Phoenix freeway vibration

[JKao]

After moving to Phoenix I get vibrations from the rear bed of the truck that feels like I am driving on a wash board. This happens at 65-75mph on all of the freeways here(101, 202, I10, 60) but not entirely, only some parts of the road and some areas are more severe than others. There are no loads in the bed just a tool box. When the vibration occurs we bounce up Oo. and down Oo. in our seats and I look at the cars around me but don't see them bouncing or hopping. I am wondering if the vibration is caused by axle wrapping back and forth which is caused by uneveness of the road or maybe that speed range is causing some kind of frequency vibrating the springs. The truck only has 45k and I didn't experience any thing like this back in Boston(just those caused by giantic pot holes ). Will adding a traction bar help? What do you guys think?



btw I don't get the wheel hop on corners or turns like those described here.

 

[Giachino]

After moving to Phoenix I get vibrations from the rear bed of the truck that feels like I am driving on a wash board. This happens at 65-75mph on all of the freeways here(101, 202, I10, 60) but not entirely, only some parts of the road and some areas are more severe than others. There are no loads in the bed just a tool box. When the vibration occurs we bounce up Oo. and down Oo. in our seats and I look at the cars around me but don't see them bouncing or hopping. I am wondering if the vibration is caused by axle wrapping back and forth which is caused by uneveness of the road or maybe that speed range is causing some kind of frequency vibrating the springs. The truck only has 45k and I didn't experience any thing like this back in Boston(just those caused by giantic pot holes ). Will adding a traction bar help? What do you guys think?



btw I don't get the wheel hop on corners or turns like those described here.

It's not specific to your truck..... mine does it on the i10 as well... . thankfully i usually stay on the 101/i17... . not sure what can be done to alleviate it... . and actually dont recall noticing it since i added the 5100's... . but dont quote me on that

 

[CJ8Rockcrawler]

Ah... memories... . No problems like that in Tucson... we just don't have freeways ;-)



I remember that when I lived in phoenix though and everytime I come up to visit the 'rents.



I think what you're describing has to do w/ the poor quality of the road surface/expansion joints and the stiffness of the rear suspension when unloaded. Based on the post above... shocks could be a big part of it. I'll find that out soon enough...

 

[DPhillips]

had the same problem in a Ford Courier (aka Mazda pickup) 15 years ago. It's not the truck it's the roads. Glad to see some things haven't changed. Are they still contracting road engineers from Michigan or Wisconsin to design the roads in Phoenix?



No offense to those from Michigan or Wisconsin. I just dont think they should be telling someone in AZ or any other state how to build/maintain roads.

 

[Buffalo]

My '03, 3500, 4X4 does the same thing.



I've been here for over 30 years & remember when it was even worse. They actually ground the road surface smooth, eliminating the high spots that were causing the bouncing.



I can't remember what actually causes the 'waves' in the road surface but, it certainly is there.



For awhile, the rubberized surface that they were using really smoothed out the road surface & quieted the tire noise down, substantially. However, on the 101, around the curve between Union Hills Rd. & the 75 Ave. area, is really getting bad. It's like riding a horse, now.



I don't think extra weight in the bed of the truck helps that much. I've got a 115 gal. auxillary fuel tank, in the bed of my truck, that's full, & I still get the bouncing.



At least we don't have the 'tank trap' pot holes like we used to have back in Detroit.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[Bob4x4]

A more progressive rear spring and better shocks with bigger tires will get you the best ride possible... ... ... but it won't eliminate it completely.



Bob

 

[donnier]

Its a deal between the local DOT and the repair shops.

We have the same thing in Calif. on the local roads here as well.

 

[sag2]

If you look under the rear of an 06 1500 they have a large damper weight at the rear crossmember. As I recall a few years ago they did all the testing to tune the damper in the Phoenix area because they had more complaints there. I believe it was the spacing of the expansion joints on the concrete that reacted with the wheelbase of the 1500 quad cab. You would think all freeways would be built to the same standard, but apparently they are not. Of the couple of older 1500's I recall around here, adding a couple hundred pounds of weight as far back in the bed helped alot. I have always carried weight in my trucks just because it smooths out the ride. I guess customers are expecting light duty trucks to do what trucks do, but ride like a car. Go figure?

DR HD is not anywhere the same as far as suspension is concerned, but I suspect it is similar to the DR bounce. Especially as it is specific to the road surface.

 

[Nelssen]

A more progressive rear spring and better shocks with bigger tires will get you the best ride possible... ... ... but it won't eliminate it completely.



