Ok so first off I am new to DF, just got my dads 'old' 2007 1500 (check the sig) in exchange for selling my old GTO clone and Jeep YJ. I was 12 hours away from buying a 78 vette when he offered me this truck and I decided I would be an idoit to turn it down.

Here is my problem though, this truck gets horrible axle wrap/hop under heavy throttle. If its wet out then it hops under normal throttle when leaving a stop light. When my Dad told me about it and how bad it was I figured it was just like most unloaded pickups tend to do from time to time. I was SO wrong, the rear axle hops so hard I feel like something is seriously about to break and I can't let off the throttle fast enough.

The problem is simple, the leafs in the back are incredibly weak. They sag under such a light load its almost embarrasing. With that said though, I have always loved Dodges and they are the best truck around! Anyways back to the issue. I am looking for something to stop the hop and/or beef up the rear suspension. ie ladder bars, add-a-leaf, trac bars etc

I have found these items up until 2004 but nothing after that, did the rear suspension measurements change any?


sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any and all help and advice


~Joe

 

You probably have bad shocks, And you springs are probably bad to if they sag that easily. Need to replace them.

 

it's an 04. i would suspect shocks before springs.

rear suspension should be the same. i'm sorry i can't say for sure.

edit: sorry, meant 07. that's why i think it would be shocks before springs.

 

the truck is a 2007 and has had these problems since it was driven off the lot with 7miles on it

 

Anyone know if 2500 stock springs will fit my 1500? My Dad doesnt think it will but we dont have 2500 to measure against. Any help here would be great!

 

Just throw an extra leaf in there, helper springs???
I don't know if that will necessarily solve the hop issue? I think it's 2 separate problems. Check this out.. http://www.sfxperformance.com/parts/LAK21720.htm

 

'Doggie beat me to it on this. I was gonna suggest a set of traction bars. Good call, 'dog...

I don't know what it is, but I believe they changed something in the rear when they changed the fronts from torsion bars to coil overs for the '06s. They changed the front for a more "car like" ride and my guess is they changed the leafs or something on the rear for the same effect as well. Pure speculation on my part, but you NEVER heard of this prior to the '06s and now you hear it fairly commonly.
I know for a fact even before I got a lift and put in air bags, my rear end sagged much less with the same trailer hooked to my truck as my buddies '06 QCSB Hemi 4x2. We always attributed it to the fact I had a 4x4 and he had a 4x2, but now, I'm not quite so sure. I think they "softened" the rear for a better ride quality on pavement and failed pretty miserably...

 

Have you given the springs a thorough going-over? Is it possible you have a broken leaf (or two). Even with bad shocks, it's the springs that hold the load, the shocks are there just to dampen oscillation (bouncing).

Did your dad haul a lot of heavy loads with the truck? That could easily lead to spring breakage. It would also greatly lessen the spring rate, causing the springs to wrap up a lot easier.