I have a 2004 Quad Cab with 4wd. When riding over bumpy and slipery surfaces, the rear breaks loose and causes the truck to fish tail. I know this handling characteristic is common in vehicals with minimal weight in the back, but in my case it is much more severe. While traveling 10-15 mph on a good gravel road, I hit 4 bumps(each about a 1/3rd the size of a speed bump). The backend broke loose which kicked the tail end of my truck to one side about 4 feet. This happend repeatidely with and without 4wd. No other truck or vehicals had a similar issue that I could see. I have also seen this on wet pavement, but to a lesser extent.

Shocks look to be ok.

Anyone else have this issue? Any ideas?

Thanks!

DC

 

I think its just a regular characteristic of these trucks. Mine does it too. Not at such slow speeds but going down the highway and hit a bump and it kicks sideways pretty good. I just correct a little and keep on rolling. I don't even think about it anymore.

 

Interesting. I can't say I remember mine ever doing that. It's a bit choppy for sure, but the Ram's the one of mine that likes to take off like a hound on a scent.

I'm actually surprised that the Dakota doesn't light up the tires much on dry pavement. It's got 31x10.5 Yoko Geolandars, 3.92 gear and a 360, I'd think it'd roast them all day, but it doesn't. Wet pavement's another story all together, too much throttle and it's one-tire-fire city.

 

I havent drove a truck that WASNT tail happy over bumps at speed if unloaded.

Next time when you go over the bumps, get out of the throttle. See if thats the cause.

 

yeah, rememeber that a stock differential usually only moves ONE tire at a time. Even in 4x4 your still only useing 2 tires for most driving conditions.

 

Ya i have had a similar problem. Basicly i was driving down apache trail in Az next to canyon lake and she handelded it pretty well (no fishtailing) till i hit this really ungrated bumppy portion and the rear end of my truck was evey where except where it needed to be and i was only doing like 10 mph and less (got a tad worrysome when you got a big rock wall on your right and the rear ends sliding that way) course my shocks are worthless (least it feels that way) and i had no weight in the back of the truck. Easy fix is put some weight in the back get some rancho shocks and walla iv heard alot of good reveiws on people that just got rid of there stock shocks.

 

I used to have this issue, but I also have the stock LSD. I changed the fluid in the rear and added 8oz (insted of 4) of friction modifier. It helps to engage the LSD sooner and under less power. Also I love the rain, I ROAST the rear tires in the first 3 gears! (spedo says almost 70 before the rear grips)

 

If both tires lose traction with the same amount of torque, they'll both spin. Both tires are under power, it's just that the tire with grip is limited to X amount of power, X being how much power it takes to get the spinning tire to overcome grip.