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Mr.Sleepy
Dodge Dakota
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5/11/2004
11:37:52
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 Subject: Suspension Help!
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Message:
I believe I have a serious problem with my suspension and I need some tips as to what may be wrong. Let me explain what is going on.
I live in michigan and its pot hole patching season, so needless to say the roads are patchy and uneven. Even the freeways are bumpy and sometimes dangerous to drive quickly on. At about 60mph or faster on these streches of bumpy road it feels like my truck is jumping sideways. The wheel goes a little limp (no resistance) and gitters. The back end feels like it fish tails slightly to one side. The truck feels like it starts to hop around when it hits these bumpy patches and when the back end swings out it sometimes gets out of my control. I find it scary and tough to control and I was wondering what i could possibly be since this problem developed and never happened when it was brand new.
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another mark
Dodge Dakota
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5/11/2004
13:06:52
|  RE: Suspension Help!
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Message:
I know when the rear on my truck feels loose ( I lowered the
truck 2") it means the nuts on the u bolts attaching the leafs to
the axle have gotten a few turns loose. Couldn't hurt to check
that. Just looking isn't enough, you have to put a wrench on it
and check. As far as the front end, how are your bump stops at
the control arms? Are they still there? Shocks leaking?
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Kowalski
Dodge Dakota
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5/11/2004
15:58:00
| RE: Suspension Help!
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Message:
Have you changed your rear tire pressure recently ?
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Mr.Sleepy
Dodge Dakota
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5/11/2004
23:26:01
| RE: Suspension Help!
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Message:
Tires are brand new and pressure is perfect.
I poked around the front end and the ball joints look fine (just replaced), but the shocks look like they are about done. I'm planning on having shocks done soon I will let you guys know if it fixed the problem.
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racerX
Dodge Dakota
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5/12/2004
01:18:43
| RE: Suspension Help!
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Message:
having an anti-sway bar installed in the rear wouldnt hurt either
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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5/12/2004
04:36:29
| RE: Suspension Help!
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Message:
Check your tie rods, if they are real loose they a can cause a wierd vibraion and looseness. Idler arm could also cause this if your truck doesn't have the rack and pinion. Wheel bearings could also cause the tire to have alot of play. Jack up one side of the truck and see it there is play in the tire by pushing and pulling on the front and back of the tire, if there's looseness you have found a problem. Then it's time for further diagnosis to see if it's the tie rods, idler arm if equipped or wheel bearings.
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RT in DC
Dodge Dakota
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5/12/2004
07:03:37
|  RE: Suspension Help!
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I have the same problem here in DC I have replaced all four shocks checked the tie rods one was bent fixed that and it really didnt make much of a differeance. The only time my truck feels like it is jumpy is when the road has sudden changes like the right side goes down real quick or when going around a turn you hit a pothole and your back end jumps out. You are just feeling how a truck drives and handles there really isnt much you can do unless you want to spend a few thousand on all new suspension.
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Kowalski
Dodge Dakota
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5/12/2004
16:19:11
|  RE: Suspension Help!
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Message:
Actually there is...and there is no one tire pressure that is considered "perfect" - it will depend on how you use your truck. High air pressure in the rear of an unloaded Dak will exaggereate this tendency that is due to the stock shocks not being a very good match for the spring rate. Airing down the rears a bit effectively lowers the spring rate. Anyone who has raised pressure recently to get better mpg with the higher cost of gas will be noticing this.
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Mr.Sleepy
Dodge Dakota
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5/13/2004
09:44:52
| RE: Suspension Help!
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Message:
Okay I did a brake job and put on new rotors. The old pads were scrapping the metal and the rotors were scarred bad from it. The rotors were NOT warped.
I've been driving it around for a about 50 miles with no difference in wheel pull or hopping, I didn't think it would but I thought if the rotors were warped it might be affecting it.
I'm going to have someone put new shocks on for me as I don't like doing shocks. I'll drive it around and see what happens. (I need new shocks anyway so there is no loss here if it doesnt work)
While they are doing shocks im going to have the front end inspected.
I keep my tires at about 15 PSI short of max. Around 35 to 40, max on my tires says 55.
I carry about 50 pounds worth of lead shot in the bed of the truck at all times. This helps in the rain quite a bit, but isnt enough to affect mileage to much. Even while carrying lots of weight I still get the same hopping effect just not as severe.
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Jay Jay
Dodge Dakota
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5/13/2004
12:12:51
| RE: Suspension Help!
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Tire pressure of 35 -40 will make that truck bounce like crazy. The specs for my 2002 with 16 inch rims are 30 front 35 rear. I keep them at that pressure and they are fine. If I go to 35 in the front, It's way too bouncy.
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Mr.Sleepy
Dodge Dakota
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5/13/2004
13:29:59
| RE: Suspension Help!
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Yeah but i got 17" fattys. Factory spec on them for average psi is about 35-40. When I got my new tires on it, they pressured them the same way. The dealership/Tireshop both gave me the same advice so I'm willing to agree with them. Besides... would over inflated tires produce a slighty rapid jerking of the steering wheel while driving? Almost a vibration.
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Kowalski
Dodge Dakota
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5/13/2004
16:46:23
| RE: Suspension Help!
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That sounds like something in the front end could be worn. I run 50 in the front, 40 in the rear. I felt like 50 in the rear hopped too much and know I could have a better ride with further reduced pressures but this is a good compromise for me as I use the truck as a truck. I know less experienced drivers would be apprehensive driving the truck as I have it set up; I also know that once it steps out a bit it lands planted so it doesn't really bother me since I understand what is going on. I don't get the vibration you describe.
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ALBERT
Dodge Dakota
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5/15/2004
12:38:50
| RE: Suspension Help!
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I think the rear end hops around because trucks dont have fully independant rear suspension. Mustangs and camaros generally do the exact same thing.
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Kowalski
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2004
07:08:20
| RE: Suspension Help!
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Message:
Nope, its definitey the mismatch in the factory suspension. While independent suspension has its advantages (and dis-advantges), I've seen many well set up solid axle packages that handled quite well. You don't have to have independent rear suspension to get good handling.
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