Advice on Bouncy Ride?

I'm surprised that was the problem. I thought the same thing when they put new shocks on my truck and the problem went away. Come to find out it was a cool day. As soon as I drove more than 200 miles on a warmer day it was back.

Come back and post a reply after a few days of driving and let us know if it fixed the problem for sure.

[TK THE TRUCKER]

Hopefully it won't come back once those tires wear in :wink:

[Papa Rick]

That didn't last long! Drive the Truck after they put the tires on and parked it until yesterday and then it happened again, the BOUNCE!

I only live 3 miles from the shop where I got the tires at and never got it up to the speed where it does the bouncing so I thought it was fixed! Boy was I wrong.

I am at a loss of words, ideas, and thoughts!!!!!!!!!!!

Everything that I have had done to the Truck has not helped it one bit, not even fazed it.

The only other thing I know to check would be the brake drums on the drives, as I have already changed the ones on the steers.

I had one guy tell me that it could be due to not have a Transmission Support Spring, the bracket is there but not the spring. I talked with him, and he told me that they came out with these to try and keep the bouncing down on spring rides.

He looked and siad the the brackets were there, but my spring for the transmission support had been removed for quite some time. He told me that it really helped with a 15 speed transmission since they were longer than the 10 speed.



I am in need of help here on advice and suggestions of what to check next. I wouldn't be so positive that this is something that can be fixed if it was doing this when I bought it last Oct and been driving it 5 days a week since then.

This just started 2 to 3 months ago and has gotten steadily worse.

[special k]

Man I'm surprised you haven't burned that thing yet LOL. I would definitely get that trans spring fixed it's probably not your problem but it'll help your motor mounts, especially when you're starting out in soft dirt. You should get your motor mounts checked also. I'd be tempted to put a Cabmate air ride on it so you don't feel it as much and call it a day.

[Papa Rick]

Had the Truck jacked up and spun the tires, and found no bouncing up or down? About the only things that I have not checked out are the brake drums, and the u joints on my drive line..

This bouncing is getting worse, so whatever it is will eventually show up. I hope that it is found before it causes something else to tear up.

I had to check all of the bolt and nuts on my Truck as it has bounced up and down to a point that it has loosened some of them.

One other part of the puzzle here that I don't think I have posted yet, and that is that when I am slowing down from 45 on down, it really bounces up and down, almost like I ran over a small tree limb?

Remember this does not do this when I am hauling a load, only when I empty or bobtailing

Would the U-Joints on my driveline cause this, and what is the best way to check them?

Trading my Truck in or getting a newer one is not an option right now, and if this was doing the bouncing when I bought it, I would have shot myself for being so stupid.

Prior to buying this truck, I took it to 2 different mechanics that I trusted (and still do), and had them go over this truck with a fine tooth comb to check it out.

Knew what kind of repairs would need to be made and made my offer on this and bought the truck Sept of 06.

At no time did I expect it to ride like a Air Ride, and this bouncing has started about 3 months ago and only gotten worse, so I know it is something that can be fixed if only it can be found.




Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[furbis]

I think the u-joints would cause more of a vibration not a bounce. I wonder if there is a cracked or broken spring in the suspension.

All my U-Joints were replaced and the drive shaft was balanced. 6 new shocks and new steers. Front end checked out 5 times.

It sounds like you have the exact problem as I do.

[special k]

OK lets get some details here. What kind of spring suspension do you have? What is your wheelbase? Does it do when you are actually accelerating or braking or just when the truck is coasting? and are your wheel hub piloted ,stud piloted or Dayton? Sorry if you already gave out this info but I can't remember.

[Papa Rick]

special k Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 7:38 pm Post subject:

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OK lets get some details here. What kind of spring suspension do you have?

Reyco 4 Spring Suspension.

What is your wheelbase?

Not sure the correct way to measure this? Any advice and will measure and get back with you on this on.

Does it do when you are actually accelerating or braking or just when the truck is coasting?

It does it at 44 to 51 and 65 to 70 either accelerating or braking, but it does seem to be worse when braking with the jakes on.

and are your wheel hub piloted ,stud piloted or Dayton? Sorry if you already gave out this info but I can't remember.

Bud Wheels, Ball seated.

One thing about the tire that I had replaced is that everyone that saw it told me it had been run low of air was the reason for the abnormal wear.
This was not true as I keep my tires checked 2 times a week on Tue and Sat. This tire was on the right front inside drive, and the tire right beside was fine, so I think maybe it was just a bad tire.

Nothing against the shops that I have took it to, but nothing has seemed to help, but lightened my wallet.

If anyone has any other suggestions for me to check out, please let me know.

[special k]

To measure your wheelbase go from the front axle to the middle of the spread on the drives. When they checked the truck out did they jack it up by the frame so the suspension was hanging? I would do that and then check the equalizer rocker between the springs on the rear. I know on reyco trailer suspension the bushing wears out of them and you can get wheel hop. Make sure the spring pad is still there and not worn through.

The problem that I've seen is that you can find many parts that are worn but really don't need to be replaced and have nothing to do with your problem. My experience has been that mechanics have no clue at all and have no problem with doing trial and error on your truck at your expense.

[Papa Rick]

Took the truck to a spring shop today. Had all springs, bushings, spring hangers, equalizers etc... everything as far as that concerned checked out.

I was looking so forward to finding out what the problem was, but everything checked out fine. Nothing needed to be replaced.

Had the Transmission Support Spring put on, no difference.

Replaced a Steel Wheel on the Steer axle as one looked a little out of round, then had the tire, wheel and brake drum spin balanced and this was not the problem as left side needed no weight, left side only 4 onces.

No Difference?

I thought about getting a used tire and wheel and swapping out with one drive tire at a time and see if this is the problem, what do think?

Could I have a drum on the drives out of round?

I am really at a loss of what to check next as it seems as if everything I or anyone else knows has been checked.

About the only other thing I know would be get a USB Camera and try to find it this way.

Any Suggestions anyone?

Any update to your problem?

[sidman82]

Also, check where the drive shaft goes into the rearend or tranny. Push up and down and check for play in the yoke. Not the u-joint, the yoke coming out of the rear or tranny. I drove an older freightliner that had that problem. It was causing more of a vibration then a bounce though.

[mudpuddle]

This may be helpful.

www.tru-bal.com
I had a bad bounce above seventy, tried everything, shocks balancing, etc then found these. Problem solved.

[droy]

1996 W900;
1,188,000 mi.
12,000 front axle
40,000 rears (3.70)
K W 8 bag air suspension
265" wheelbase
Have the same bounce problem for about four years now; temporary fix is to install new steer tires- bounce will appear when tires are close to 50%, and get more severe as thread wear decreases. This hasn't been a big deal for me, as my truck and trailer both have 24.5" tires, and trailer always seems to be ready for the "hand me downs".
In the last couple of years I have, in addition to changing tires, (1) R&R both front wheels, and drums, (2) Centramatic wheel balancers on steer, (3) R&R all shocks, (4)R&R two driveline yokes, all U joints, two driveshaft tubes, and hanger bearing, (5) all motor supports, (6) two front axle alignments, one three axle alignment,

Some of the above mentioned was needed to correct a defect, cracked wheel, U joint vibration, etc., and each time I replace something, I think maybe this will also cure "the dreaded bounce", but not yet.
Would sure like to find the problem though, if for nothing else, maybe a little peace of mind.

Recently replaced the hanger bearing again, four months old, and it fell apart (aftermarket crap!).
Was getting just a hint of the bounce, or was it the HB telling me it was giving up;
anyway, after that repair, no bounce yet. (fingers are crossed!)