I have read as many posts as I can find here on this issue, and they all seem to be pointing in the same direction. But they also all seem to leave the issue still open. So let me see if I can get any additonal info here.

I have a 2006 F-350, crew cab, long bed. I live in southern CA, where to concrete highways have expansion joints that cause the truck to bounce very agressively. You all know about this as it is a huge issue so I'll leave it at that. I have read many "remedies" or things to try, but I question if any of these things really help. For me this is clearly an issue caused with the highway, as the truck immediately stabilizes when the road surface chnages from concrete (with expansion joints) to asphalt. It is a dramatic difference in ride quality.

So let me list those that I have read about, and I would appreciate any response from those of you who have tried these items and what was your outcome. Good, bad, or indifferent.

1. Shocks - replacing and or using adjustable. Does it make any difference?
2. Tire inflation - What psi seems to work best, does it make any differenc?
3. Leaf spring adjustments and or replacement to change the overall spring rates
4. Adding additional weight to the rear end of the truck. If so, how much weight, and where was it added?
5. Tire balancing
6. Additional suspention components, i.e. air bags?
7. Other??????

Basically I am hoping there is someone out there that had experienced this issue, and found a solution that either resolved it, or at least reduced it enough to be tolerable.

I appreciate any responses, and thanks in advance,
Bumping Brian

 

Bouncing is caused by light weight and stiffness. I asked about your tires but didn't see anything on it. Take anything out that causes stiffness including air and try it. I wouldn't add weight because it would just be a bad band-aid.

 

EXv10 - the olny thing I have done is reduce the air pressure from 55psi to 45 psi on all four ties, with no noticable difference. I am running 35x12.5 x R20, DC Mud and Snow tires. I considered having them balanced, but the truck is rides smooth on good pavement. It's the damn concrete highways with expension joins that cause the truck to buck. So bad at thimes that I have to slow down to under 55 mph, or accelerate to over 80 mph! It's that 60 - 80 mph range where the issue is most prevalent.

At this point I know I can't get rid of it, but I hoping that maybe I can soften it with the correct shock choice, or something else. Just hoping somebody out there has the answer!

Thanks for your reply!

 

I faced the exact same issue, also in So Cal. Bilstein shocks fixed it for me. My truck would bounce so hard on certain highways that I could not physically stand the forces on my body. The truck can bounce a little now with the new shocks, but nothing like it did. I consider the issue solved.

I tried air pressures all the way down to 45, and up to 75. It helps with the ride overall to lower the pressures, but did not stop the bouncing rear.

No way would I have changed springs.

Tire balance was not an issue.

Carrying a load definitely solves the problem, but who wants to deal with a mess of sand bags all the time?

Get some shocks, you'll be glad you did.

For point of reference, I have the snow plow option, and the rear auxilliary helper springs.

 

I have bilsteins..just put them on several weeks ago. Didn't fix the problem with the truck hop.

 

Tire balance won't affect it but getting the right shocks will probably be the best you can do. Shocks vary in the push/pull values (some are even 50/50) so you might want to look into that.

 

Hey Bill, thanks so much for the reply. Do you know off hand what model shocks you installed, there are so many choices from Bilstien.

Again, thanks for the post, I'll give it a try.
Brian

 

I didn't think it was as much of a problem with the '04 and earlier trucks. Different front suspension.

Even so, for ~$200 it's the best and easiest thing to try new shocks.

 

Do you have a standard suspension? Meaning, no lift?

 

I have a four inch lift. I don't need the exact part number, just courious what series family you installed (7100, 5150, 9100, other)?

 

5100 series.

I've found the part numbers are easier to find on eshocks.com, whether you buy from there or not. The shockwarehouse.com site is a nightmare to navigate.

 

Great thanks!

 

4" lift? That's why it bounces. It teeters/rocks. Good luck curing it.

 

Do a search on here for Death Wobble.

Bilsteins as well as a dual stabilizer seem to be the fix everytime.

 

I appreaciate your input, but this is not a "Death Wobble" issue. That is a front end issue that generally is atributed to trucks with front leaf springs. I have an 2006 with coil front springs.

This issue is directly tied to the front to rear spring load ratios (relative to each other). The truck will get into a harmonic (front to back) due to the input of the concrete road expansion joints. The distance (joint to joint) here in California at freeway speeds create this scenario. The truck literally bouces front to back very agressively.

I am convinced that the only way to totally resolve this is to change the spring rate ratio between the front and back. That means either stiffer or loser on either end to chnage this ratio.

So here is a ratical idea....I am thinking of pulley one leaf out of each pack on the rear to see how that affects the ride. I will lose total load capacity of the truck, but I have air bags on board to compensate.

How's that grab you guys?
Brian