Help truck has abnormal bouncing
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 869
Likes: 5
From: Near Shenandoah Valley
Help truck has abnormal bouncing
Long story, 1996 Ranger, 2 wheel drive with 5.0 engine, A/T and 8.8 from 1999 Mountaineer.
I assembled truck in 2019-2020. Drove truck approximately 64K and it starting acting really strange when getting in a bumpy area in the road. It would start a "death wobble." Truck has 208K miles.
Truck was originally a 3.0 V-6 so after I found the shocks had went bad on the front I replaced the coil springs to 4.0 coils, new shocks, new leafs on the rear, and upper/lower ball joints and outer tie rod ends.
No noticeable change. After front end alignment I changed the radial arm bushings (driver side noticeably loose looking by this time) and it is a noticeable change.
What do I need to look at? I had replaced the regular shocks on the rear with coil over spring shocks and it became worse, switched back.
All this just started? All bushings
in the rear NEW, the only left on the front to change is the pivet bushings.
16" Cooper E rated Tires have 20K on them.
I AM STUMPED.
I assembled truck in 2019-2020. Drove truck approximately 64K and it starting acting really strange when getting in a bumpy area in the road. It would start a "death wobble." Truck has 208K miles.
Truck was originally a 3.0 V-6 so after I found the shocks had went bad on the front I replaced the coil springs to 4.0 coils, new shocks, new leafs on the rear, and upper/lower ball joints and outer tie rod ends.
No noticeable change. After front end alignment I changed the radial arm bushings (driver side noticeably loose looking by this time) and it is a noticeable change.
What do I need to look at? I had replaced the regular shocks on the rear with coil over spring shocks and it became worse, switched back.
All this just started? All bushings
in the rear NEW, the only left on the front to change is the pivet bushings.
16" Cooper E rated Tires have 20K on them.
I AM STUMPED.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,436
Likes: 117
From: Virginia
Not something that sounds like fun, but I would ask some questions first.
Q: Is the problem reproducible? IE - do you know where you can drive to make it "act up?
If no, that makes it more difficult to know whats doing it.
If yes, then I would ask a friend to drive behind you & if possible, video it so you can see it too.
This would really help to see exactly what is moving around.
Q: What condition are your sway-bars, bushings, & end-links?
Q: Is the problem reproducible? IE - do you know where you can drive to make it "act up?
If no, that makes it more difficult to know whats doing it.
If yes, then I would ask a friend to drive behind you & if possible, video it so you can see it too.
This would really help to see exactly what is moving around.
Q: What condition are your sway-bars, bushings, & end-links?
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 869
Likes: 5
From: Near Shenandoah Valley
All new springs, front and rear. All Four upper and lower ball joints, both outer tie rod ends.
replaced rear shocks, Monroe went bad. Tried coil over shocks but problem was worse.
has standard 4 wheel drive Ranger rear shocks by Gabrielle.
New radius arm bushings. I don't know what else to check.
replaced rear shocks, Monroe went bad. Tried coil over shocks but problem was worse.
has standard 4 wheel drive Ranger rear shocks by Gabrielle.
New radius arm bushings. I don't know what else to check.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,436
Likes: 117
From: Virginia
None of that answered the question - "Q: What condition are your sway-bars, bushings, & end-links?"
Keyboard diagnostics are difficult to say the least, so all I can offer is suggestions.
I would also suggest you try the friend following to observe / video what is going on.
An interesting thought: Since you have a franken-truck, I am wondering what you did to prep that 8.8" diff swap?
If the geometry isn't right with the shock mounts & sway-bar etc... I don't think any amount of new parts will fix it until the geometry is corrected if this is the issue.
Keyboard diagnostics are difficult to say the least, so all I can offer is suggestions.
I would also suggest you try the friend following to observe / video what is going on.
An interesting thought: Since you have a franken-truck, I am wondering what you did to prep that 8.8" diff swap?
If the geometry isn't right with the shock mounts & sway-bar etc... I don't think any amount of new parts will fix it until the geometry is corrected if this is the issue.
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 869
Likes: 5
From: Near Shenandoah Valley
None of that answered the question - "Q: What condition are your sway-bars, bushings, & end-links?"
Keyboard diagnostics are difficult to say the least, so all I can offer is suggestions.
I would also suggest you try the friend following to observe / video what is going on.
An interesting thought: Since you have a franken-truck, I am wondering what you did to prep that 8.8" diff swap?
If the geometry isn't right with the shock mounts & sway-bar etc... I don't think any amount of new parts will fix it until the geometry is corrected if this is the issue.
Keyboard diagnostics are difficult to say the least, so all I can offer is suggestions.
I would also suggest you try the friend following to observe / video what is going on.
An interesting thought: Since you have a franken-truck, I am wondering what you did to prep that 8.8" diff swap?
If the geometry isn't right with the shock mounts & sway-bar etc... I don't think any amount of new parts will fix it until the geometry is corrected if this is the issue.
mounts. The upper shock mounts were originally front and rear of the diff on the Ranger, I moved the passenger side back and have both upper shock mounts on the frame, above the rear of the differential.
It's basically an Explorer in the rear, on Shackles for about 5-1/2" height.
This setup worked for approximately 60K miles and then wham! Wobble.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 137
Likes: 12
What tire pressure are you running? Higher pressure makes things bouncy and has a negative effect on handling. Of course, the main function of shocks is to control bouncing. Make sure you have good ones on the front.
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Moderator
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,851
Likes: 111
From: SW Va
Wifes Neon was doing this squirley wobble kind of thing on the same bumpy area road last year, turned out to be steering end links, passenger side was so worn the ball was about to pop out. With the 5.0L extra weight the front end was never designed to deal with, everything is on the suspect list including the steering rack & its mounting bolts,
Good ideas posted for suspects & checking things out. Will be interesting to hear what you find.
Good ideas posted for suspects & checking things out. Will be interesting to hear what you find.
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