BajaNomad - Baja Grande damage list continues...

Baja Grande damage list continues...

Ken Cooke - 6-14-2010 at 05:42 PM

At America's Tire, I was told today that the Interco TrXus MT tires aren't the problem. My Cast Aluminum American Racing rims are BENT. I couldn't believe it, but they need to be replaced and trashed. They still work in the dirt, but on the street, they are hard to balance and cause wobbling, oscillations that are causing wear on the steering componentry and body mounts/bushings.

I was at the 4 Wheel Parts Truck and Jeep Fest yesterday with my Baja Grande crew, and I purchased new body cab bushings (Polyurethane) as the original rubber bushings are missing or ground down. I wish I had known the rims were also in such poor shape. Regardless, VIVA BAJA!

Barry A. - 6-14-2010 at 05:44 PM

Wow, I did not know that cast Alum. wheels would even bend-----I just thought they broke??

What a bummer, but at least you now know what is going on.

Barry

BAJACAT - 6-14-2010 at 06:57 PM

iM SORRY TO HEAR THAT keN, on my last trip to Baja my truck develope some minor problems due to wear and tear..My truck is 6 years old so is about time I start replacing parts after all those Baja trips...

Paulclark - 6-14-2010 at 07:30 PM

They bend -- far too often. I have centerline bead lock rims and in the last race I hit a hidden rock and bent a rim 1-1/2 inch out of round - try that on the pavement and it feels like never ending topes!!

edm1 - 6-14-2010 at 07:40 PM

Sorry to hear that Ken. But that's what we sign in in exchange for the beauty and enjoyment we get in Baja. Baja is brutal to 4wd vehicles. From the last trip to Mision Sta Maria, my list of "damages" goes on and on . . .

Ken Cooke - 6-14-2010 at 08:33 PM

The tire and wheel balanced with 15 ounces of weight. The TrXus MT typically balances at 8 ounces. The front two wheels must have been seriously wacked - most likely from Bahia de los Angeles to San Francisquito to Hwy 1 at El Arco.

fishabductor - 6-15-2010 at 08:28 PM

Steel beadlocks are cheap, strong, Black...and don't get oxidized from every effing dog peeing on them. :mad:

That is what I am going with next time around.

Ken Cooke - 6-15-2010 at 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor
Steel beadlocks are cheap, strong, Black...and don't get oxidized from every effing dog peeing on them. :mad:

That is what I am going with next time around.

Pro-Comp and Black Rock are good brands that measure for run-out/balancing. They come in matte and aren't shiny like the other brands.

fishabductor - 6-15-2010 at 09:05 PM

Black-rock I think that was the name I was trying to remember...

Pro-comps is a good brand? I always looked at their tires/lifts as low end...but I never had anything pro-comp...so I can't speak from experience.

Their wheel may be different.

What width were the wheels, where they offset?

David K - 6-15-2010 at 09:57 PM

I do think you guys let too much air out on rock roads. Mine were at 32 psi the entire M.Sta Maria trip, stock BFG Rugged Trails, no flats or rubber damage. Of course I had A-TRAC for traction. However, on my previous 2 Tacoma trips in there, also no flats or A-TRAC, but a rear locker instead.

Barry A. - 6-15-2010 at 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
I do think you guys let too much air out on rock roads. Mine were at 32 psi the entire M.Sta Maria trip, stock BFG Rugged Trails, no flats or rubber damage. Of course I had A-TRAC for traction. However, on my previous 2 Tacoma trips in there, also no flats or A-TRAC, but a rear locker instead.

I am amazed that your BFG Rugged Trails held up, David--------I destroyed 2 within months of buying my X-terra-----Shifted to BFG AT's and no problems since. I was carrying about 26 lbs. in the Rugged Trails when in the dirt. It is not much of a tire, but good for the street, I suppose.

America's Tire Company did not have good things to say about them---------just too weak a tire.

Barry

fishabductor - 6-15-2010 at 10:27 PM

DK.

Just curious..but what does running low air pressure have to do with bent rims?

Ken Cooke - 6-15-2010 at 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor
Pro-comps is a good brand? I always looked at their tires/lifts as low end...but I never had anything pro-comp...so I can't speak from experience.

I've run their 4" Stage 1 Suspension lift and MX-6 shocks for over 100,000 miles and I have only had to recently change the control arm bushings. No broken control arms, the springs don't even sag!

The MX-6 shocks work great while carrying a load from Bay of LA to San Francisquito to El Arco - zero problems. My Jeep is living proof that Pro-Comp products work in Baja.

Ken Cooke - 6-15-2010 at 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor
DK.

Just curious..but what does running low air pressure have to do with bent rims?

