Unhappy with the ride - Page 2

smoketitan · 05-03-2004, 10:42 PM

I dont know about you all but this is exactly the reason i got the offroad/bigtow package was to steady the body as it is noticeable without them, but not fatal. I went to a ford dealer before I got my titan and they said the reason for the bumpies was becasue the shocks on the tian are in line with the body inside the frame actually, instead of at an angle as most other trucks do. But I dont know I have hit some prety rough roads, and even wifey said it was cool,

mtbendo · 05-04-2004, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by in2tv

THE FREEWAYS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ARE REALLY BAD.. I EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM..WHEN I TEST DROVE IT WAS ON A SMOOTH STREET SURFACE AND SMOOTH HIGHWAY SO THE RIDE WAS GREAT..NOW I AM DOIN THE EVERYDAY FREEWAY DRIVE AND I HATE THE RIDE..THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF WOULD BE TO CHANGE THE STRUTS AND SHOCKS..BUT NO AFTERMARKET MAKERS MAKE THEM FOR THE TITAN....WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO WAIT...I HEARD EDELBROCK SHOCKS ARE VERY SOFT AND WILL GIVE YOU A SOFTER RIDE....OR RANCHO ADJUSTABLES....

I have the same problem. Street driving is great, especially for a truck, but on So. Cal freeways you hit a resonance that the truck just starts to rock front to back. I'm assuming it's the stiff rear suspension. I'm hoping it loosens up a bit or I'll try different shocks later. The kids think it funny when they sit in the back seats humming and the bouncing makes their voices warble.

in2tv · 05-04-2004, 02:24 PM

Yeah, I can't even talk on the cell phone because my voice sounds too shaky... I called Nissan USA to try and talk to an engineer to see if there is a remedy or recommendation. I have a work order # so hopefully I will be getting a call soon. I am sure it is all in the shocks, because I see all trucks frames moving just like mine but the driver is not affected as I am. The F-150 that I test drove rode very smooth on the highway, I am sure it was that outboard suspension that played a significant role, but I was sold on the Titan power and carlike feel. It feels like an Acura Integra I used to drive, great around corners and bends. The Titan didn't feel like a boat, like the F-150. But now I would prefer a smoother drive. Hopefully some more forgiving shocks will come out soon, but if I get those, there goes the savings I got by not getting the F-150.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtbendo

I have the same problem. Street driving is great, especially for a truck, but on So. Cal freeways you hit a resonance that the truck just starts to rock front to back. I'm assuming it's the stiff rear suspension. I'm hoping it loosens up a bit or I'll try different shocks later. The kids think it funny when they sit in the back seats humming and the bouncing makes their voices warble.

belrod20 · 05-06-2004, 08:19 AM

I lowered the pressure in the back tires to 30 psi cold. Previously, the lowest I had gone was 32 (with digital gauge). I was trying to avoid going this low, but the ride definetly felt better. I drove on the interstate to test how much difference the truck would feel like power response wise. Making the same drive yesterday with 32 psi cold in the rear, the acceleration up to 85 was very minimal as far as pushing the pedal. Today with 30 psi it felt like I had to push a little harder. This could all be in my head. I guess I should watch the rpm difference between the two.

Also, since paying such close attention the psi, I can say that the hot pressure in my tires after a drive down the interstate has typically been 2.5 - 3.5 pounds higher. In the front I am running 34.5 and that seems good too.

in2tv · 05-06-2004, 02:49 PM

Thanks... I'll try it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by belrod20

I lowered the pressure in the back tires to 30 psi cold. Previously, the lowest I had gone was 32 (with digital gauge). I was trying to avoid going this low, but the ride definetly felt better. I drove on the interstate to test how much difference the truck would feel like power response wise. Making the same drive yesterday with 32 psi cold in the rear, the acceleration up to 85 was very minimal as far as pushing the pedal. Today with 30 psi it felt like I had to push a little harder. This could all be in my head. I guess I should watch the rpm difference between the two.

Also, since paying such close attention the psi, I can say that the hot pressure in my tires after a drive down the interstate has typically been 2.5 - 3.5 pounds higher. In the front I am running 34.5 and that seems good too.

