Front End Bounces...AAAHHHH!!!!

[Dyno247365]

Okay scary thing when the front of your truck bounces up and down on the thruway, it doesn't stop until I slow down and shift down. At first I was told it was the steering damper (shock in the middle) and got it replaced. I thought that fixed it about a week ago but I was wrong today, when 10 mph slower, the same thign happened on a normal highway. Does anybody have an idea of what's wrong? I already spent $80 on this.

[crazys182003]

well the normal cause is the steering dampener. BUT sicne you replaced that I would check for any play in the front end. AS in the trac bar and the U joints. It could also be in your tires. Could be a bent tire bent rim if you had hit soemthing or just out of balance. But the normal cause as you already tried was the steering dampener/ stabalizer. I got tired of going through the factory repalcement stabalizers and now buy heavy duty after market ones for half the price.

[Dyno247365]

Originally Posted by crazys182003

well the normal cause is the steering dampener. BUT sicne you replaced that I would check for any play in the front end. AS in the trac bar and the U joints. It could also be in your tires. Could be a bent tire bent rim if you had hit soemthing or just out of balance. But the normal cause as you already tried was the steering dampener/ stabalizer. I got tired of going through the factory repalcement stabalizers and now buy heavy duty after market ones for half the price.

The engineering forum told me that's it's probably the shocks are shot, what's your opinion about their answer?

[scoutinkeith]

first off, is the truck a 2wd, or 4wd?
sounds to me like you have "death wobble", just do a search, you'll find lots of info.

if the truck is 4 wd, chances are that it's the track bar that's worn. however, regardless of 2wd or 4wd, it's a good idea to have a buddy turn the steering wheel from lock to lock, wile you watch EVERYTHING under the front end. check all connections in the steering linkage, and make sure there is no play.

[crazys182003]

well it could be shocks depending on the mileage on your vehicle but I think I would check out all the other parts for play first. If you don't see anything moving around try jacking up your front end and then try moving things around. If you find play in anything then it needs replaced. If not then it could be your shocks.

[searcher205]

I must be missing something here. How would worn steering cause a front end to bounce? Shimmy and pull I understand. I have seen a front end bounce with a high speed engine cutout or miss on multiple cylinders and as stated worn shocks on a rough road.

[crazys182003]

well with the worn steering stabilizer when you hit a bump at highway speeds the dampener returns the wheel to the proper position but if it is worn the wheel hops all around until you slow down enough for it to stop and calm down. When my stabilizer was not even connected and I hit a bump going 65 mph I had to pull over and stop dead for my truck to be normal again. After that I quickly put one back on when I kill one.