Your sidewalls flex more, exposing the wheel lip to damage. I like to run 15 p.s.i. for additional traction on rocks. My Rubicon has a tight limited slip, and air locking differentials on demand.

fishabductor - 6-16-2010 at 06:40 AM

Thanks Ken for the info...No experience with pro-comp products. what about the tires? are they any good?

David K - 6-16-2010 at 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor
DK.

Just curious..but what does running low air pressure have to do with bent rims?

Your sidewalls flex more, exposing the wheel lip to damage. I like to run 15 p.s.i. for additional traction on rocks. My Rubicon has a tight limited slip, and air locking differentials on demand.

Barry A. - 6-16-2010 at 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor
DK.

Just curious..but what does running low air pressure have to do with bent rims?

Your sidewalls flex more, exposing the wheel lip to damage. I like to run 15 p.s.i. for additional traction on rocks. My Rubicon has a tight limited slip, and air locking differentials on demand.

Split the difference. :yes:

Barry

David K - 6-16-2010 at 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.

Quote:

America's Tire Company did not have good things to say about them---------just too weak a tire.

Barry

It is funny, but other than not lasting to 30,000 miles, I have had good luck with the Rugged Trails. Over 30,000 then they get flats easily. Until then, they work great in sand, quiet on highway, and took me to Mision Santa Maria last month with rocks and underwater mud that was so slimey the 4Runner of bajatripper couldn't get through.

Over on Tacoma World forums, they call them 'Rugged Fails' but I don't experience that at all.

They used to be cheap ($85) and when my '01 needed tires I bought the Rugged Trails from Discount Tires. After the price shot up, the next set of tires were from Pep Boys after Bedman recommended to me to try their 'Futura Dakota' tires (made by Cooper)... Now called 'Destiny Dakotas'. Ran those for the rest of the time I had the '01 Tacoma. They only lasted 25,000 miles but were pro-rated for 50K, so replacements were half price (~$45).

When my '05 Tacoma was ready for new tires, I tried the Cooper Discoverer STT (Mud Terrain type)... they looked great, lasted 40,000 miles, worked in mud on Laguna Salada and got me to Mision Santa Maria in '07, but were TERRIBLE in sand (renamed them 'gravediggers') where I do most of my four wheeling and noisy as hell on the highway.

The next two sets of tires on my '05 were very good and lasted at least 30,000 miles... Toyo Open Country ATs and Cooper Discoverer ATRs.

I am not sure yet what I will replace on my 2010 Tacoma, but Cooper, Toyo, Pirelli, General, Dick Cepek, will be considered.

Ken Cooke - 6-16-2010 at 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor
Thanks Ken for the info...No experience with pro-comp products. what about the tires? are they any good?

My friend Mike ran the Pro-Comp Xtreme All-Terains on his 4 door JK Unlimited Rubicon in Johnson Valley, and you can see how well they stuck to the boulders there at :40.

He experienced no sidewall gashes, and had a quiet, controlled street ride.

Ken Cooke - 11-21-2010 at 01:26 PM

bump for the buildup thread.

The Black JK Unlimited Rubicon was his. Mike goes on-camera to discuss his JK Unlimited Rubicon to everyone in You-Tube-landia. :bounce:

Oggie - 11-21-2010 at 05:53 PM

I damaged this wheel on my F350 duelly and a company in Chula Vista was able to true it and I have had no problems with it.

[Edited on 11-22-2010 by Oggie]

Ken Cooke - 11-21-2010 at 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Oggie
I damaged this wheel on my F350 duelly and a company in Chula Vista was able to true it and I have had no problems with it.

[Edited on 11-22-2010 by Oggie]

What did you pay to true the rim? What is the rim material?

David K - 11-21-2010 at 07:05 PM

Carlos at American Wheel in El Cajon fixes wheels... Carlos is the head of Baja Pits.

Ken Cooke - 11-21-2010 at 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Carlos at American Wheel in El Cajon fixes wheels... Carlos is the head of Baja Pits.

That's great to know. I recently gave away a set of 4 wheels since two were bent - one badly. If they were trued, I fear they would not stand up to repeated abuse in Baja and could possibly fail. No Bueno!

Oggie - 11-21-2010 at 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke

Quote:

Originally posted by Oggie
I damaged this wheel on my F350 duelly and a company in Chula Vista was able to true it and I have had no problems with it.

[Edited on 11-22-2010 by Oggie]

What did you pay to true the rim? What is the rim material?

The rims are aluminum. I think it was $125.00. The replacement from Ford would have been $450.00.

Ken Cooke - 11-21-2010 at 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Oggie
The rims are aluminum. I think it was $125.00. The replacement from Ford would have been $450.00.

The cast aluminum wheels I was running cost $130 each, and they were replaced by rims that cost the same price.

Thanks for the info,

Ken

Curt63 - 11-22-2010 at 01:06 PM

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