Uncomfortable ride

[sullivan]

Ok, so I bought a 06' ram a few months ago. I am trying to rule out some things as of now. I fixed tie rod ends, got new tires, balance, 2 alignments, and I still don't have a smooth ride.

I have been reading a lot online, I am more your guy of I'd like to read and learn myself then tell some mechanic I am having issues.

I have read most things that are bad in the chassis or suspension would make a noise if bad or some sort of sound.

Well my ride doesn't make any sounds outside of the car, not when turning or driving. Although every now and then I have a popping sound from my steering wheel. I have done lots of research online and this might possibly be a bad cv joint. But this shouldn't rule out the cause of my bouncy ride. I feel like the whole body is just shaking all over sometimes while driving. I can keep a steady line of travel, I just feel like Im wobbling.

My truck seems to sway side to side pretty easily. The truck has 100k miles, rancho shocks in front, stock in back. Remember, no sounds outside of the car. Right now I think my steering is slightly messed up. But other then the steering having some possible play what would make my truck not ride smooth? I feel as the whole truck shakes violently sometimes. Not like the death wobble. Could bad ball joints cause this?

The body of the truck just seems to bounce all over. What would cause the truck to sway side to side easily?

If no one on here has any insight, I plan on taking it to this very honest mechanic shop in Houston. Hills automotive if anyone is wondering. Supposed to be the best in Houston.

 

[Trupiano]

Not sure man, sounds like you've just about covered everything, wish I had some ideas to help. Those damn 3rd Gen's and they're handling/ride woes...

Have you tried trading it in for a 4th gen? :********: Worked for me!

 

[glass3222]

Are you in a 1500 or 2500? What Ranchos do you have in the front. I know the RS5000 have a much stiffer than stock ride, and combined with stock (and worn out at 100k miles) could be causing an unbalance from front to rear that could be causing you issues. I am not sure though, just thinking out loud

 

[sullivan]

Are you in a 1500 or 2500? What Ranchos do you have in the front. I know the RS5000 have a much stiffer than stock ride, and combined with stock (and worn out at 100k miles) could be causing an unbalance from front to rear that could be causing you issues. I am not sure though, just thinking out loud

To be honest, not sure what kind of ranchos. And its a 4x4 1500. But I plan on taking it in soon to have everything checked out.

And, I don't plan on trading this in. Already put a lot into it, Ima keep this and buy me a nice lil car in a year or two and keep the truck.

 

[KGBIGCOUNTRY]

What tires are on the truck? My truck only comes out on weekends and the NTG's seem to flat spot. My truck has a ruff ride till 5-6 miles down the road.

 

[sullivan]

What tires are on the truck? My truck only comes out on weekends and the NTG's seem to flat spot. My truck has a ruff ride till 5-6 miles down the road.

Stock with the stock sport 20" rims. Tire size: 275/60/20 PSI 40 (new tires)

Could my PSI be causing this??? Discount tire sheet says 35psi when i read it, but the guy who pulled my truck around said they did them to 40. Would this cause my unjust?

 

[shadow11]

Now remember you have a big heavy 4x4 truck with 20" wheels. Its not going to have the best ride in the world. Trucks are normally bouncy in the back cause there is not much weight back there. I noticed it more on mine at stock height but since I have lowered it its almost completely gone away. Also like said those rancho shocks may be giving you are firmer ride than stock.

 

[Redtruck-VA]

This sounds like a combination of small things, but the root problem I would guess is the rear shocks. I had a left rear shock that had failed and didn't leak, but it caused a wobble. I couldn't really nail the problem down and decided to replace the shocks and that solved the problem. What a difference it made, good luck..

 

[sullivan]

This sounds like a combination of small things, but the root problem I would guess is the rear shocks. I had a left rear shock that had failed and didn't leak, but it caused a wobble. I couldn't really nail the problem down and decided to replace the shocks and that solved the problem. What a difference it made, good luck..

Another thing... supposedly the previous owner placed a 2" or 2.5" leveling kit. The front end doesn't really seem like its leveled with the back. Could this be anything? I know its got some sort of a leveling kit, but would anything off make the level off?

Also, one more thing the guy at discount tire that I talked to, he said they zeroed out all my weights or something. Could this be an issue? (all I had was new tires put on)

 

[Deviate]

If you have the front end leveled by tightening the torsion bar, it will DEFINITELY ride much stiffer. If it was done with leveling keys, then it may be better (I have no experience with that myself). Also, I'm not sure if extended shocks would help with a level on a 4x4 like it does on the 4x2. When I leveled my 2WD it rode like my old slammed Isuzu (sitting on the bump stops) until I put longer shocks on it.

 

[KGBIGCOUNTRY]

Being an 06 I think he would have a spacer on the front, last year of the tbars was 05 I do believe.

 

[sullivan]

Guys, if I jump up and down on the drivers front, and it bounces and has a squeaky sound, but the pass. side don't squeak, would the left shock be bad?

Ok, well I have an idea. Lets visualize the front end while driving...

My pioneer head unit has a rear view camera ability, so I just ordered a camera to attach to it. I will mount it looking at the front axle and stuff. And wire the camera up so it is on while I drive.

This is going to be kind of cool.

Im leaning towards, getting new shocks, new upper control arms with bushings and ball joints, lower ball joints, but I don't want those to not be the culprit, so lets wait for the camera to show up.

 

[Redtruck-VA]

I don't know if a camera is much good finding a squeak. But you might try looking under it with someone bouncing it. If it squeaks by bouncing it most likely a ball joint. Which can be checked by lifting the wheel off the ground a few inches and sticking a bar under the tire and lifting up. Any movement in the lower ball joint indicates it is bad. Drop the shock and check it. A bad shock will allow the truck to dip in an uncontrolled manner and will feel like a wobble. How are the tires wearing? They will also tell the tale of a worn suspension. Good luck..