Stability: narrow vs wide track
- Thread starter Lewis1984
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GP NOIR
Hooked
We are sure about that. All else being equal, a wider track increases stability by making the vehicle more resistant to rollovers. (There are other factors that play a role in rollover resistance- center of gravity, roll center and weight transfer, for example.)
A wider track has more leverage against side G forces. This allows the chassis to take turns and transition from left to right at a higher rate of speed. The downside is an increased turning radius.
A rig with a wider track can handle greater side angles before tipping. The downside is a rig with with a wider track will have to experience more side angles to clear certain obstacles, such as a narrow gulch with a vertical wall on one side and a slope on the other because the tires on the slope side will have to ride up higher. Another downside is a shallower “break over” angle between the tires.
The narrower track has the advantage in maneuvering in tight spaces, such as trails winding through a dense forest, narrow gulches and between large closely packed boulders.
I learned to drive in a mostly stock 48 Willys with ancient worn out shocks. You can have a lot of fun in a Jeep with a narrow track. You gotta know what your limitations are. That said, all else being equal, a CJ with factory wide track axles is more desirable than a CJ with factory narrow track axles. The wider track became the standard for a reason.
60 Seconds is not a reliable source about automotive defects. They have staged events to fit the narrative. For example, GM had come under fire for light truck gas tanks igniting in flames in a collision. 60 Seconds filmed tests documenting this. Turns out, the only way 60 Seconds could get the gas tanks to ignite on impact was to fit the truck with an incendiary.
Consumer Reports killed the Suzuki Samurai with their rollovers tests. They fitted Samurais with outriggers to keep the vehicles from rolling over on its side. Turned out the weight of the outriggers was over tipping the vehicles.
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GP NOIR
Hooked
Maybe you can. Maybe you can’t. You’ll never know until you actually drive the Jeep and find out what works for you.
Wheel spacers and/or shallower backspacing will get you a wider track. They also increase stress on the ball joints and sacrifice scrub radius. Widening the track with spacers or rims is fine as long as you don’t take it to the extreme.
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