1994 supercab4x2 4.9litre

I was on my way back home this afternoon and hit a pothole in the road.....this is a common occurance in this neck of the woods. The difference here is that after the front right wheel passed over the hole.......and just kept on bouncing, making the truck bounce up and down(on the right side) to some extent.
I was coming up on a red light & came to a stop fine. I was gonna pull over into a lot to check it out, but once the light turned green the issue was gone..3 minutes later it happened again but I was going a little quicker this time and this time it seemed to affect both sides. It felt like both wheels were alternately hopping....rocking the front end of the truck back and forth from side to side.....I stopped and drove again and again it was gone. 5minutes later I was home.
When this happens, I would say that the hopping of the wheels is not slight. I can not tell from the cab how much they are hopping but it feels strong. I will also say that there is no noise from the front end that I recall.
Now I know I'm going under the truck one way or another as I like to do all my own work....but I'm wondering if anyone can tell me what might be causing this. I am no sure what would cause that to happen so I'm posting to see if anyone here might know.
Anyone have any thoughts on the matter?

 

How about shocks?

 

Don't think the shocks are the issue...though I have been proven wrong on occasion. The rest of the time the drive is fine...hot smaller pot holes..no issues. Also...when you have no shocks left...the whole ride has a certain springiness to it....but this is way different. I will do the old bumper/fender test just to be sure...but I'm sure that that is not the problem

Any other suggestions??????

 

Anybody---?????

 

In most cases hopping wheels = dead shocks, but on an older vehicle a rusted or broken frame or suspension mount is also possible. You'll want to verify the shock mounts are still connected to the suspension as well.

 

I am gonna get under it this afternoon and am looking at changing tie rods this week or next ....so I will be doing a thorough investigation while underneath. The funny thing is....it only happens on occasion. I went back out last evening for a couple of hours and it did it once more. The rest of the time it drives fine...with no unusual bounce or spring or anything.
I just figured that this must have happened to someone else here before....

 

Don't know if this helps but I had a similar issue with my old 79 ford f150 4x4 with a 3" suspension lift and 36" swampers. I'd hit a bump just right and it felt like an earthquake. Come to find out it was a blown bushing. Been so long now I can't quite remember which one but I remember replacing them with an Energy Suspension kit and not only did it fix the problem but improved the overall ride.

 

May have also knocked your alignment out too. Just a thought.

 

The hole could have broken a belt in the tire. This would cause the issue to only happen sometimes. Check the tires and even if you don't see anything, a belt could still be bad. Rotate the fronts to the rear and see what happens. Good luck.

 

I'm now a proud Ford owner but at one point I had a 75 chevy fan that did the same thing as what you discribe, it was the ball joints causing the problem. It felt like the tire would wobble right off the vehicle....didn't fix it just sold it & bought a new ford truck. problem solved.

 

Yup....It pretty much feels as you described it. I was driving a car many years ago...and the ball joint on right side kept letting go.(can't remember upper or lower) but the garage fixed it twice before tacking it good the third time. But when that happened, each time the car was no longer drivable as the wheel was folded up inside the wheelwell.
Also...today it did it one more time while I when I had to go out this morning. I was going a little quicker and it did make a racket...though I can't say what it sounded like.
A quick inspections show everything as it should be....except for my badly worn tie rods that is(and I'm sure the extra pounding aint helping).
I'm jumping on the front end too and there is no bounce to the shocks either....they return to height and pretty much stay there.
Nothing looks or seems broke...but something is very wrong, I will put her up on blocks tomorrow I reckon and pull the wheels and see what I can see.

 

Good luck to ya, let us know what you find. If you bring it on down to Texas I'll help ya. LOL

 

I have this same problem with my 1987 4x2. I have put on new shocks all the way around (Monroe Sensatrac) and still have the same really bad hopping on occasional pothole strikes. Only braking stops the bouncing. I picked up a load of mulch, putting a lot of load on the rear and reducing the front end load, and it got much much worse. I've been hearing a loud "pop" when turning out of my driveway in the mornings (steering not locked) and I'm beginning to think it's bad upper ball joints...

Gonna take it to the shop on Monday and drop it off. I'm going to have them check the ball joints and tie rod ends as I believe those are the culprits.

I'll post back; Let me know what you find.

Axel.

 

You bet....I now am also trying to figure out why I have a humming from underneath. Also have a shudder of sorts..while accellerating. I noticed a lot of oil around diff cover...so I'm thinking that it might be the axle fluid is low. I am just now...trying to get the &^%$ fill plug off. I heard that it is supposed to be a 3/8" drive and that's it..but It won't fit...close, but no cigar.
I just went and bought a 3' long 3/8" drive extension, which I am gonna grind down till it fits. Hope that works.
Also, I had forgotten, but I once had the exact same bounce. It was in a '92 cavalier that I had....the rear shock had broken through the rotted wheel well housing and now bounced freely into the trunk. When I would hit a hole the right way, it would bounce exactly the same. The rest of the time though it still had extra bounce while driving, which my truck does not...
I'll let y'all know what happens as it happens.