Drivetrain "cluncking" noise?

[Archive]

My Dad drove my truck 300 miles Wed. hauling a load of straw, tonight when I unhooked the trailer and pulled away I noticed a "clunking" noise coming from underneath my feet. I thought it was steering so I tightened and checked everything and that wasn't it. I checked all the driveshafts, and u-joints and everything seems fine. I drove through 4 wheel hi and lo, all 5 gears and everything seems OK, but there is still a mojor noise coming from somewhere around the drivetrain. What am I missing? I hope it's not something major!!!!!! It's bad enough that I really don't feel like I should be driving the truck. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Jeff

 

[Archive]

Jeff,
Clunking or vibration under feet is usaully caused by rear components(tires,shocks,srings) but can be caused by components else wear. Motor mounts,transmission mounts and shocks should be checked also.
Low speed knock usually caused by worn u-joints(these you already checked out)or by worn side-gear thrust washers. A worn pinion gear shaft bore could be problem also. The low speed knock info is from service manual.
I will look at a another repair book to see what it says.

 

[Archive]

Missouri Mule-
Thanks for the reply. I took it up to my local shop and we threw it on the rack. 2 wheel drive, no noises. When I throw it in 4 wheel drive the whole truck lightly wobbles (for lack of a better description?) As we did this we noticed the right front passenger tire was not spinning as fast at the other 3, and it was not going around smoothly... it would go a few inches and then hesitate, few inches then hesitate, etc but if you took your hand and helped it along it would spin faster and catch up with the other 3 for 10 - 15 seconds then it would slow down again. (maybe it's supposed to do that?) I'm thinking axle bearing or messed up gears, front drive shaft out of alignment? I just replaced the u-joints in each front axle and had the whole front-end rebuilt about 20K miles ago. This stuff bugs me... especially after someone else drives it and I notice something is wrong. I'll get on the phone in the morning and get some more opinions and estimates. If you think of anything else, please let me know. Thanks, Jeff

 

[Archive]

Jeff,
I know that you checked your u-joints, drivetrain, etc.
However, I had the same problem and checked everything. Still had the problem. Then later, when they became looser, found that the bolts holding the front dirveshaft were loose. Tightened them and the problem went away.
I hope your problem is something easy to fix like mine was.
I will watch this thread to see how things work out for you.

Good luck,
Robert

 

[Archive]

I have read in "4 wheel and off road that the axle connector on the Dodges were the weak link of the front axle(4x4). The right one rotates all the time(I think it is the right one)when you select 4 wheel it slides a sleeve over left axle. It mite of bit the dust.

 

[Archive]

If it's a 2 piece drive shaft, the center support bearing is a good possibility.

------------------
2001 HO 6 speed Regular Cab SLT 4x4 3. 54 anti spin 2500. Used for the daily grind and sneaking away to some secret Baja beaches toting a cabover

 

[Archive]

Jeff, check the transfer case. Mine started cluncking and by the time I got it to the dealer, ( a day later), the transfer case was shot... . low fluid from the factory. This has been a problem on not a few trucks. Hope you get it in time.

 

[Archive]

Found the problem! Each of the front shocks were loose where they connect on the front axle. Got them tightened up and all is well. As we looked that night we noticed the bolts were loose, but I didn't think that would cause all the noise we were hearing, but my Dad throught that was the noise. We had a few choice words, so he was excited to see what the shop that installed the shocks said. Needless to say, I ate as much crow over the weekend as I did left-over turkey! Thanks for the reply's guys! Jeff