Hi all;
Just bought my second Previa.. haven't owned/driven one in a few
years though so I'd forgotten, and I don't remember this being so bad
with my first (a 1991, automatic transmission, all wheel drive).
The one I just purchased is a 1993 and seems to be in overall
excellent transmission. Well cared for, standard transmission (5
spd), rear wheel drive, rides nice and smooth BUT scares the crap out
of me on the highway, when you're out where it's desolate and windy,
or any time an 18 wheeler passes, because it feels like it's literally
being blown into the other lane.
So, what should I eliminate as a possible source of the problem.. or
is this just something to live with? Any ways to make this better
(tires, suspension changes, etc)? Please reply in plain-English as
I'm not a car expert by any means. I just want to make the ride feel
less scary... I can't imagine using it for any local road trips with
this issue!
Thanks!
Ray O - 08 Feb 2008 05:37 GMT
> Hi all;
>
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> Thanks!
The all wheel drive version is heavier and more sure-footed than the rear
wheel drive version and has a lower center of gravity so it is not affected
as much by wind. That said, I drove about a dozen rear wheel drive Previas
and don't recall them being that bad, so there may be some things you can
check.
First, make sure that the tires are inflated to 5 PSI over the recommended
cold tire inflation pressures as indicated on the driver's door jamb or
glove box lid.
While you are looking at the label, make sure that the tire size mounted on
the van is the recommended size and that all four tires are the same brand,
model, and have at least 2/32" inches of tread depth remaining.
Check the rear shock absorbers and front struts to make sure there is no
fluid leaking and that they are not worn.
Have the wheel alignment checked.

Signature
Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
Bruce L. Bergman - 08 Feb 2008 05:50 GMT
>Just bought my second Previa.. haven't owned/driven one in a few
>years though so I'd forgotten, and I don't remember this being so bad
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>less scary... I can't imagine using it for any local road trips with
>this issue!
It can be tires. Some "Passenger Car" tires (tire sizes start with
P) are spongy squishy soft to ride better, but they don't grip the
road worth a darn.
On the next windy scary day when you are being tossed all over the
road, pull off and fill the tires up to the max on the sidewall (32 or
35 PSI) or even 2 - 4 PSI higher. (Don't leave it like this for too
long.) Now try the same stretch of road again, and see if it helps.
If you are due for new tires, consider going to a stiffer passenger
car tire that handles better, the tie shop can help you choose
something more appropriate to the kind of driving you do.
Or go to "Light Truck" (LT prefix) tires that are a lot stiffer, so
the ride will be very harsh compared to passenger tires. They won't
corner quite as well because it's a harder rubber compound, but when
lightly loaded they should handle better and last a lot longer.
After that, check the shocks/struts. Jump on the bumper at each end
(one at a time) and get that corner bouncing hard at least 6" per
jump, then stop - the car should settle down after one, maybe two
oscillations. Worn shocks or way out-of-balance tires will let the
wheels bounce up and down while driving, and all the time the tires
are bouncing in the air they can't grip the road.
Then it starts getting more esoteric - like front wheel or four-
wheel alignment. There are usually a range of "acceptable" alignment
settings, but they need to be closer to one end or the other of that
window to handle best. A good front-end alignment man adjusts for the
proper end of the settings to get the best handling.
--<< Bruce >>--
Kage.Narakuma@gmail.com - 08 Feb 2008 05:59 GMT
Thanks to you both. I was wondering about tires. I am going to need
to replace the tires.... 3 of the 4 are badly worn, so I'd hoped to
just get 4 new and keep the one good one as a spare, so I suppose I
will look into this issue considerably. I have only ever bought car
tires or "cheap" tires so I have no clue what's good and what's not.
Since I have to buy tires this will be the first try at reducing this
sway/windblown thing. I just bought the van yesterday and am going to
have it checked out overall by my mechanic but it's good to have some
ideas of what to ask him to investigate. Thanks! :)
Ray O - 08 Feb 2008 06:10 GMT
> Thanks to you both. I was wondering about tires. I am going to need
> to replace the tires.... 3 of the 4 are badly worn, so I'd hoped to
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> have it checked out overall by my mechanic but it's good to have some
> ideas of what to ask him to investigate. Thanks! :)
Badly worn tires could be the cause. Start with the new tires and go from
there.

Signature
Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
n5hsr@comcast.net - 08 Feb 2008 06:17 GMT
>> Thanks to you both. I was wondering about tires. I am going to need
>> to replace the tires.... 3 of the 4 are badly worn, so I'd hoped to
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> Badly worn tires could be the cause. Start with the new tires and go from
> there.
And since it weighs about 4200 lbs empty, light truck tires or stiff
passenger tires might not be a bad idea. You're driving something that
weighs and behaves more like a cargo van than a passenger car. And get them
to check suspension/alignment. We had problems with the rear shocks being
worn out and making the back end hard to handle.
Charles
mack - 08 Feb 2008 08:51 GMT
> Thanks to you both. I was wondering about tires. I am going to need
> to replace the tires.... 3 of the 4 are badly worn, so I'd hoped to
> just get 4 new and keep the one good one as a spare, so I suppose I
> will look into this issue considerably. I have only ever bought car
> tires or "cheap" tires so I have no clue what's good and what's not.
Please! Don't even think about buying 'cheap' tires.
Buy the best tires you can afford or even better than you can afford. They
are the only things between you and the road, and outside of steering,
brakes and suspension, the only things on a car that can kill you in a
matter of seconds with no warning.
Take it from one who had a blowout at highway speeds while hauling a
trailer, and just luckily lived to tell about it.
No cheap tires (unless you intend to always drive under 35 mph on a dry
street.)
JoeSpareBedroom - 08 Feb 2008 14:22 GMT
>>Just bought my second Previa.. haven't owned/driven one in a few
>>years though so I'd forgotten, and I don't remember this being so bad
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> 35 PSI) or even 2 - 4 PSI higher. (Don't leave it like this for too
> long.) Now try the same stretch of road again, and see if it helps.
Very bad idea, pumping tires above the rated max. There are too many unknown
variables to make such a statement.
Bruce L. Bergman - 08 Feb 2008 15:24 GMT
>> On the next windy scary day when you are being tossed all over the
>> road, pull off and fill the tires up to the max on the sidewall (32 or
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>Very bad idea, pumping tires above the rated max. There are too many unknown
>variables to make such a statement.
Hello!!! Did you see the: (Don't leave it like this for too long.)
Pumping them up hard and leaving them there permanently would be
very bad, no argument. Doing it for a half hour and 20 miles to see
if the handling improves is not going to hurt anything.
Why is Common Sense so uncommon?
--<< Bruce >>--
JoeSpareBedroom - 08 Feb 2008 15:30 GMT
>>> On the next windy scary day when you are being tossed all over the
>>> road, pull off and fill the tires up to the max on the sidewall (32 or
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> --<< Bruce >>--
I could ask you the same question. Without knowing the condition and quality
of the tires, how much of a load the vehicle is carrying, and how observant
and attentive the driver is, your recommendation is dangerous.