Bouncing driving me crazy!!
Go Bills !
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,778
Likes: 65
From: Buffalo, NY
Mine does it at 40. Mph and at 60. I can look out the back window and see it looking at the gate. It is terrible. So bad that my center consol is about to rip off its hinges. Had tires balanced twice and check if rims were bent. I just have been living with it and now the tires sound like helicopters. So it is tires that is my problem I think. If I tossed 500lbs in the back like in winter . She will ride as smooth as ever. I have you tired tossing in some weight or do you have a different issue?
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Mudslinger, I'm not trying to hijack your thread, I just want to know if we are having the same symptoms. My truck has a jarring feeling when I hit small bumps in the road, like cracks that swell from freeze thaw cycles. If I hit a good size bump, it acts fine. Speed has no effect. It does it at 40-50 mph or 5-10 mph. I feel the same "hinge" sensation you referred to. It seems to happen with rear wheels and not so much with the front. The only thing left on my list to do for this is change the transmission filter and fluid.
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New User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 18
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Sounds pretty close to the same. If I drop my tailgate a little harder then usual, the back end of the truck will bounce like crazy (yes I know dropping a tailgate will make anything bounce but not like this). I can make it bounce no matter what. I've had the truck on jack stands and it still does it so I know its not the tires. I think I might have it narrowed down to bad rear cab mounts making the cab bounce and in turn making the back of the truck bounce.
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 49
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I called the Ford dealer to ask about cab and bed mount bushings, and the rear transmission mount. Dude told me he has never sold either of them. This is not the common solution. The service department wants $95 to diagnose it for me. Yeah, they went all "Ford Dealer" on me.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2010
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Well, I had the fluid and filter changed. They said the plug was still in the pan, so at 112,000 miles I figured it would be a big help. That wasn't it. Each of these maintenance things that I have done has made the truck ride better. My list is - Shocks, Tires, Rear Diff fluid, U-joints and Trans fluid and filter. The wife is getting tired of hearing me whine about it and mis-diagnose the problem. The transmission shop guy said the trans mount is good. He also said just drive it and don't worry so much about it.
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Mudslinger, do you know if your bed has ever been off the truck? My bed has a spray-in liner, but the mounting bolts are shiny. Hmmmm...? I bought a T50 and checked the torque on the mounting bolts. All good. I went to my local Ford Dealer, and he gave me an exploded view of the bed. There aren't "Body Bushings", but there are "insulators" as well as body shims in there. What I noticed was that the center rail was floating above the frame. There is a locating pin, but there is a space between the stiffening rib and the frame.
I'm trying to attach a scan of the exploded view of the bed, and having a bit of trouble. Anyway, just checking if your bed was ever off the truck...?
I'm trying to attach a scan of the exploded view of the bed, and having a bit of trouble. Anyway, just checking if your bed was ever off the truck...?
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 693
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
Dont mean this in any negative way but are your shocks mounted upside down? That will cause issues. Also the bushings the shocks Mount onto are tight on the shock bolts? Also I am confused of your issue. You say you can drop your tailgate while the truck is parked and it bounces really bad. Just as well moving down the road it bounces. Does it bounce on bumps and pot holes or consistantly as it is moving ? I would say if its while it is moving it "shakes" and it is not tires it could be a driveshaft vibration due to a weight coming off. I'm just puzzled. Shocks will help most issues
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 693
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
Dont mean this in any negative way but are your shocks mounted upside down? That will cause issues. Also the bushings the shocks Mount onto are tight on the shock bolts? Also I am confused of your issue. You say you can drop your tailgate while the truck is parked and it bounces really bad. Just as well moving down the road it bounces. Does it bounce on bumps and pot holes or consistantly as it is moving ? I would say if its while it is moving it "shakes" and it is not tires it could be a driveshaft vibration due to a weight coming off. I'm just puzzled. Shocks will help most issues
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 49
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Shocks are mounted correctly. And they are KYB Gas A Just.
It is not a constant vibration, and only happens on SOME bumps. If I go over RR tracks that are angled across the road, the truck acts fine. If the bump hits both rear tires at the same time, it shakes. It is a bit like the feeling when towing a trailer. It is almost like the bed is loose. But no rattles, clunks or thuds. I checked the locations where the bed mounts to the frame, and everything LOOKS ok. I checked the torque of the 6 mounting bolts, and that is ok as well.
My ford dealer wants $100 to even look at it ( F#$K YOU! ). Not made of money here...
I'm thinking about taking it to a body shop and trying to pick their brains. This is so frustrating. Thanks for helping me/us figure this out.
It is not a constant vibration, and only happens on SOME bumps. If I go over RR tracks that are angled across the road, the truck acts fine. If the bump hits both rear tires at the same time, it shakes. It is a bit like the feeling when towing a trailer. It is almost like the bed is loose. But no rattles, clunks or thuds. I checked the locations where the bed mounts to the frame, and everything LOOKS ok. I checked the torque of the 6 mounting bolts, and that is ok as well.
My ford dealer wants $100 to even look at it ( F#$K YOU! ). Not made of money here...
I'm thinking about taking it to a body shop and trying to pick their brains. This is so frustrating. Thanks for helping me/us figure this out.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,724
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver BC Canada
It is not a constant vibration, and only happens on SOME bumps. If I go over RR tracks that are angled across the road, the truck acts fine. If the bump hits both rear tires at the same time, it shakes. It is a bit like the feeling when towing a trailer. It is almost like the bed is loose. But no rattles, clunks or thuds.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,724
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver BC Canada
I just reread your posts and saw that you replaced the springs so disregard the spring bushings suggestion. The cab and box mounts do seem like a logical culprit. Even if you can still see the bolt heads underneath, the mounts could be sheared in the middle.
Can you fit a pry bar between the box and the frame and see if there is movement?
Can you fit a pry bar between the box and the frame and see if there is movement?