Lot of bounce, front end

EDELSWICK

MEMBER
2014 HONDA CRV
4 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
49,000 MILES

In March, purchased this car from dealer 48,000 miles. After purchase problems started appearing.

At times when hitting series of small bumps either accelerating or while driving front end bounces so many times the front end shimmies like it cannot grip the road. And the bouncing seem to become deeper bounces with each new bounce until the tiny bumps are gone. Shimmies so much you can feel the bounce to your foot on gas pedal. May bounce a dozen times and you feel each bounce.

May happen as I leave house may not happen again for two weeks as I leave house.

I have put 169,000 on a new Honda 2002 CRV and it has never bounced like this.

This Honda dealer had replaced tires and brakes. Few days after I purchased marks started appearing inside looks like it had been used as a cargo van. Marks are very deep into interior plastic trim and several (over 40, several inches in size ) paint like marks on inside of lift gate. Damaged from heavy loads and mileage?

Returned to dealer who then had three mechanics to drive it (total thirty miles) and found nothing wrong. It does not happen often, but when it does you start to wonder if it will stop.

5 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,747 POSTS

Hi and thanks for using 2CarPros. Com.

What you described sounds like bad struts. The strut assembly includes the shock. If the shock is bad, excessive bouncing will occur. A general rule that I follow is to this. Bounce the front of vehicle. When you stop, the vehicle should bounce no more than three times. If it does, the shock/damper need replaced.

Also, you can check if there are any excessive oil leaks from the shock which could indicate a problem. See the attached picture.

Check for oil leaks from the location indicated in the picture. You will be able to see the top of the strut assembly under the front fenders (behind the top of the tire).

Do this and let me know what you find. The only thing that is confusing me is when shocks/structs fail, it is usually all the time and not something that repairs itself.

Regardless, lets start with this.

Let me know what you find.

Joe

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Sunday, October 28th, 2018 AT 8:00 PM

EDELSWICK

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Thanks for quick response and information.
I tried pushing front down four to five times and once I stopped, it immediately stopped. Then I remembered it does the dancing bounce when hitting multiple small bumps - so I bounced it twelve times - and once I stopped it immediately stopped.

Live in a Homeowners association where you not suppose to do work in driveways. Will take it someplace today and look underneath.

This 2014 AWD CRV has Vehicle Stability Assist. Which my 2002 does not. I have turned the VSA on and off - to see if it makes a difference. It doesn't.

The dancing bounce does not happen often, but when it does it lasts so long it planted fear in my mind. My wife will no longer ride it with me. Because of this focus on "will it bounce" I focus on every bounce whenever I drive it. So not a relaxing ride. Does not happen often, but it does with small bumps in road that are hard to notice.

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Friday, November 2nd, 2018 AT 7:26 AM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,747 POSTS

Welcome back.

Since the shocks seem good, do me a favor. This may sound crazy, but check the air pressure in the front tires. Make sure they are not over inflated. Remember, tires absorb a lot of the shock when hitting bumps. If they are over inflated, they may be too stiff to absorb several shocks in a row as you described.

Let me know.

Joe

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Friday, November 2nd, 2018 AT 5:30 PM

EDELSWICK

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Have had a health issue and could not drive the vehicle. Finally got better and changed the air pressure - and it drives a lot better.

It no longer has occasions where it seems to have problems gripping the road when hitting multiple little bounces.

There are times the 2014 CRV still seems to bounce too much. But today I drove my 2000 S10 and it also seemed to bounce too much. I think after the problem with the 2014 CRV - I started watching for every bounce because I didnt trust the vehicle.

Thanks for your help.

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Tuesday, November 20th, 2018 AT 6:06 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,747 POSTS

Welcome back and I hope all is well.

Was the pressure too high? Also, what pressure is now in the tires?

If I don't hear from you, I want to wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you are doing much better, too.

Take care,
Joe