Bounce, Shake, Waggle

[swampyankee]

My 2000 B3000 4X4 has 180,000 miles on it. The ride feels suitably high-mileage (a bit loose and rattly), but passed the state safety inspection, which checks ball joints and tie rod ends. What concerns me is how the back end waggles to one side as I go over certain bumps in the road - mostly expansion joint type bumps at highway speeds. It doesn't happen over every bump, just certain configurations. I thought maybe one shock was blown out so I changed both rears and it still seems to do it (although the ride has improved). Truck has 30.5 x 15" Continental street tread tires on the stock rims and has been "restored" to stock height. Front has leveling cams installed but I cranked them back down to match the rear hgt. The "waggle" has existed whether the truck was raised or at stock height.\
Any ideas or experience with a similar problem?

 

[hondaxr650]

I have run into that complaint many times on customer rigs and my own 97 has done it as well since the day it was new. It's perfectly normal.

 

[bobbywalter]

it waggles due to the tank weight and offset shocks.

if the springs are weak, or it has monoleafs its usually worse...enough to actually bug ya.


with heavy shocks postition behind the axle between 10-20 deg i noticed waggle was greatly diminished.

 

[hondaxr650]

A little weight in the back helps. Mine is much better with a canopy on it. I't a heavy steel one that probably weighs at least 200lbs.

 

[swampyankee]

The offset shock thing makes sense. I was thinking maybe uneven tire pressure and just the fact that the tires are oversized for the rims. But I was wondering if after 180,000 miles the spring mount bushings might be trashed enough to allow excessive movement.
But as long as its considered relatively normal I won't get all anal about it, worrying that the geometry of the frame and suspension have been compromised due to a major accident or that there's a government conspiracy afoot to cause me angst and paranoia.
Thanx, folks