On the highway I get a severe rear end bounce. It only happens with roads that have a slight wave to them. Some bounce would be expected, but it feels like the back tires are coming off the ground. I don't see other F150's in front of me bouncing. Is this normal or is there a fix.

I know someone at work that returned his Long-bed F-150Sc Lariat after a month for the same reason. His new ('97)short bed doesn't have this problem. Any help to back to the dealer would be helpful.

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1999 F-150 Lariat, 5.4, 3.55 Ratio, Deep Wedgewood/Gold, Tan Leather interior, LineX bedliner, NO DOOR CRACKS.

 

That's unusual; Mine is a regular cab, long bed and it rides great on the highway. No bounce at all. It even has heavy springs and shocks. Have you tried varying the tire pressure? Have you had the rear tires checked out? Weird!

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2000 F-150 XL,RC,LB,5.4,4R70W,3.55LS,
Class III tow/Payload #3/Convenience pkgs.,
4-wheel disc/ABS,Chestnut/Parchment 40/60,
Ford bedliner & gas/wheel/spare locks,
3" cold air box modification, Superchip,
Dynomax ultra-flow welded 3" cat-back,
3" exit Y-pipe, Hellwig rear anti-sway bar.

 

I personally haven't checked the tire pressures, but the dealer has been doing the 3-5k mile servicing and they supposedly are checking the tire pressures. I'll check them myself tonight.

My truck is a SC with Reg-bed.

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1999 F-150 Lariat, 5.4, 3.55 Ratio, Deep Wedgewood/Gold, Tan Leather interior, LineX bedliner, NO DOOR CRACKS.

 

Your tires are probably just not balanced (~$10/tire). Does the *** hop around at specific speeds? Try going different speeds. Does it do it throughout the speedo? The tire will become out of round only at specific speads where there is no equal centripetal force about the tire. Mine do the same thing 39 to 42 MPH, but the tire better not be leaving the ground. Discount Tire will be seeing me shortly. Last time I checked, it's not possible to incurr wheel bouncing w/improper inflated tires.

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1999 Red F150 4x4 5.4L XLT X-Cab
Towing Pkg, Corporate 9.75 Rear Axle, 3.55 LS, Corporate 8.8 Front Axle, 3.55 Open, K&N Generation II, JET Chip 32x11.50 Super Swamper SSR
-coming soon
JBA Headers, 40-Series Flomaster exhaust

 

It doesn't happen at any specific speed. It rides like glass up through 90mph (haven't pushed it any higher) as long as the road is smooth. It only happens when there are slight waves in the road.

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1999 F-150 Lariat, 5.4, 3.55 Ratio, Deep Wedgewood/Gold, Tan Leather interior, LineX bedliner, NO DOOR CRACKS.

 

Tim- You can't rely on other people to check your tire pressure. Do it yourself, cold, to the specs on your drivers door tag. I've found that other people usually don't inflate cold or to the right level (they basically don't give a sh*t). Sometimes they have inaccurate, worn out gauges. It should be done at least every month, and more often if noticeable changes occur. Check out your pressure cold, and keep us posted.

------------------
2000 F-150 XL,RC,LB,5.4,4R70W,3.55LS,
Class III tow/Payload #3/Convenience pkgs.,
4-wheel disc/ABS,Chestnut/Parchment 40/60,
Ford bedliner & gas/wheel/spare locks,
3" cold air box modification, Superchip,
Dynomax ultra-flow welded 3" cat-back,
3" exit Y-pipe, Hellwig rear anti-sway bar.

 

I had a bad ride on my 98 and found the
tires were inflated to 50!! pounds. check
that pressure! also,there is new product
called active suspension by Roadmaster
check out their site . It's supposed to
correct these problems.
www.activesuspension.com

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98 F-150 4.6 Litre XLT
K/N gen.II fipk
Custom duals w/glasspacks
color matched Snuglid
headlight covers.
doin the monochromatic boogie on the front end.
on the way(headers,air dam,wheels and tires,etc...........................

 

This sounds like you are experiencing 'freeway hop.' I get this on my truck during one stretch of highway that has 'waves.' It seems as though the wheelbase of the truck and the waves in the roadway match up (for me) at about 72-74 mph. Thus this matching up causes a hopping or bouncy ride. Speed up it goes away. Slow down it goes away. There's nothing wrong with the trucks. This is just 'the way it is'...or avoid those wavy roads...

[This message has been edited by DuckHntr (edited 08-17-2000).]

