Putting on some 255 70 16 BFG ATs

[betz]

Well, I've decided to put some 255 70 16 BFG ATs on my Astro this wednesday. If anyone has a good reason for me not to do this, let me know!

Also - T.Low, you said that you had to trim the facial...what exactly does that mean? And what did the palm nailer do for ya? I mean, did it hammer some of the metal in? Additional info would be great!

Thanks!

[Someone]

255/70's!!!!!!! good luck

you will find out pretty quick wether you can turn or not.... It might just work though... I would say that is a 29X10" tire? you may have enough lift to pull it off!

[betz]

According to Jinmajay it is a 30.1" tire. Remember, this is a 2005, which comes stock with 16" rims. AND, T.Low is running that size too.

[T.Low]

I trimmed the front bumper facia that includes the front molding and ground effects. Just zinged it off with a sawzall, no big deal and it looks fine. Now that I think about it, I did have to zing off the facial all the way past the point where the side mounting bracket arms mount to. Therefore, I then drilled another hole in the center of the bumper for an additional facia attatchment point. . And I haven't ever put my new torsion keys in the front end, just the body lift and a slight turn of the stock keys, so my front is probably only 3" or so.

While the book on the Kelly Pathfinder AT's says its a 30.1 inch tire, the actuall measurement while its mounted is less than 29.5. I have the quazi performance hangers for the rear springs so, theoretically, my rear axle is centerred. I don't ever rub on the rears.

The palm nailer/hammer was more of a precautionary measure incase they would rub behind the front wheel. It moved the metal back a bit. then we put the wheels and tires on and it was fine.

If you're not following my explaination, I'll post some pics at the end of the weekend. I'm leaving to Camano Island to camp in the van in about an hour.

[betz]

Pics would be great! Thanks T.Low

[betz]

OK guys! I got those tires put on. Woah are they big, especially compared to the 225 75's that were on there! They look stunning. I have already had people saying "Wow those look nice!" They just do. So...here comes the problem: How do I get them to not rub against my front sway bar when turned to the extremes? T.Low? Do yours rub the front sway bar when turned in to the extremes? Also, my front sway bar might stand in need of replacing, it doesn't seem to be doing much. Does anyone know if the replacement Belltech front swaybar is shaped any differently from the stock front sway bar? Here are my pics. THey take a little while to load initially, but when you click on them they get nice and big really fast (1024x768).
http://mjb.selfip.com/newtires Some of the pics show where the tires rubbed before I did some trimming today!

[astrozam]

Looking good,these vans were meant to have a bigger tire on them,looks much better and more balanced

[T.Low]

Wow, they do look awesome! =D>

Sorry, we got back late Sunday from camping and touring Whidbey Island, and we've been going hectic Monday and Tuesday night, and now I don't have the van at home to get any pics. We just returned from dropping it off in Everett at Randy's Ring & Pinion

And I actually don't have a front sway bar. Hmm.

Are you rubbing on the facia (plastic molding front bumper cover) at all? In the rear at all?

What gear ratio are you running? Have you noticed a big difference there?

Have you measured the actual height of the tire now that its on the truck? Mine were supposed to measure 30.1 inches tall, but I measured them on the truck at about 29 3/8.

I'm picking up the van Friday after work. May have Fiancee drop me and my camping gear off at Randy's and take off from there.

[betz]

Oh my, T.Low....is your Van RWD only? I can't believe I overlooked that! Which might be why you don't have a front sway bar. Yes, the tire rubs the back of the fender a little bit. I'm thinking about drilling out the two rivets that are there and trimming some more, then popping new rivets in where the tire won't touch them. Will get to that this weekend.

Dang, Probably should have only gone to 235's or 245's at most. And I want Rack & Pinion steering!

Anyone wanna buy a sweet van from me ;)

Anyways, I will try and answer some of your other Q's by this weekend. I actually don't know what my gear ratio is.

[astrozam]

Oh my, T.Low....is your Van RWD only? I can't believe I overlooked that! Which might be why you don't have a front sway bar .

RWD vans have a front sway bar.

[betz]

Hmm...well, I thoght that maybe...anyways, I don't see the AWD badge on the side of his van.

[T.Low]

Mine is indeed AWD. I think you'll be fine with some minor adjustmensts. Maybe a little more adjustment than mine because the BFG's are more gnarly than my Pathfinders. (?)

[LiftedAWDAstro]

All the Astros and Safaris have front sway bars from the factory. If it truly missing you would find the van very hard to control on the highway....I know as I have run without it on the front of the SPB. The ride was fine. The handling sucked big time!

[betz]

T.Low, maybe you could peek under your van and verify whether or not you have a front sway bar, and double check to see if your tires have been rubbing when turned inward to the extreme? THat would be nice to know.

Okay, so I have some good news. I went in to my mechanic (he owns a body shop, but does lifts and all the mechanical stuff too) today. He told me to come in on saturday. He is gonna put some Nitrogen in my tires. Supposedly it negates the problem of pressure changing when the temp. outside fluctuates. He is also going to give me a steering dampener shock, make some mounts, and weld them up so that my steering isn't so squirrely. Additionally, he is going to see if we can't somehow adjust the front sway bar so that the tires don't rub it. Im really excited about the steering dampener, and I'm hopeful about being able to adjust the sway bar! Will let you all know how it goes and take pics if there is any success.

[T.Low]

I'll be picking my van up late this afternoon from the Ring & Pinion. I don't remember seeing anything that looked like a traditional sway bar, but I'll take another look.