Steering/turning thump sound

[MNichelini]

I have an 03 2500. I have a thump sound that occurs when I turn left or right. The sound happens at speed or sitting in my driveway. It seems to happen more so when I turn right. It's a thump that can be heard and felt through the steering wheel and the floor. Hard to say if the thump is coming from one side or the other. I have taken off the wheels and nothing feels out of the ordinary or loose. I have new tires and the sound is the same before the new set and after. I have not tried to replicate the sound with the wheels off or at least jacked up in the air off the ground. Could it be as simple as a lubrication issue or maybe the horizontal piston connected to the steering components on the passenger side?

 

[BHanna]

Ball Joints maybe? Mine made some noises like that but not all the time. Usually just with a really tight turn at slow speed.

Maybe one other thing to check. I had this problem on my truck but it's lifted. It probably wouldn't happen on a stock truck. The sway bar connectors aren't very strong and they bend. Mine were contacting the spring once in a while - especially when I'd turn and a bump compressed the spring a little. That made a pretty loud clunk too.

 

[Kry226]

Had this issue before and tightening the track bar bolt on the driver's side where it attaches to the frame cured it.

 

[MJReynolds]

My truck started making a similar sound a couple of weeks ago after getting home from a 700 mile trip towing our trailer. I was going to take into the dealer when I get a chance since it's still covered under warranty. Excuse my ignorance but what and where is the track bar?

 

[Kry226]

My truck started making a similar sound a couple of weeks ago after getting home from a 700 mile trip towing our trailer. I was going to take into the dealer when I get a chance since it's still covered under warranty. Excuse my ignorance but what and where is the track bar?

While I am no expert, I am sure your 2wd doesn't have a track bar.

 

[MJReynolds]

While I am no expert, I am sure your 2wd doesn't have a track bar.

You're right I crawled underneath and check for anything that might be loose and no track bar. I looked it up online to see what to look for and there's none on a 2wd. I guess it's time for a trip to the dealer to let them figure out where the noise is coming from. The truck only has 14,000 miles so it shouldn't be something that's worn out.

 

[ddutil]

Mark, what were the results of your investigation? I have the same 'noise' issue. Thanks! - Dan

 

[TimothyLong]

I had a similar problem too after I changed my front shocks. The factory manual says to load some weight on the shocks by lowering the jack a little before tightening the lower bolt or the shock won't seat properly. I was in a hurry and didn't do that. Drove me nuts till I figured out what it was. Took the air gun and *carefully* bumped both lower bolts loose a little and then re-tightened them. That took care of my problem.