Steering at high speeds in strong winds: Swing lever problem?

A few weeks ago I was driving up the M1 at approx 70mph in strong winds. I was all over the road, every time I passed a big truck the van seemed to try and move from the middle to the outer lane.

2 days before the wind wasn't as strong and the van felt brilliant & stable at similar speed.

So have I got issues with my swing lever or other steering related bits? I'm suggesting Swing lever as that is what my idiots guide points to, but keen to hear opinions of people who know what they are doing!

I haven't been on motorways in the bus that much in the past few years, but I never remember feeling 'edgy' driving in high winds. Plus it felt great on the motorway when the wind was normal.

Thanks

 

Just remember you are driving a slab sided van, not a slippery modern motor. What you report is not a surprise. Cure is v cheap. Slow down dude!.

 

I was thinking that about it being slab sided, but it was slab sided before and it used to be fine in the wind. This makes me think something can be improved /fixed so that it drives like it used to again.

I've just stuck a big engine in it, so i don't really want to slow down!

 

Newton's Principia is a good read

 

Well my van used to be fine in strong winds and although I haven't recently read the Mathematical Principles of Natural Science, I doubt they have changed in the last few years?

I think it is more likely that something isn't quite right on my van & hopefully someone will be able to shed some light on it!

Thanks though Paley, it made me smile!

 

Hate to say this, but lower it 2 splines-worth, from personal experience far more stable in the wind.

 

With your old engine, were you able to drive at 70mph into a head/cross-wind though?

 

Zed the old old engine was easily capable of 70mph & I don't remember ever feeling uncomfortable in the wind. It is slightly possible that i never encountered really strong head or cross winds, but I think something steering related probably just needs changing?

The van has been lowered, before i bought it, but i can't remember quite how much lower it is.

 

Standard 1600 engine in mine lots new steering /suspension parts fitted ,have pulled over in some crosswinds for sure(admittedly I wear pink and am a bit of a woose)Edit; and eat quiche

 

I've done everything humanly possible to my suspension. There is no play, everything standard, perfectly adjusted camber and tracking front and back and it blows about in a crosswind. When it was 5" lower, it didn't.

 

You are going to get sucked into the slipstream of trucks. I keep a firm grip on the wheel when one goes past.

 

I don't think a truck has ever gone past me, but in strong winds I keep a firm grip on the wheel when overtaking.

I'm now going to check the wind speed for the day in question & see exactly how windy it was. I'm still convinced that something can be done to the van to sort it. It did have different wheels on years ago when it felt fine in all weather conditions.

 

I always have to hang a little tighter when overtaking Hgv's but a tyre pressure check wont hurt and even the condition of the tyres are they van rated?

 

I don't think the tyres are van rated actually. I've only read about van tyres since joining this forum!
Tyres are Conti Eco Contact: 185/65 R15 88T. They are over 10 years old now and still look like new!

What pressure do you find best for front & back tyres? My van is a Devon pop top, slightly lowered, no cooker or fridge etc in van.

When I change them I'll try and get van rated tyres. Is there a specific code for van rated tyres?

 

88T is too low rating and will make a huge difference. I bet it squidges round corners like the tyres want to peel off the rims.
Upgrade to 100+ if you can find sizes you need or minimum 96 in my experience and feel the force. Though it's the light end, the fronts make the biggest difference.

 

and "eek" at 70mph with car tyres... You'll be very pleasantly surprised when you up your ratings - night and day when I did mine - I'd been running cheap part-worns while I experimented with tyre sizes. When I found size I wanted I got nearest 98T and suddenly I could corner without fear.

 

Pressures should be 30 front, 40 rear ball park. I expect your 88's are maxing out at 40? It'll say max pressure on them somewhere.

 

Zed I'm happy with the tyre size and stance of the van, so does that mean I just need to find some 185/65 R15 & either 98T on the end or 100+?

 

Commercial are 102T, so it's a good number to aim for. I needed low profile 14" and the choice was poor so I ended up with 96, or 98, I can't remember. Now I have full size 102T commercial and IMO the 96T ones were as good i.e. no noticeable difference, other than now it's full height, even on 102T I'm blowing about again.
I need adjustable suspension with a windy handle.

 

My steering drag link was falling off - it tended to be OK when you waggled the steering under test on the driveway but let the bus jump sideways half a motorway lane at 60 in gale force cross wind. Over a couple of months as it got worse I severely lost the 'dub driver smile and replaced it with gritted teeth..

Once replaced following an MOT fail on that part, the sideways jump has been much smaller in similar winds.

My tyres are 185/60R15 and 88 rated. Max pressure 44psi, normally run 40-42 at rear ...
Next time I will get van tyres as they should be - these Yokohamas have done 20000 miles and the inside edge treads are wearing off at the rear.