Is My Dealer an Idiot?

[Kevin_D]

Back in December I was driving across Wyoming in -10ºF temperature, and, at freeway speed, the right front wheel would start to wheel hop when I hit a bump. It wasn't uncontrollable, but very annoying nonetheless. Simply slowing down under 60mph would stop the wheel hop. I could easily repeat the condition. Once the temperature rose above about 0ºF, I no longer had any issues.
Fast forward to yesterday, when I was finally able to get in for an appointment at my dealer. I got a call yesterday afternoon saying they were still investigating the issue, and that they'd need to keep the JT overnight. So today they call, and say they're going to replace the steering stabilizer, but they need to order it.
The steering stabilizer? For wheel hop? Am I missing something?
The suspension and wheels are all bone stock, BTW.

Kevin

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[TroutFishingInAmerica]

I would ask for a rebalance and rotation of the tires when they replace the stabilizer. Then drive from Sheridan to Dubois in December as a test. Thermopolis has hot water if you need to thaw out.
Yeah, let the experts fix it, and make a little request rotation and balance, but...
Some all season tires can be rock hard in below freezing and take a while to warm up and smooth out.

 

[Kevin_D]

It might be a tire issue, but since the dealer is also a full-service tire shop, one would think they’d’ve checked that. It still doesn’t explain why changing the steering stabilizer will help with wheel hop.

Kevin

 

[MPMB]

I wonder if there was a buildup of snow & ice on the shock, or just cold enough, which may have increased the compression/rebound by making the shock oil very cold.

Why just the right and not the left? The crown in roads pushes water to the shoulder, so there's usually more water on the right side of the lane. And snow plows shove snow and ice to the right.

There might have been a bad bushing/heim/whatever connection point that would bind up or was too loose in the stabilizer.

 

[Kevin_D]

While there wasn’t much compact snow or ice on the roadway, and what there was was frozen solid, it’s possible there was some ice on the shock. But why would the problem go away with temperatures still near zero?
My thought was a shock absorber that acted up in sub-zero temperatures.
But the steering stabilizer? How?

Kevin

 

[NatForest Glad]

I would ask for a rebalance and rotation of the tires when they replace the stabilizer. Then drive from Sheridan to Dubois in December as a test. Thermopolis has hot water if you need to thaw out.
Yeah, let the experts fix it, and make a little request rotation and balance, but...
Some all season tires can be rock hard in below freezing and take a while to warm up and smooth out.

Great test drive choice

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I would expect shock oil to warm up by the sheer forces working as it's forced back and forth through orifices.
Since good working shocks help hold the tire to the pavement......... just tossing things out there.

I'd expect any tires good for winter to be soft enough to not make things rough.
It's been danged cold here, sub-zero off and on for days and I've not had any trouble with the ride in my truck even on the coldest of mornings other than a tiny bit of rumble until things warm up a bit. Tires- smooth as silk. Good ride, just that you can tell things are cold and stiff.

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