My 02 3500 DRW has a 1.5" front leveling kit with KYB shocks and shock extenders installed not long ago. Everything's great most of the time, but large bumps can cause the front wheels to bounce as evidenced by some cupping on the front tires.

Anyone have experience with this and suggest a remedy?

Bilstein 5100 shocks work any better?

What's the steering damper mod that I hear about?

Looking for suggestions..... Thx!

 

My experience is that unless your tires are really out of balance, cupping is from alignment issues, or worn front end parts like tie rods/ball joints/wheel bearings. 1/8" toe in keeps mine nice and flat.

 

Interesting....

I had the alignment done when I installed the leveling kit and KYB shocks. Upper and lower ball joints and left inner tie rod replaced 20k ago.

Les Schwab tires did the alignment and checked the front end over pretty carefully. Everything tight, according to them....

 

I trust no one, check it all with a prybar. Then check your toe-in with a helper and a tape measure.

 

I trust gorms on this, Les Schwab has been hit or miss up here as of late...

 

It wouldn't surprise me I guess, if they missed something. I may take it to another shop for another look, and have the front tires rebalanced. I won't be crawling under there, I've got way too much on my plate at the moment.

After a lot of internet research I found quite a bit on the dreaded death wobble, but this doesn't act like that at all. Still wonder however if the two are related in any way in cause. Could steering play contribute? (I don't necessarily pick up on much play in the steering wheel, but wonder if a stabilizer would help there)

Appreciate the help....we'll keep looking...

 

The little block in the steering shaft can wear, too. Sometimes you can flip it over and get another 100K out of it, others replace with a Borgensen shaft....

 

Never place so much trust in shops. They make too many mistakes just watching what the computer tells them.

That said, poor quality tires can wear odd too.

 

Several things helped and I no longer have front wheel bounce:

Installed a steering box brace. Firmed up what little play I had in steering, and, found that the mechanic that installed my leveling kit and shocks didn't tighten the sway bar bolts completely.

Aired down the front tires when no towing.

Had alignment checked and found it needed correction.

Happy camper now....all good!

 

Thanks for the update.

 

I have tried a few brands of aggressive tires and out of the lot the BFGs were the absolute worst for cupping. Air pressure, alignment can be perfect and they will still cup.
Im not sure if this is to do with the tire carcass or the block pattern. I run toyo open country MTs now and despite the open blocks on the shoulder I havent had an issue with cupping.
Not a cheap tire, but the best Ive tried so far.