wheel hop

[Krhicks]

My 1997 2500 diesel has a death defying left front wheel hop. It originally only did it at higher speeds when I would hit a large rut. It now prefers lower speeds when I'm turning and applying the brakes.

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

That kinda sounds like a wheel balance and/or shock absorber problem.

Either that or the infamous " death wobble"... I hate when that happens. .

For more info on that particular topic I have to suggest you try a search for just that topic. I do not have personal experience with it myself, or I'd try to help.

Sorry. .



Bob.

 

[Baron]

I am interested in this post because my '92 has the same problem. I did find a loose bracket that holds the front leaf spring and fixed that but it still hops when braking from say 50 mph to a stop. Definately the left side. I was thinking maybe a rotor or shock but the brake pedal does not pulse when applying the brakes. I dunno... ... ... any more suggestions???? baron

 

[BCaldwell]

wheel hop or wobble, had front end suspended for different reason thought i would give wheel bearings a check and found play in the knuckles of the connecting rod? between pitman arm and front end on my4x4 hope this helps bill

 

[rwinslow]

I have found the following contribute to your described symptom:



1) Shock absorber starts to weaken - i. e. go bad. Look for cupping on the tires. I typically see 18 months out of a pair of generic lifetime warranty shocks - it's great to get a new set every 18 months or so



2) Tie rod / tie rod ends wore out - sometimes only one side but replace both ends if suspected.



3) Drag Link is loose / worn. This is designed to be a wear item and can be purchased through NAPA for $75.



4) Tire belt shifted / tire out of balance.



5) Front axle u-joints are froze up or worn on four wheel drive models.



Good luck!! Call if you have any other questions.

 

[Baron]

I keep thinking shocks... ... I have a warn winch and heavy duty bumper and all that weight may fiqure in to the mix. I have generic les schwab shocks . Is there a way to take a schock absorber off and test it ??? just curious baron

 

[rwinslow]

Les Schwab shocks last about 12 - 18 months on my rig. Typically their first sign of bad behavior is wheel hop or rebounding over the bumps. The local Les Schwab alignment shop manager says that the 1st gen trucks will go through their shocks rather quickly - most likely due to the solid axle construction and leaf springs. If any of the driving is done off road or on dirt / gravel roads, then this seems to accelerate the wear even faster. Since they have a life-time warranty it is kind of a rite of spring to go get four new shocks!

 

[Baron]

So I just got the truck back from the mechanic and he says the hop and wobble is due to the (fact?) that the rear brakes are not working... ... only the fronts. He says I have sponginess and too much play in the pedal and that the e brake is soft too. The guy I got the truck from says that he had new shoes on the back so I don;t think it is shoes... ... but maybe master cylinder??? Is there a proportion valve??? I dont think so. He wants to pull the hubs off and inspect the brakes... ... .

Anyway he says the rotors are also bad(but I know he didn't take the wheels off so how could he say that? ) But the main thing is that the hop is due to the front only brakes! Anybody heard of this????? baron

 

[Philip]

He wants to pull the hubs off and inspect the brakes

I would let him. The problems with pedal feel and sponginess and soft ebrake. Sounds like rear brake self adjuster are inop. Have him setup a dial indicator and do a run out check of the front rotors.



The shocks should not cause a hop at low speed and braking. But a combo of out of round rotors and bad tire and bad shocks might.



Then like everyone else said. Have the front suspension check over.



If you still have the problem after all the above items get a clean bill of health. Then have the truck put on a 4 wheel laser alignment rack. Have the front to rear alignment checked and have the track angle looked at. The track angle would show a bent rear axle.



