather than one tire completely giving up traction, they both spin in the turn and that breaks the back end loose faster.

Hope this helps
Michael

I've had similar experience in my 2001 SE 4x4. I noticed significant improvement by knocking down the pressure in the rear tires, especially when I've got them at higher pressures for road driving.

I run these approximate cold pressures:
ON ROAD:
REAR: 37psi
FRONT: 39psi
This yields a comfortable ride, yet efficient mpg. The steering response more precise and the roll is less with the fronts at a little
higher pressure.

OFF ROAD:
REAR: 34psi
FRONT: 34psi
For the moderate off-road washboard stuff originally described this has worked well for me. No kicking out in the choppy stuff. The tires can be run much lower down to around 24 according to the sticker in my glove box. I'd only use that for real gnarly mountain trails.

Cheerio,
MikeT




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2001 SE 4X4
Rain+Dirt does it for me.

Wait, I'm confused. I thought we were supposed to run the tires at 27 PSI. Your numbers are way higher. One of us is wrong here...No offense but I hope it is you.

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It's definitely him. Those pressures are WAY to high for the stock tires (I'm assuming the stock tires are on there).

I run my 32 x 11.5 M/T's at:

35 psi front onroad
30 psi rear onroad

&

10-18 psi front offroad
10-18 psi rear offroad
... depending on trail conditions.



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philosopher@angelfire.com

Philosopher's Xterra

Mid-Atlantic Xterra Club

Thank god....I thought I was heading for a Firestone incident......

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true, the recommended pressure is ~27psi. on-road, so low of a pressure makes for a sloppy ride. it also knocks a few mpg off. i had the skittish back end too, taking a few pounds out of the rears helped.

the stock tires on mine are rated to 44psi. so, i wouldn't say 37 is way too high.

when you were getting the bouncing, what was the rear pressure?

T


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2001 SE 4X4
Rain+Dirt do it for me.