Bob

I agree; a good aftermarket suspension helps, but does not cure the problem. I drive the freeways often (mostly the 101), and in the right light you can actually see the hollows in the road surface where they have picked up a slightly darker color. I assume it is tire rubber. Runs smooth at 80 though, but the Photo Enforcement cameras will get you. Coming soon to a highway near you. Thanks Janet.

 

[MickeyMiller]

Just drove up the California coast on HWY 101. The concrete section of 101 between Thousand Oaks and Oxnard shakes the truck like a 'Cyclo Massage'... . I think it is the wripple road wear pattern from heavy truck traffic that just happens to match the harmonics of my truck. I actually pulled over to check for a flat and look for something broken! Lowering the speed helps the vibration a little, but not enough... I sped up to get over the section sooner.

 

[donnier]

That section is bad I agree.

Try the 118 between Topanga and the 405.

For being relatively new section of road, itll bounce the )(& outta you.

The only times I havent had the bouncing was when I had a trailer on the truck.

 

[sfr1047]

Under 70 or over 80 is good but in between is a bronco. Wasn`t as bad with my 96 2500 but my 04 3500 dually is terrible.

 

[AMink]

I-5 south of Seattle is like that too, near Federal Way or somewhere in there. In my 97, it was like driving a basketball, except I was pulling a trailer! Some serious up and down going on. The mega does it too in the same area. I think it's just where the high spots are in the road vs. the wheelbase. The kids love it, but it's tough on the driver!

 

[CTD 600]

Just drove up the California coast on HWY 101. The concrete section of 101 between Thousand Oaks and Oxnard shakes the truck like a 'Cyclo Massage'... . I think it is the wripple road wear pattern from heavy truck traffic that just happens to match the harmonics of my truck. I actually pulled over to check for a flat and look for something broken! Lowering the speed helps the vibration a little, but not enough... I sped up to get over the section sooner.

Yeah!!! I have never drove Phoenix area, but... . I would have to say Hwy. 101 Between Thousand Oaks and Oxnard is THE WORST. Expansion joints are to blame.



I tried a couple things...



1. Going 60 reduces the bumping considerably.



2. Going 73-80 reduces the bumping considerably.



I even tried driving with one side of the truck on the shoulder and that didn't help much.



It's not only Dodges, it's Furds, and Cheevy's too. One thing I can honestly say is that i'm looking foward to air bagging the truck :-laf

 

[JRMora]

Under 70 or over 80 is good but in between is a bronco. Wasn`t as bad with my 96 2500 but my 04 3500 dually is terrible.

There's such a stretch of I-40 in Albuquerque between Coors road and the Big I. At 65 (the posted limit) my dually bounces down the road. The kids thik it's funny to try to talk when we would drive over that stretch. The bridges along that stretch were smooth, but the rest of it was awful.



Having moved to the South Denver area, I can say that the stretch of I-25 between Castle Rock and Lincoln Avenue is just as bad.



The wheelbase/natural frequency of the truck must be pretty close to the expansion joint spacing on these concrete highways. Three different brands of tires haven't helped a bit. I'd change shocks, but mine are still fine (66k miles).



BTW, it done this since new.



Juan

 

[WhiteSheep]

51 Bounce

If you want a really good bounce, try the 51 in Phoenix; especially the part through Dreamy Draw. It isn't only trucks that are effected by the freeways. I had a '97 Oldsmobile Aurora that really hated the Dreamy Draw section of the 51. The Olds had a long wheelbase. It was very speed sensitive as well.



Frequent tire rotation and replacement is required for Phoenicians, along with frequent windshield repair, windshield wiper replacement and battery replacement (unless you own an Optima). Anything metal will last just about forever. Anything rubber dies an early death from UV exposure. What the UV doesn't get the dust and sand does. At least it's a dry heat .

 

[AllGoodHaywood]

The Phoenix freeways do suck, I drive the 101 loop and then down the 51 everyday. I get the same thing, GDP Ladder bars really helped, more so than the KORE set up. I fact the ladder bars just make the truck feel better all around. One of my best bombs yet.



Good luck,

 

[Bob4x4]

The Phoenix freeways do suck, I drive the 101 loop and then down the 51 everyday. I get the same thing, GDP Ladder bars really helped, more so than the KORE set up. I fact the ladder bars just make the truck feel better all around. One of my best bombs yet.



Good luck,

How much ground clearance do you give up with the traction bars?I know there is a lot of rock around Phoenix.



Bob

 

[AllGoodHaywood]

I would guess at 6-8 inches, I don't rock climb so I don't have any issues. But I cannot stress enough how much better my truck drives with the GDP ladder bars. They are not comming off!



-W