2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Front end clunk revisited

[Johnstra]

I've read through a bunch of threads dealing with this and unless I missed it none of them identified a root cause to the problem. Can I hear from any of you who have successfully fixed this? Mine clunks at low speeds going over any kind of bump. Had an alignment shop check out the front end and they couldn't find anything in the front linkages loose or worn out. I didn't think to ask them about the steering shaft. It has a fair amount of slop in it. A bit more than my friend's 2001 CTD.



Suggestions appreciated.



Thanks,

-john

 

[KYOUNG]

check your lower shock bolts, they wear out! you can simulate with a screwdriver and pry up on frontend and watch shocks, mine would move on my old 94... .



also i had some bilsteins that the top rubber woreout and they would clunk also...

 

[Johnstra]

Where do I pry to check this?

-john

 

[KYOUNG]

Just stick your screwdriver on the pumpkin and pry up ,you can easily move the front end up and down while watching and feeling shox and trackbar. .

 

[2broke2smoke]

i hunted all over and found it was my lower shock bolts ...



don't remember the exact torque but it was in the neighborhood of 100 ft/lbs

 

[DieselTweaker]

I would almost put a paycheck on it being your lower shock bolt(s).

 

[Johnstra]

Well, I got under my truck and pried it up and down. I can't see any movement in the shock bolts. I can feel a little bit of a bump in the passenger shock as it travels up, but it's not at the lower bolt. Any other suggestions?

-john

 

[AKDrifter]

Well, I got under my truck and pried it up and down. I can't see any movement in the shock bolts. I can feel a little bit of a bump in the passenger shock as it travels up, but it's not at the lower bolt. Any other suggestions?

-john

... ... ... . or the uppers, the jerko in Whitehorse, YT who installed mine forgot to put the cone shaped washer back on mine... . clunk clunk... . is how the sound went for me.

 

[KYOUNG]

If you feel something in shock either a bad bushing top or bottom, on 4x4 one of the 3 shock tower bolts could be loose????????

 

[PPettit]

Mine turned out to be the lower bolt on the track bar. It has a really high torque spec. I just put a cheater bar over the end of my breaker bar and gave it all I had.



Phil

 

[amnewsom]

I have tracked mine to the lower sway bar links. Shocks are always a hair loose in the sleeves.

 

[cromptrj]

Mine clunks when turning the steering wheel at low speeds are worse. I had someone turn the wheel back and forth while i looked and felt everthing and still cant find it ? Help

 

[RDelissen]

Mine clunks when turning the steering wheel at low speeds are worse. I had someone turn the wheel back and forth while i looked and felt everthing and still cant find it ? Help

worn out bushing (CA, TB, antiswaybar ... )

I still got to check out a small clunk myself and I almost bet it's one of the CA bushings (or more than one) ... since I already checked the shock bolts

 

[AMink]

It could also be that your shock is blown. Don't dampen anymore.

 

[CYauch]

Had the same thing, I think. At low speeds, and when making a turn (left or right) from a complete stop, I could feel it in the steering wheel. Couldn't feel it in the floorboard, dash, or door when resting arm on it. Was driving me crazy for weeks. Also felt it when coming to a stop, as well as accelerating from a complete stop. My biggest fear was that if I took it to Dodge, they would think that I was crazy. I tried just about eveything that was presented here on the forums, and it was still there. I finally took the truck into the local dealer and expected them to have it a week or so and find nothing. However, I got a call later that morning and was told that the 'secondary' steering column in the engine compartment was worn. Have no clue what that was/is. All I know, after $25 (covered it under warranty, although I don't think they were supposed to after talking to a few other Ram owners here in the area), and severl hours at their shop, the problem was gone and I didn't have to drive in frustration anymore.





Just my $. 02