Suspension problem, wheel hop or out of balance, or overly-sensitive driver?

[JAsh1967]

New wheels and tires were put on last month and everything's been good, until this week.
Twice now, driving over some railroad tracks that cross the road on an angle, it seems the right rear wheel starts "vibrating," until I ease off the gas for a few moments. Then, everything's back to normal. Crossing other bumps in the road do not cause a similar issue, nor did crossing the same tracks going the other way (which, honestly, felt smoother anyways.)

In a day or so, we're going to take the wifes' Wrangler over the same crossing at the same speed(ish) in the same direction to see if I notice it then as well, but figured I'd ask if anyone has thoughts here, too.

Could it be:

1. Just the road?
2. Wheel hop (which my previous tires had developed)
3. I chucked a balance weight and didn't notice it (and no, I've not taken a close look)
4. My suspension / shocks are going (I have looked and it doesn't look like any shocks are leaking, the road salt on the shocks hasn't been disturbed that I can see)
5. I'm just being overly sensitive to the road for some reason all of a sudden...

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[Stan H]

New wheels and tires were put on last month and everything's been good, until this week.
Twice now, driving over some railroad tracks that cross the road on an angle, it seems the right rear wheel starts "vibrating," until I ease off the gas for a few moments. Then, everything's back to normal. Crossing other bumps in the road do not cause a similar issue, nor did crossing the same tracks going the other way (which, honestly, felt smoother anyways.)

In a day or so, we're going to take the wifes' Wrangler over the same crossing at the same speed(ish) in the same direction to see if I notice it then as well, but figured I'd ask if anyone has thoughts here, too.

Could it be:

1. Just the road?
2. Wheel hop (which my previous tires had developed)
3. I chucked a balance weight and didn't notice it (and no, I've not taken a close look)
4. My suspension / shocks are going (I have looked and it doesn't look like any shocks are leaking, the road salt on the shocks hasn't been disturbed that I can see)
5. I'm just being overly sensitive to the road for some reason all of a sudden...

Okay, I am going with shocks and tire pressure.
If the previous tires was doing it ..then this has nothing to do with the tires.. Look to suspension.. shocks are my guess. If tires are over inflated then that can contribute heavily.
Lastly make sure that you don't have a bent rim ( yes the aluminum ones can bend I had it happen to one. And for me it was a combo of bent rim and shocks was too wore out.
Factory shocks suck.

 

[JAsh1967]

Okay, I am going with shocks and tire pressure.
If the previous tires was doing it ..then this has nothing to do with the tires.. Look to suspension.. shocks are my guess. If tires are over inflated then that can contribute heavily.
Lastly make sure that you don't have a bent rim ( yes the aluminum ones can bend I had it happen to one. And for me it was a combo of bent rim and shocks was too wore out.
Factory shocks suck.

So the previous tires (factory stock on stock rims) I found out about the "hop" when I took the Jeep to have the tire balance checked (*I* thought I'd lost a wheel weight at the time)
The new wheels are also on different rims, hopefully I haven't already crapped up a shiny new Method rim

I keep forgetting to try "bounce testing" the back end to see if maybe it is the shock anyways. I kind of hope it's not, that it's just the road, because right now? Yeah, new shocks are not something in the budget...

(Edit to add
So I just went and bounce tested that back corner, and it seems like it stopped "bouncing" fairly quick (it was pretty much "I pushed down as hard and far as I could, back end went up, down, back to normal") so I'm thinking maybe not the shocks

 

[kennyglm]

i get that with my gladiator. If i hit a bunch of smaller bumps it feels like the wheels skip over the bumps , i am thinking it might be because how light the backend is or i need better shocks.

 

[JAsh1967]

i get that with my gladiator. If i hit a bunch of smaller bumps it feels like the wheels skip over the bumps , i am thinking it might be because how light the backend is or i need better shocks.

Considering I'm running with an empty bed right now?
Yeah, could be a lack of weight and road, which is why this weekend the wife's Wrangler is going to be taken over the same spot. If it does something similar, or if it FEELS like the road through there is a bit "bouncy" then...
Maybe I'll chuck some patio stones in the bed for the rest of the winter. LoL

 

[smlobx]

Another possibility could be that some of the weights may have fallen off and the tire isn’t balanced anymore.

 

[kennyglm]

Considering I'm running with an empty bed right now?
Yeah, could be a lack of weight and road, which is why this weekend the wife's Wrangler is going to be taken over the same spot. If it does something similar, or if it FEELS like the road through there is a bit "bouncy" then...
Maybe I'll chuck some patio stones in the bed for the rest of the winter. LoL

we were on a dirt road once and it started bouncing and felt like wheel hop , i actually had to put it in 4 wheel drive. i personaly think i need a better shock than what comes with the mopar lift, i am guessing the added weight of 37s and 20 inch beadlocks may be a little more than the shocks are made for. Who knows maybe i am wrong.

 

[JAsh1967]

we were on a dirt road once and it started bouncing and felt like wheel hop , i actually had to put it in 4 wheel drive. i personaly think i need a better shock than what comes with the mopar lift, i am guessing the added weight of 37s and 20 inch beadlocks may be a little more than the shocks are made for. Who knows maybe i am wrong.

Well, I *do* have wheels / tires that are heavier than the factory shipped it with, so, this could be a possibility, although in that case I'd kind of expect all four to do something similar, depending on the situation...

 

[kennyglm]

Well, I *do* have wheels / tires that are heavier than the factory shipped it with, so, this could be a possibility, although in that case I'd kind of expect all four to do something similar, depending on the situation...

True I guess mine does it in the back only . The front has the weight of the engine . I guess we’re back to the no weight in the bed again theory. It only did this once or twice but when it does this I just picture my pinion gear leaving the chat lol

 

[professorkx]

Our property is several miles down a county dirt road…which is not maintained consistent with the tax revenue from our area. I run 20-25 pounds in all of our tires, big 37s and stock on my wife’s JL 2 door, just to get a smooth ride over the bumps. Yes, wears out tires faster, but worth the trade off for a smooth ride. I even like the lower pressure on the street since it smooths out bumps on the street as well…

 

[piroman683]

check torque on lugs, check torque on control arms, track bar, and sway bar links. Not just "feels tight" but to spec. a non-properly torqued bolt can result in new/weird vibrations

 

[Reddog]

Most places use stick on wheel weights to balance alloy rims today. I found that unless they clean the spot where the weights go very, very clean with a non- petroleum-based solvent, the weights can come off quite easily. That was the case with my JT on 37's. It has happened twice. Before rebuilding your front end, check the balance on your tires. Even a slight out of balance can cause a wheel to hop just a bit longer than the rest when hitting a bump. In my case, if I air the tires up to travel a long distance on the highway, they don't ride well on bad roads at speed. Good luck.

 

[JAsh1967]

So today's follow up!

Took the truck back to where I bought the wheels and tires to check the balance and....

The wheel in question was just a bit out of balance! They balanced it and we took it over the railroad tracks that were giving me first and the was no "bouncies" bring what one would expect from train tracks and light truck tires.

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