Hi all--first post here. I just picked up a 2005 four-door 2WD with V6. It has 130K miles on it. It feels solid enough under most conditions. Everything's tight. However, when I hit big bumps, I get a couple of seconds of shimmy as I move down the road. Kind of hard to describe, but it's like the feel you get from grooved pavement. I also found that if I take corners fast while pulling a trailer, the back end hops a bit.

Tires are in good shape and the shocks seem good--they stop the bouncing after a few seconds when I bounce the truck's back end. I'm wondering if this is just a characteristic of this model of truck, or if there's something I need to replace.

Thanks

 

I haven't had the hopping issue, but my '05 has the same feel after hitting bumps. The worse is hitting a bump, cornering at highways speeds. Feels like the tires are going to buckle and your going off in the ditch.

I complained about it to the dealer when I first bought the truck and they couldn't find anything wrong. I just got used to it.

Two years later, in true dealer fashion, I had a complaint about my sway bar bushings squeeking and they replaced the whole front end. Still drives the same.

Of course thats assuming we are talking about the same thing.

Jason

 

2005 with that many miles, if the front struts have not been replaced, they should be. Also check ball joints and tie rods. Those are prone to early failure on these trucks.

 

I am almost 100% positive it is the rear swar bar end links and/or mounts. My truck did this and then I realized that the both end links were shot and the mounts (bushings) where extremely worn. Replaced everything and the truck quit doing it.

 

although this is a rare occasion. shimmy after bumps (like my truck currently does) is a result of worn tie rod components. could be outers, could be inner, could be both. i would jack your truck up under the control arm NOT the frame. you don't want your suspension to hang. and grab the wheel and try wobbling it side to and up and down. if it wobbles side to side, check steering stuff. if it wobbles any other direction. inspect balljoints and wheel bearings.

typically sway bars have no affect on steering wheel shake. only body roll.

any for the rear end concerns. same thing. jack truck up by axle and try to wobble the tire. i think we had a rear bearing recall? junk shocks also make the truck act weird.

 

I guess I should of added this: Only the rear of the truck shook/shimmied when hitting bumps

 

Thanks for all the information. It does feel like it's coming from the rear. I've checked for loose components and found none. I'm going to chock it up to "they all do that" and just let it be. I've driven other trucks with similar handling.