Wheel Bounce??
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 154
Likes: 18
From: BIRMINGHAM AL
Wheel Bounce??
I have a 69' small block coupe that I am having trouble with the front wheels bouncing at 70 plus mph. The car has all original suspension under it. It has brand new tires that were balanced. I just installed new KYB twin chamber shocks. With the front wheels off the ground, there is no side to side play. Any advice? I guess time for a front suspension rebuild?
Thanks!![/I]
Thanks!![/I]
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,968
Likes: 44
From: East TN
I have a 69' small block coupe that I am having trouble with the front wheels bouncing at 70 plus mph. The car has all original suspension under it. It has brand new tires that were balanced. I just installed new KYB twin chamber shocks. With the front wheels off the ground, there is no side to side play. Any advice? I guess time for a front suspension rebuild?
Thanks!![/I]
Thanks!![/I]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 3
From: San Diego CA
I'm not so sure about ball joints or other linkage components being the culprit. Bouncing of the tire is usually indicative of a lack of spring oscillation control. If ball joints, tie rods and idler arms were the culprit you would likely be experiencing steering sloppiness, pulling to one side or the other when crossing over seams on the highway and other steering maladies.
You do mention that you replaced the shocks, did you have the same problem with the previous shock and did this problem closely coincide with the installation of the new shock?
You do mention that you replaced the shocks, did you have the same problem with the previous shock and did this problem closely coincide with the installation of the new shock?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 154
Likes: 18
From: BIRMINGHAM AL
I have no pulling side to side or "loose wheel effect". I replaced the shocks hoping to fix this bouncing problem. It did help, I was getting bouncing around 55-60mph, however it starts about 65-70 now.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 134
From: Blanco County, TX
How old are your tires? Can you feel it on one corner? I had the same symptoms, with new tie rods, ball joints, and shocks and it turned out to be the beginning of a tread separation. It was fine at low speed, new shocks dampened it for an extra 10 mph. There were no lumps I could feel on the tread. Then, one day, the bounce showed up at lower speeds (<50 mph). Only then I could feel a visible and permanent lump in the tread. Just a thought.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,056
Likes: 8
From: Redruth Cornwall
How old are your tires? Can you feel it on one corner? I had the same symptoms, with new tie rods, ball joints, and shocks and it turned out to be the beginning of a tread separation. It was fine at low speed, new shocks dampened it for an extra 10 mph. There were no lumps I could feel on the tread. Then, one day, the bounce showed up at lower speeds (<50 mph). Only then I could feel a visible and permanent lump in the tread. Just a thought.
CG, you say the shocks helped a little....were tires replaced at the same time as the shocks or did the bounce happen with the new tires first?....perhaps it is the tires?
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 154
Likes: 18
From: BIRMINGHAM AL
Thanks guys for all the advice. I am proud to be apart of this community!!
The tires are brand new and only have about 350 miles on them currently. When I purchased the car it had been sitting for over 20 years. After lubing everything up and getting the engine fired, I put these tires on to safely drive the car. When I first started driving it and the bouncing occurred, I though the tires where out of balance or a bent rim. So I took the wheels and tires off and headed back to the tire shop and he ran each wheel while I was watching and all were good. So then I purchased new shocks and they helped but only giving me 10mph or so. When I get the chance I am going to pull the wheels off my 72 and run them and see if it might just be bad tires, however I do not have much confidence in that theory.
The tires are brand new and only have about 350 miles on them currently. When I purchased the car it had been sitting for over 20 years. After lubing everything up and getting the engine fired, I put these tires on to safely drive the car. When I first started driving it and the bouncing occurred, I though the tires where out of balance or a bent rim. So I took the wheels and tires off and headed back to the tire shop and he ran each wheel while I was watching and all were good. So then I purchased new shocks and they helped but only giving me 10mph or so. When I get the chance I am going to pull the wheels off my 72 and run them and see if it might just be bad tires, however I do not have much confidence in that theory.