Dude · 05-07-2004, 05:20 AM

My truck was quite bumpy too. I just figured it was the Rancho shocks, but after reading this post, I checked my air pressure. It was exactly 50 psi on all four tires. I can't believe it was delivered to me this way. Thank goodness for this forum or I might have been driving 75 mph and had a blowout. The max pressure for the offroad tires is 35 psi. Since I lowered them to 35, the ride is no longer bumpy. Now my tires look wider. I thought the 285s looked awfully thin, but I thought it was just my imagination. Luckily I only drove 250 miles with them like this.

belrod20 · 05-11-2004, 11:17 PM

I can say now after having the tire pressure lower in the back for about 5 days that the truck is riding great, almost like a dream.

titanup · 06-22-2004, 03:10 PM

I have a Crew Cab SE with Big Tow and Off-Road. Between 40 mph and 55 mph I get a vibration that varies throughout the speed range. It doesn't matter if you are accelerating or decelerating or just cruising at various points in the speed range. The vibration verges on the rear end bouncing. Service manager says it is the tires. The dealer has balanced the tires twice and I have also had the tires match/road force balanced. Problem does not go away. Anyone else noticed this? I would like to know for sure it is the tires before I go to the expense of putting on some Michelins.

avroflyer · 06-22-2004, 03:34 PM

Hey belrod20! How do you park that thing downtown! Another Memphis local here, but I made the switch to MS about 3 months ago and moved to Southaven. Good to meet you!

You mentioned aftermarket shocks. Since Rancho made the shocks for the Off-Road package, is it possible to have those shocks installed on a non-Off-Road Titan? Maybe that will be icing on the cake for you with the lower tire pressure?

I have the Off-Road package with Big-Tow (KC though) and I noticed the "resonance" on Goodman Road today after it got repaved, but it only occurred between like 35-45 MPH. Other than that, I am pretty happy with the ride.

Jim

z3axv · 06-22-2004, 04:21 PM

same here, reducing the tire pressure from 44psi (delivered) to 32 psi cold made a big difference. No complaints regarding the ride now.

IMADOGMAN · 06-23-2004, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by titanup

I have a Crew Cab SE with Big Tow and Off-Road. Between 40 mph and 55 mph I get a vibration that varies throughout the speed range. It doesn't matter if you are accelerating or decelerating or just cruising at various points in the speed range. The vibration verges on the rear end bouncing. Service manager says it is the tires. The dealer has balanced the tires twice and I have also had the tires match/road force balanced. Problem does not go away. Anyone else noticed this? I would like to know for sure it is the tires before I go to the expense of putting on some Michelins.

Titanup, Something that I have experienced, that you might check. I had one tire that was 3/16" out of round, that caused a similar vibration. It looked fine on the balancer, but would shake the truck because it was egg-shaped. Have someone spin them, and make certain that they are all "round"
Good Luck

Dude · 06-23-2004, 07:27 AM

Quote:

I have a Crew Cab SE with Big Tow and Off-Road. Between 40 mph and 55 mph I get a vibration that varies throughout the speed range. It doesn't matter if you are accelerating or decelerating or just cruising at various points in the speed range. The vibration verges on the rear end bouncing. Service manager says it is the tires. The dealer has balanced the tires twice and I have also had the tires match/road force balanced. Problem does not go away. Anyone else noticed this? I would like to know for sure it is the tires before I go to the expense of putting on some Michelins.

Normally this problem is caused by tires that are out of balance. I saw in one of the other truck forums a couple of years ago that a guy was having a similar problem due to his drive shaft being out of balance. He only had the problem at certain speeds. I have the same setup as you OR/BT packages and do not have this problem.

titanup · 06-23-2004, 09:30 AM

IMADOGMAN & DUDE, Thanks. I plan to be at the dealership friday morning. They are going to try some tire and wheel swapping. I really hope it is something as simple as tires. I'll update as this unfolds.

titanup · 06-24-2004, 07:40 PM

Couldn't wait until Friday, so I went to the dealer today about the vibration. It is really more like a slight wobble that varies between 40 mph and 55 mph. The service mgr and myself drove 3 new trucks for comparison. ALL THREE had the same "wobble". The slight wobble was not as noticeable in the truck without the off -road package, but it was definitely there. We also drove the service managers demo. It demonstrated the same result. The service mgr concluded that it must be in the driveline and relative to the angle of the drive shaft to the differential pinion at different speeds and torque conditions. I noticed the vibration at speeds as low as 35 mph when I was towing a 5500 lb. travel trailer last weekend. If this is something inherent to the driveline design, some of you folks must also be recognizing the vibration. Pay close attention between 40 mph and 55 mph when you are accelerating or decelerating slowly or coasting through that speed range. Especially around 46-47 mph. I fills like the rear end of the truck is slightly bouncing.

PHOEBISIS · 06-24-2004, 09:09 PM

I don't have it on my base KC XE.Very smooth except for the expansion joint "jumping".Charlie