[Max280]

I'm having problems, or I should say I've been having problems with my front end bottoming out on my truck. Its a long shot but what would someone suggest.

 

[donell67]

maybe new shocks or coil springs would do the trick or both. do you have a winch on the front of the truck or any weight like that. sometimes you have to put a heavier duty coil spring on if you have a winch on the front or something like that.

 

[bgoldhunter]

Donell may be on the right track, but wouldn't worry about coils unless you have added a lot of weight up front. Winches themselves usually don't wear out coils, but if you use them a lot, they can. The track bar on those is known to go out. May check it and see. If they get too bad, they may cause the problem you have.

 

[AlaskaRedneK]

Bottoming out????

how often, and after what (speed bumps or off roading).
:help:

But it definitely sounds like a suspention problem..... but I cant believe it is happening to such a new truck....
-Stouff

 

[Max280]

Hey, first off thanks everyone. I have no winch or anything for that matter on the front. I've heard of heavier coil springs and gravel road horror stories as far as control but maybe its what I need?
bgoldhunter, what is a track bar and how do I check? One thing is for sure. I ain't near to being a motor head, and bare with me on this, when I look up front, there is an arm that flexes that has a nut and bolt threads sticking out. Well, I can see where the bolt threads have been ramming into the inner wheel well plastic covers. I know that was a bad desciption but maybe someone can figure it out.
When it comes to speed, it can occasionally happen while driving out of our Burger King in town. Now it may not be the smoothest drive through I've ever encountered but there is no way, I should be bottoming out at a few miles an hour or even when I'm breaking. Off roading wise I've had a few full size pickups and have never had this problem. Maybe its Dodges fault, either way, its the only problem I've had with the truck. It been good to me. Maybe its me too. Maybe this helps in determining the problem?

 

[hm_palmer]

Hey JWG i'll probably get in trouble for advertising but I like to go to this site for questions about my dodge.

http://www.dodgetalk.com/

 

[gsphunter]

I had a bottoming out problem in my old Blazer. I blew the front strut on it when I was heading back to a four wheelin spot. I turned off of a paved road on to a dirt road still going about 30 and hit a huge hole. When front right tire hit the far side of the hole, the tire came off the ground and slammed back down. It didn't hold up like the General Lee after being airborne.

 

[bgoldhunter]

I think we are talking about the same thing. The track bar (lateral suspension brace), bolts to the swar bar in front of the coil/shock. It is supposed to be lubed, but is usually missed, so they go out. It is supposed to control axle side to side movement, and can cause a "bottoming" of suspension. Front shocks and/or track bar are the two things I would look at closely. See if there is any play in it (sounds like it if it's eating your inner fender).

Either one should be regularly available at the dealership or parts store. Mopar and Moog are the only companies I know for sure make the track bar, but I bet others do too. If shocks are out as well, do yourself a favor and buck up for a good set, the cheap ones suck, especially on a solid axle truck.

 

[bgoldhunter]

One more thing, if the track bar does prove to be bad, check the sway bar bushings (the rubber part that goes over your sway bar, connected to the frame by a metal clamp). The track bar can eat those if it's bad, but not very often.

 

[AlaskaRedneK]

I think bgold hunter hit it on the head :thumbsup:
-Stouff

 

[Max280]

Hey thanks, especially bgoldhunter. Whattya a Mechanic? Went out scouting today and pretty much just krept along on section lines(not fixed yet). She did good, and the best part is, I got plenty of oatfields w/ honkers! Thanks again guys, thats gotta be the prob