Hi Fellow Dodge owners. New to the Forum. On a recent trip to Wyoming from Calif. found I developed a Wheel Hop at 70 mph. Feels like it's in the rear. Replaced shocks (pretty soft) didn't solve the problem. Truck has 60 k miles and have not had one problem other than this one. Been hearing there may be a campeign for a recall???? Any suggestions out there??

 

sounds like a bad tire to me......

 

Wheel hop generally means when you accelerate briskly from a stop, one or both of the rear wheels actually hop up and down.

Is this what you have?

 

No, what I have is the wheel hop at high speeds (70 t0 75) going over rough spots on the highway.

 

My guess is you're experiencing the rhythmic bounce of a concrete highway which is normal, slow down or speed up and it goes away? If so, it's normal.

The trucks length allows it to get into a harmonic-like pattern of bouncing when crossing the concrete slab gaps at certain speeds.

 

Hi Guys,

This is not pavement or harmonics, This is the entire rear leafs and axel bouncing up and down violently to where I must slow down and then it stops. What starts it is a succession of rough pavement enough to get it going. once slowed to 60 it stops. The length of rough pavement can be as little as ten feet. I just need to be doing 70 plus. This wheel hop continues after the rough pavement until I slow down.

 

Bad leaf? Loose shackle? Don't know what else it could be if it's as violent as you describe.

Do you feel it in the steering? Death Wobble?

 

Thanks for all the input. Responding to to last question....I am not experiencing "Death Wobble" it's only in the rear. I Decided to take it to the "Dealer" After $135.00 found nothing wrong except for throwing a two ounce weight and some minor tire preasure problems. They checked out the Leaf Springs and found nothing, Did all the calculations re: measurements from front to rear to see if the diff was out of allignment with the front and tranny. All was ok. On our way out to thanksgiving dinner on a wet road. Wish me luck. If it happens today and I don't get back to you......Look for me in the Obits.

 

From the problem you described you have a tire out of round , the way to determine this put the tire on a balance machine and watch the top or bottom of the tire

 

I believe it's your tires. A the long time ago we had a van with the same problem. Nothing else worked and finally some "good old boy" mechanic smiled and told me to get new tires.

The sidewalls may be shot and they bounce like basketballs. You could have someone follow behind and watch, good luck.

 

In a 2001 f250 powerstroke, the ranch I work for owns, I was going down the road and for 100 miles or so, I was going through what you described. You know what fixed it, the tire blew, I changed tires, no more bounce. My guess is one of your tires is about to blow.

 

Yes I agree! the tire has most likely got a failure point on the tread that is bulging out. Very dangerous if it has.