Tippy Blazer

[Officer Redneck]

Howdy, nearly tipped my Blazer on its side today and was wondering what I can add to it to make it more stable without lowering it. Thanks.

[BlazerLT]

how did this almost occur?

[Officer Redneck]

I was being stupid. I was driving to fast, wasn't paying attention, and nearly hit a deer. When I locked the brakes and swerved, it two wheeled a couple of times while I was trying to get control. I about had to change my shorts.

[BlazerLT]

This is the nature of a 4x4 SUV.

There is nothing you can really do to stop situations like this.

Even dropping it will help little.

[Officer Redneck]

Thanks anyway. Guess I better pay more attention.

[dmbrisket 51]

^yep, sorry to tell ya, but if it was an "easy" fix, such as a 2" drop ford, chevy, and dodge would of done it years ago, instead of hundreds of thousends of dollers into a new computer to help detrumen when is to fast and take power away (some honda has it, not sure which ones though) short wheel base+ being high up= high center of gravity, which means that you will tip easyer then a vehical with low center of gravity... what almost happend to you is why so many kids die in blazers and explorers, they think that their vehical can hold the road, when the physics just dont work out in our favor

[chcknugget]

Originally Posted by dmbrisket 51

^yep, sorry to tell ya, but if it was an "easy" fix, such as a 2" drop ford, chevy, and dodge would of done it years ago, instead of hundreds of thousends of dollers into a new computer to help detrumen when is to fast and take power away (some honda has it, not sure which ones though) short wheel base+ being high up= high center of gravity, which means that you will tip easyer then a vehical with low center of gravity... what almost happend to you is why so many kids die in blazers and explorers, they think that their vehical can hold the road, when the physics just dont work out in our favor

That's why GM put the front axle of their trailblazers through the oil pan, right? It lowers the center of gravity of the engine and reduces the risk of rollover?

[mike2004tct]

Originally Posted by redneck tech

Howdy, nearly tipped my Blazer on its side today and was wondering what I can add to it to make it more stable without lowering it. Thanks.

Bad news for 2door Blazer owners (me) and their tendancy to tip over.

Check out this link to the Insurance Institute for Highway safety;
2 dr Blazers have the highest death rate per million registered due to roll-overs.

http://www.hwysafety.org/srpdfs/sr4003.pdf It's on page 3, (Adobe Acrobat reader required)

In your case, without lowering it, you might try the out-riggers the institute uses when testing for rollovers. it's an A frame attached to each side of the truck with a wheel/tire at the outer point (Just kidding)

Take your Blazer emblems and attach them to a Yukon (also kidding)

[blazee]

Simple fix....just replace the nut behind the wheel.

[dmbrisket 51]

no, its not his fault blazze, there is one exit ramp here in town that says 25mph, if your in a blazer and think about doing 27 you are gone, i have SEEN it happen several times, moreso when the ramp first opend over now, 3 years later, but the point is that they will roll easy, i can take the ramp at 40 without a problem in my fullsize or s 10 pu, but my buddie slows right down, because it doesnt take much

[AlmostStock]

The rear track on a Blazer is 2 inches narrower than the front. Properly installed wheel spacers in the back to make it match the front would have to help, even though it may only be a little. Some will say it's not as strong as using no spacers which is probably true but a lot of offroaders use them quite hard without failure. It also makes the truck look better IMO.

[chcknugget]

I added 2.5" of space (2 1.25" spacer) on the rear and it looked good. It definetely rode more stable and firm. I took them off because my rear would shake a little bit on the highway. I plan on reinstalling them this summer when I can make sure the spacer is perfectly center. If anyone is planning on doing this my first point of advice is to get good lug nuts. The $2.99 autozone ones just wont cut it IMO. Plus you will lose your hubcaps.

[AlmostStock]

If there is any shaking or vibration something is wrong. Figure it out immediately. The better lug nuts have a base that is wider than the hex head giving more holding power. The spacer must be flush to the face of the drum/rotor. Remove the small holding clips on the studs. Also make sure that the wheel is mounting flush on the spacer. 1.25 spacers are recommended to prevent interference with the lug nuts on the spacer and the wheel mounting face but 1 inch will work with the right nuts. Torque down in several steps and in criss cross sequence. If you order your spacers with the same thread studs (12mm 1.5 pitch in our Blazers case) you can use your original lug nuts and plastic caps on the wheel.

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by blazee

Simple fix....just replace the nut behind the wheel.

lol, that was a good one.

Relax guys, he was only kidding around.

[Officer Redneck]

I'd like to replace the nut but all I got left are screws...