 

Tim, I also have the same problem with mine, I to have the extened cab and long bed,also the tow package. I'm not sure if heavy duty suspension comes the tow package.I still have the stock shocks and have considered changing to the rancho RS5000s, but then as DuckHunter is saying about the road also makes sence. Tim, do you travel the 5 though southern Orange county?




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98 4.6 2wd ext. cab.

 

bottom line:

l.a. freeways suck.

sorry to be so blunt.

Whatever you do, don't buy the 2" leveling lift. That'll make both ends hop. The 3.5 spring kit is supposed to be smoother. I had the fabtech 2" put in and I'm going back this week to do the 3" spindle instead. They installed new shocks with the 2" and it still hops at "just the right speed range". (60's) Totally irritating, never had that problem with my raised Bronco.

A tonneau cover and 4 98 mustang rims and tires as balast did smooth the ride out a little bit.

Try loading up you truck for the dump and forget to unload it.

P.S. I'M NEW!!! HI EVERYBODY...

 

I checked the tire pressures and they were all 35psi. I lowered the rear tire pressures
down to 30psi and it seems to help a little. I still haven't driven the worst spots on the highways yet. I'll take it out this weekend and give it a try. In the past it was unaffected by changes in speed. The bouncing just slowed down or sped up with the speed, but it still bounced.

I've checked out other threds and a Dampening Bar has been mentioned (P/N F85Z 17E834 AA). Could this help my bouncing problem?

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1999 F-150 Lariat, 5.4, 3.55 Ratio, Deep Wedgewood/Gold, Tan Leather interior, LineX bedliner, NO DOOR CRACKS.

[This message has been edited by Tim Lloyd (edited 08-22-2000).]

 

The suggested tire pressures are printed inside the driver side door.

32 front / 35 rear.

I just had the lift place install a 2" add-a-leaf (they suggested 1 1/2", but I'm stubborn) in the back. It made all the difference in the world. Better freeway, less body roll.

I also found out my tires weren't balanced.

This may also be the culprit. Lots o luck.

One other thing. There's a product called Velvet Ride which are shackles that replace your factory rear leaf connectors. Mostly for buses and motor homes but they claim to eliminate wheel hop. Now prepare yourself, price: $207ish.

No one said owning a truck was easy.

97 f150 SC 4.6 auto
Fabtech jewelry, Approx. 3" over stock

[This message has been edited by The White Monkey (edited 08-22-2000).]

 

The White Monkey, et al, I've been riding around with 4, 50lb bags of sand in my truck bed closest the tailgate. Guess what? No more vibration at 40mph and NO low or high speed wheel hop.

I'm waiting on back-ordered (2 months and counting)leaf springs to correct truck lean and maybe vibration. While I wait, I solved my wheel hop and vibration problem. Now prepare yourself, price: $9.80 at Home Depot.

I think I'll go with the sand bags instead of the velvet shackles.

Jeff

 

Tim.
The Dampening bar is the common solution. If the truck is still under warranty take it in and tell them about the freeway bounce and mention the dampening bar.
They will want to drive it and asses the severity of the bounce themselves, then they'll either do it or not. In my case they decided NOT, although other people have had it done successfully.
good luck.

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1999 Lariat Super Cab, S.B. 5.4L, 3.55 LS
and everything but the leaky slider window.
Bright red w/ gold 2-tone, Leather Captain's Chairs
Mods: Duraliner bedliner, Bugflector II, Hide-a-hooks.
& a leeetle chrome tip on the exhaust.

 

Hello fellow So. Cal. members. I've probably seen most of ya one time or another on the hwy.

I too have to same problem. I changed to a different brand tires in hopes of solving my problem but like you it's the same. I check my tire pressure often and tried lowering the pressure but it doesn't seem to help very much. If CalTrans could take all those waves out of the freeway I would be in heaven. Has anyone else notice that the rear leaf springs are moving out of alignment? I think it's due to the bouncing.

Jim

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1997 F150 Lariat Racer4YSR's F150
SuperCab, Toreador Red w/ Gold, Styleside, 4.6L, A/T, A/C, 3.55 3800 Limited Slip, Class 3 Tow Package, Leather Captain Seats, Sliding Rear Window.
Modifications:
Airaid FIPK, Bugflector II, Viper 500ESP Alarm, Pendaliner Bedliner, Cobra Trapshooter 3 Radar Detector, CARR Tubular Nerf Bars, NFA 1400 Compact 55W=>85W Halogen O.E. Lights, Durango 255/70R16, Chrome eyelet tie downs, Smoked front lic. plate cover