I fought the same symptoms you have. I found a bent rear axle. Here is a link to a pic of it.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=56738

 

[Baron]

Great post Phillip... ... and great tip... ... I cked out the pic of the bent axle and could not make it out too well. Is the actual axle shaft inside the rear end axle housing bent or the housing itself?? It seems you have a level against the axle housing to show it is bent. I have to go look to see if this housing is all one piece (incl the rear end portion) or if it is sectional). My truck DID suffer right rear end damage (the bed was totaled). Maybe finally I am getting somewhere??? What did you finally do??? New axle or new complete rear end assembly??? thanks baron



btw how come the '92 models were left out of the death wobble poll????? Did the front end change in '93 /'94???

 

[Philip]

It was the axle housing bent. I had to replace it. I called a place in Mich that does axle housing work. But they said they would not try to straighten one that was bent over 1/4". Mine was 1 3/16's. It took 6 months to find a dually axle. I also looked for a Cab and chassis axle. Never found one of them . I want a flat bed so I could have went with eather axle length.



The pic I posted does show enough detail. Look at the distance from the axle tube to level where it goes into the center section. Then look at the distance out at the spring perches. The tube sould be straight the full length. Plus this one is twisted at the same angle as the drive shaft. Which the pic could not show.



The 4X2 model didn't change front end very much. The 4X4 did. Our old trucks are leaf spring. The 94+ models are coil springs with trailing arms. With the trailing arm suspension. The rubber bushings used would show a wobble faster than the old leaf setup. Trailing arms flex more than leaf springs do on this problem. But when one of our trucks wobble. You go looking for that problem real fast. It will add new defination to term.

"shaking you eye teeth loose"



If you want to see the full size pic send me your e-mail addy. I'll send it your way.

 

[AMikonis]

Sounds like your narrowing it down, but something else to watch is the steering gearbox mounting plate on 4x4's. The one on my last '92 broke at the front mounting hole, allowing the front of the gearbox to walk side to side and cause the death wobble. Pretty much the same effect as a badly worn tie rod, drag link, etc. It cracked the frame aroud the hole pretty bad, too. Had to weld it and reinforce with a big washer. 2wd's don't use the plate, the gearbox bolts direct to the frame, so they don't seem to have that problem...



Andy

 

[Philip]

Thats a new one on me. I have not seen a Dodge do that before. But I have seen many Chevy K series crack frames in that area.



I have seen three broken frames on earler model 4X2. They broke right threw the upper shock mount. Frames broke all the way threw upper and lower frame flange rail.

 

[Baron]

Yes Phillip I would like more pics !!! -- email address removed -- (sorry don't know how to highlight it). I guess I will start at the rear brake inspection and look hard at the rear axle and also front steering box where it makes up to the frame... ... . I called the shop where the front end alighnment was done recently ..... they do use a 4 wheel laser alighment device and said that a problem would have showed up if it existed. All they did was toe in a bit. baron

 

[Philip]

Good if it was on a laser rack a while back then it should be good. The people trained on this type of rack know to watch for this problem.



I'll have the pic on the way in a few minutes.

 

[Baron]

Geez what was it that could have tweeked your axle out so much? Did you get a major rear ender??? baron

 

[Baron]

Well I wanted to state what I think MY problems with wheel hop are due to... ... . I think my rear brakes have NOT been working and all the work being done by my front rotors has heated and warped them. Suspension looks good and shocks could be replaced but I am going to change out the rotors next week and ck why the rear brakes are not doing their job! baron

 

[Philip]

The truck has been rear ended. But not with the axle I posted the pic on. This axle was something someone cobbled into this truck when they had the dually axle taken out in a wreck or something. There is a dent in the right cab corner. The only way that dent happens is when the bed is shoved into the cab. It has a gasser dually bed on it now. No Cummins emblem on the tailgate.



I think that axle was bent by some pulling to heavy a load. There is still a homemade G/N ball plate under the bed. But the bed has not been cut for a ball.



This truck had a new pump put on it just before I bought it. So I don't know what it was at before the pump let go. The VE won't take high pressures for long. I got the truck with 92K on it. For it to loose a pump in that short of milage it was turned up big time. IMHO