bad handling

[van o]

I have a 97 supercab ranger that does not like to drive straight at all, kind of wonders around. On rough roads the thing is all over the place, but takes turns and curves just fine. I dont remember it being like that before I put 17x9 wheels with 245\45 tires on it. since I done that I lowered it with DJM dream beams rear flip kit with lifting shackles to level it out, then had it aligned.

At first I thought maybe the tires were to skinny for the wheels which they were but i bought them second hand from somebody, after that i put 275\40 on the rims which helped a little but not much. Now i have just regular 15 inch wheels with 205\75 and it is a little better than before but not much.

everything in the suspension front and rear checks out fine, and I just cant figure it out. nothing seems loose nothing seems to bind. Any opinions would be appreciated.

 

[Bennybooster]

How about steering tie rods? they could be loose

 

[van o]

I have checked those. Everything seems good and tight. I also installed a steering stabilizer to help but that didn't work either, it did however put a little tension on the steering wheel which I like.
Could it possibly be the steering box?

 

[Jason]

or pitman arm, or alignment.....

 

[4x4junkie]

Too little caster angle would make it wander around, along with it not wanting to return back to center when you let go of the wheel out of a turn.

A bad/worn steering box would normally show up as lots of play in the steering.

 

[martin]

The longer shackles might be allowing the rear axle to move around slightly. You might want to consider a panhard rod to control sideward motion of the axle.