2016 2500 4x4 TD Front end noise mystery

[AChaulk]

Sorry but I have been looking and doing all kinds of searches and nothing is coming up. I've been a TDR member for years but recently upgraded from my 2001 TD to a 2016. The new forum format and search engine doesn't seem to help me much.

My 2016 4x4 2500 TD has 20K miles on it and has been working fine, until the past week. I have a 'knock' coming from the front end somewhere when I'm going over small bumps and relatively benign rough pavement. Speed doesn't seem to matter, side loads don't seem to change it, etc.

I've been under the truck for hours looking for anything obvious. I've used my rubber mallet and smacked every steering component to try and elicit the knock but no luck. The only thing I found was the left handed thread lock nut on the toe-in/toe-out turnbuckle was loose. I tightened it back up and took another ride around the block and the occasional knock is still there.

The track bar looks good, the sway bar components look fine, the brake assemblies feel good. I jacked up both front wheels and checked for bearing play, U-joint issues, and ball joint play. Nothing...

Are there any common components on this year, make and model that tend to be problematic that I should be concentrating on?? Possibly engine mounts, etc?

Driving me crazy! If I take this kind of problem to the Stealership and just say "I have a knock in the front end"... I'm setting myself up for some major wasted bucks.

 

[Wiredawg]

You don't have any unusual wear on tires or any pulling to one side or another. The front end components on these trucks are pretty heavy and so are the trucks. If you're not comfortable taking it to a dealer, you could take it to a med/heavy duty truck alignment shop and have them check it out. I'm pretty anal about front end noises/issues. I think having a loose alignment nut could be a clue... that would not be common to have it loose. Sorry, my best effort to help.

let us know what you find. Ron

 

[lpennock]

Take a torque wrench to the Track bar bolts. Check bushings in control arms.

 

[Axel]

Back in 2004 I had a similar problem. Only made noise going over curb or bump. The truck was brand new so I went back to dealer the next day, turned out that the factory dude forgot to put the nut on the front right shock absorber....the mechanic just shook his head and walked away....

 

[AChaulk]

You don't have any unusual wear on tires or any pulling to one side or another. The front end components on these trucks are pretty heavy and so are the trucks. If you're not comfortable taking it to a dealer, you could take it to a med/heavy duty truck alignment shop and have them check it out. I'm pretty anal about front end noises/issues. I think having a loose alignment nut could be a clue... that would not be common to have it loose. Sorry, my best effort to help.

let us know what you find. Ron

No pulling, wobble, uneven wear or anything that would clue me in . I checked the tension on the nut catches (metal tabs that stick out and prevent the nuts from spinning) Everything appears to be tight.

My next step is to get an alignment done to see if they come back with a nugget of badness that prevents them from doing the job.

 

[nukegm]

when i put my trailer hitch/ball in the receiver, the knock seems to come from all over the truck - from the hitch rattling. just throwing that random thought out there. cheers comrade!

 

[AChaulk]

when i put my trailer hitch/ball in the receiver, the knock seems to come from all over the truck - from the hitch rattling. just throwing that random thought out there. cheers comrade!

Humm… Good point. I do have a Reese turnover ball installed and the ball is up at the moment. I'll check that out in the morning. It does sound like it's coming from the front area but you know how hard it is to pinpoint a noise like that. Thanks.

 

[AChaulk]

Back in 2004 I had a similar problem. Only made noise going over curb or bump. The truck was brand new so I went back to dealer the next day, turned out that the factory dude forgot to put the nut on the front right shock absorber....the mechanic just shook his head and walked away....

I did check the nuts on the top of the shocks and they are there. The rubber grommets appear to be tightened down properly. Good thought though. I even pounded on the coil springs to see if one might be cracked. Had that happen on a Ford Escort once.

 

[JR]

Isn't it under warranty?

It is difficult to check steering components with the front end jacked up. Something would really have to be shot to see or feel any play in a particular component like that. My preferred method is truck on the ground, in park with parking brake on, have an assistant start the truck and saw the wheel back and forth while I am underneath it looking at each component. The weight of the truck combined with the force generated by turning the wheels will force a worn or loose component to move.

 

[AChaulk]

Isn't it under warranty?

It is difficult to check steering components with the front end jacked up. Something would really have to be shot to see or feel any play in a particular component like that. My preferred method is truck on the ground, in park with parking brake on, have an assistant start the truck and saw the wheel back and forth while I am underneath it looking at each component. The weight of the truck combined with the force generated by turning the wheels will force a worn or loose component to move.

Very good idea. Planning to have the Mrs. jump in there later this morning and try this method. That was how I used to check my track bar on my 2001. I've been doing this while driving it and it doesn't make the clunk, but I may be able to see or feel movement in a joint.
Thanks

 

[AChaulk]

Very good idea. Planning to have the Mrs. jump in there later this morning and try this method. That was how I used to check my track bar on my 2001. I've been doing this while driving it and it doesn't make the clunk, but I may be able to see or feel movement in a joint.
Thanks

Just did this check with the wife behind the wheel rocking while I crawled underneath feeling and looking at every joint. Nothing making any noise or moving funny. Track bar is tight. I even disconnected both ends of the sway bar and moved it around. No unusual sounds or play.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Don't know how the shocks are mounted on a 16 but on the older trucks had a bushing on one end with a metal tube run through it, the tube had serrated ends and the bolt going through it had to tightened until the metal in the mounting bracket was tightened enough to engage the serrated ends firmly to keep the bushing from rattling? bg

 

[AChaulk]

Humm… Good point. I do have a Reese turnover ball installed and the ball is up at the moment. I'll check that out in the morning. It does sound like it's coming from the front area but you know how hard it is to pinpoint a noise like that. Thanks.

Checked the Reese gooseneck setup and very little movement. Put the wife in the truck and knocked the ball all around. She didn't hear it and she is very familiar with the noise.

I also rattled my hood latch and found a little noise there with about 1/8" movement. Had the wife sit in the truck while I rattled it and she said that's not it. I tightened up the plastic adjusting stops anyway. Nice and tight now.

I got a wrench on the shock absorbers top end bolts and they were both tight.

Took the truck around the block...Noise is still there. Aaarg!

 

[AChaulk]

Don't know how the shocks are mounted on a 16 but on the older trucks had a bushing on one end with a metal tube run through it, the tube had serrated ends and the bolt going through it had to tightened until the metal in the mounting bracket was tightened enough to engage the serrated ends firmly to keep the bushing from rattling? bg

Thanks, I'll take a look. What year truck was that?

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Thanks, I'll take a look. What year truck was that?

I know my 96 did that.

 

[AChaulk]

Found it!!! It was a $%&* ROCK! Jammed in by the right aft swing arm. Had to make up a 'Rube Goldberg truck shaker' to find the noise. My 110 pound wife really got a workout while I was crawling around under there listening.

It was a major pain to figure out but nice easy fix.

Thanks for all the help guys. Hope it don't happen to you.

 

[Jrsweet16]

AChaulk my 16 has the a similar problem but only while trying to park and the steering wheel kinda shakes veryyy little to both sides and a little cry from down under but u really have to here n listen for it, but haven’t had the time to get down there, I’ll let u know if I find sum thing