Shocks gone? or something else?

"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94) 12/16/2015 at 00:30 • Filed to: None

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Symptoms:

My truck has decided it really likes wandering on the highway. It’s always there a little bit, but any sort of crosswind/headwind (it never liked them, but lately it’s gotten a lot worse) and I’m constantly correcting, recorrecting and overcorrecting.

It bounces quite a lot over bumps. There is a corner that, when I got it, I could go around at 80kph. Now, I don’t like to go around it over 55kph. The surface has become a little worse from last winter, but it has always been a bumpy corner. Yet, on another stretch that’s been torn up a couple times and never put back together properly (very choppy and uneven) it feels better at 80-90kph than it does when I take it slowly.

I’ve done the bounce test, and while it seems a little worse it doesn’t seem drastically different. Though maybe I need to push harder. However when I rock it sideways it keeps waggling for quite a bit longer than I think it should.

Apart from the fact that it’s changed so much, I could chalk it up to the suspension being more geared to off-road than on-road (which actually doesn’t make much sense since it isn’t an off-road package).

So what does oppo think? Slow response of off-road setup (I’m not sure that makes sense)? Non-response of worn out shocks? Some completely unrelated issue?

Truck is 2010 Colorado LT V8 4x4, Z85 package, stock except for the addition of a rear sway bar. 75000km + however far the previous owner towed it behind his RV. Recently was in for service at the dealer and they didn't pick up anything. That said, this dealer isn't exactly known for stretching themselves.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 12/16/2015 at 09:31

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Shocks are probably the most likely culprit, although I would think they shouldn’t be worn out by 75k km, unless it was towed a whole lot.

Other things I would check are your bushings and check the rear leaves. My family had a truck and one of the leaves in the pack cracked and started behaving kind of funny, though not like what you’re describing. But it’s worth a look.

Urambo Tauro > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 12/16/2015 at 09:33

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Did the dealer check alignment? When was the last time it had one? And have any significant parts been replaced since the last alignment?

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Snuze: Needs another Swede 12/16/2015 at 09:38

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I believe the range where it’s considered reasonable to replace them starts at 80k, but it still seems early to me too.

These trucks have pretty weak leaves, but they also have a helper on the bottom and that's always away from the pack even though they look like they are flattened out. Still I'd better check it.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Urambo Tauro 12/16/2015 at 09:41

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I specifically asked the dealer to check the alignment since the tires were feathering badly and steering wheel was incorrectly indexed, and since the wheel is where it should be now, I think they did.

It was done about a month ago, but this issue started before that. It’s just continued to get worse.

No replacements.

Mattbob > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 12/16/2015 at 10:10

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Check your tie rod, anti-swaybar mounting, and end links. I have had both of these go on my jeep, and they cause all sorts of steering fun.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 12/16/2015 at 10:10

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Sounds like shocks, but the bushings and/or end links could also be contributing.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 12/16/2015 at 10:14

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Definitely check control arms and bushings as well as shocks. When I had a shock go I noticed more bouncing as well as a clunking noise, but wandering steering for me was always either tire balance or alignment...even with the shock blown and clunking in the housing the car still tracked straight. Worn bushings will make it a little harder for the truck to keep alignment, and put more slack in the suspension response before the shocks start working.

Also as a dumb answer but worth checking if you haven’t already: your tires won’t track as straight if they’re underinflated.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 12/16/2015 at 10:19

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Which ones? Sorry I’m not really too up on the details. I know my way around the functions of engines but all I know about suspension is tires-springs-shock-some kind of mounts to hold them together :)

Do you mean the bushings where the springs are mounted, or in the ends of the shocks themselves?

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Mattbob 12/16/2015 at 10:22

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Will check tie rod.

Sway bar mounts up front seemed good last time I checked, no play. Same with endlinks. Though of course being OEM they are rubber instead of poly. Maybe I should check again though.

Rear bar is not OEM, I know the bushings aren’t in great shape but the trouble started before I put it on and anyway any sway bay should be better than none. Not worrying about that.

Thanks for the help.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Aaron M - MasoFiST 12/16/2015 at 10:29

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There is a little clunking, but I couldn’t pin it down to anywhere specific. It seems to be more at full/near full upward suspension travel that I would hear it than in cornering. Alignment is good. Though it was off for much of the summer, could that put stress on parts that would be otherwise OK?

How would I go about checking for worn bushings? would I have to take it all apart, or is it as simple as checking for slack from the outside?

Tires are overinflated if anything. I did wonder if that could cause anything, but I did run it last winter on the same tires at roughly equal (or a little higher) pressure. Anyway, this problem carried over from when I took off my A/S tires last month.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 12/16/2015 at 10:31

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Sounds like shocks, but the truck is pretty new and low miles for a GM truck to need shocks. You should be able to go >100k before needing shocks unless it’s being beat on washboard every single day.

Mattbob > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 12/16/2015 at 10:39

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I had the ball joint on a tie rod go, and it would shift the steering one way or another if the vehicles weight went one way or the other because the axle was moving. Is this a solid axle? If it is independant, it probably isn’t and issue.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 12/16/2015 at 10:40

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The moving parts aren’t metal on metal. There’s a rubber bushing between parts like your control arms and chassis that wear out and get squishy.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 12/16/2015 at 11:15

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Yeah, that's my niggle.

Pixel > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 12/16/2015 at 11:16

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Some good suggestions already, but something I haven’t seen mentioned was tires. If you have a shifted belt, or certain kinds of tire wear they can cause the tires to track poorly. I’d suggest doing a tire rotation and use that time when the wheels are off to check everything else. If the truck drives differently after the rotation, your tires are causing it(something else my be causing the tire wear though).

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Mattbob 12/16/2015 at 11:17

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Solid rear, IFS. So I guess that's out.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 12/16/2015 at 11:17

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Will check.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Pixel 12/16/2015 at 11:20

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Tires are good. I ran them last winter without issues, and the problem started slow on my summer tires. It's followed me back to my winter tires, so tires are out.

Pixel > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 12/16/2015 at 11:24

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Bummer. Tire issues are easiest to diagnose, suspension/steering issues can be a pain.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Pixel 12/16/2015 at 11:25

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Recommend (FU Kinja)

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 12/16/2015 at 11:49

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I had a company truck (2006 Chevy 1500) with totally blown shocks. It was terrifying to drive at speed and cornered like a mid 60’s buick. We took it in and got new shocks and it was like a new car. The thing that bothers me is that my co-worker probably drove it for 8 months in that condition and didn’t say a word.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 12/16/2015 at 11:53

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I think it's the most obvious route, anyway. In any case they are getting to the end of their life even if they aren't toast yet, and replacing them a little early isn't going to hurt even if that's not the whole issue.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 12/16/2015 at 12:59

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You can do a visual inspection of bushings but not much else. You can grab onto control arms and the like and check for play. Unfortunately it’s harder to figure out if the shocks are gone.

I will say OEM shocks on a lot of vehicles tend to go between 50,000 and 75,000 miles (80-120,000 km), and being towed behind a trailer isn’t any easier on the suspension (whereas it clearly isn’t wearing the engine). Even if you can’t 100% trace it to the shocks, mileage-wise you probably aren’t far off from needing them done. And hey, if the front suspension isn’t coilover, doing them yourself is really easy.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Aaron M - MasoFiST 12/16/2015 at 13:04

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Front suspension is torsion bar. I think you're right, I'm going to go ahead and change the shocks and see where that gets me.