Undercarriage Rattle!!!!

[CoreyPerez]

I've got a rattle under the truck, and its been getting worse. It started out as an occational bump, and now, its constant. Today, I checked out the exhaust, and drivetrain and can't find anything. The only problem I was able to identify the problem to was a shifter rattle (4x4) due to a spring haven fallen off. If any body has a suggestion, please let me know. It actually sounds like there is no shock, and the tire is bouncing. This sound is really obvious when driving about 10-20mph



I just don't know. I checked about everything under the truck, and everything looks tight!



Corey

 

[fmj]

Corey don't laugh at this, but take a look at the plastic inner fender liners. The plastic screws seem to loosen up and the things make a variation of noises. Mine made a thud that sounded like the bed was shifing when I put on the breaks. I finally had my wife ride in the bed to locate the noise and she said the fender well area. I tried everything and finally replaced the plastic screws with new plastic pop rivets and that was it. I hope this helps. Noise and squeaks seem to be a norm with these trucks.

 

[CoreyPerez]

Well thanks! I'll give that a look when I go out there today. My noise is coming from the front, I never really noticed it until I let a friend drive the truck, and I was sitting on the Pass. side, and driving down a dirt road. I thought the centercap was loose, but was never able to find the problem.



Thanks again, I"ll start there!



Corey

Originally posted by CoreyPerez

I've got a rattle under the truck, and its been getting worse. It started out as an occational bump, and now, its constant. Today, I checked out the exhaust, and drivetrain and can't find anything. The only problem I was able to identify the problem to was a shifter rattle (4x4) due to a spring haven fallen off. If any body has a suggestion, please let me know. It actually sounds like there is no shock, and the tire is bouncing. This sound is really obvious when driving about 10-20mph



I just don't know. I checked about everything under the truck, and everything looks tight!



Corey

 

[TurboSandman]

Corey;



I had a similar rattle and found the source when I changed shocks. The nuts had loosened on the driver's side rear axle spring shackle and the U-bolts were shifting side to side with bumps. This also produced an early form of 4-wheel steering as the axle shifted position during turns.



Anyway, a few twists on the ratchet and all is well, although the truck is not nearly as exciting to drive nowadays.

 

[vinconco]

I had a similar noise also. would hear it on bumpy roads etc. Never could locate it but it finally seemed to go away. HMMmmmm

Haven't looked at the shocks yet but will tomorrow.

 

[JYoung]

Rattly Dattly

I agree with the loose wheel well response. The front of my truck sounded like both batteries were bouncing around. I removed all wheel wells and cleaned the orange sandy crud the state spreads out during the winter months. Replaced fasteners with KAR products screw in sleeve type so I can remove in the future. OK now. I do have a bump sound though when I apply the brakes. Sound comes from the passenger front. Go figure.

 

[Dennis Garrett]

My 97 did this right after I bought it new. I tried everything I could think of to chase it down. In my case, it turned out to be the bottom shock bolt on the right front shock. The bottom of the shock sets in a pressed channel. The bolt that goes through the shock bushing has to be extremely tight, to draw the sides of this channel up against the sides of the rubber bushing. The bushing had started to pound the threads flat on mine, making it worse. When I looked at it, it still felt tight, but there was just enough slop there to make it rattle, & it telegraphed the sound all over the front of the truck, so I couldn't tell exactly where it came from. I later replaced those two bolts. The originals were threaded all the way into the bushing, offering very little support. I replaced them with bolts that were only threaded on the end enough for the flag nut, and had a solid, smooth diameter, & better fit for the bushing. Get under there with an impact wrench, & tighten them as tight as you can & see if it helps.

 

[bignick33]

hey fmj, where did you buy your plastic pop rivets for your inner fenders? Thanks, nick,

 

[CoreyPerez]

Originally posted by bignick33

hey fmj, where did you buy your plastic pop rivets for your inner fenders? Thanks, nick,

That whole shock thing sounds about right. That is what I was thinking it was, something to do with that area of the suspension. I got under the truck with in on a lift, and wasn't able to come up with anything, but the problem did seem to get worse after Dodge did the recall work that requres removing the shock and welding on the truss, I may look into it tomorrow!



I had looked at the inner fender issue, mine is missing a couple of the plastic sleeves, but not enough to really move the fender around, and the problem is very noticable when driving over bumps when I'm moving slowly, I'm leaning toward the shock issue.



I'll let you guys know!



Thanks again,



Corey

 

[fmj]

bignick33, I got my plastic rivets at the local auto store. They were just the plastic ones with a center push in that acted like a pop rivet. So far they've held. I think that Jyoung might have a better deal, but I've never seen KAR types?

 

[jodog]

I bet you dollars to doughnuts that your lower shock bolts are apple cored,an you can tighten untill your blue in the face!!!!



Been there done that

 

[TurboSandman]

bignick33;



Here is a link to PDQ Auto Body Supplies which seems to have a good selection of auto body fasteners. I have never bought anything from them so I cannot vouch for their service, but at least you can see from their illustrations just what you need.



http://www.autobodysupplies.com/index.htm Home page



http://www.autobodysupplies.com/clips1.htm Clips, etc.



I hope this helps,



Steve

 

[JYoung]

Fender well clipology

If any one is interested, Kar products is a very large auto dealer nick-nack supplier. They have a catalogue nearly three inches thick. I can locate an (800) number if anyone wants it. After discovering the sand inside the fender wells, all that hidden crud is just what the rust doctor ordered. My neighbors gather-round for my spring cleaning ritual. Every spring in March I remove all 4 plastic wheel wells and wash all inside with hot soapy water from a pressure washer. Every inch including the under carraige gets cleaned. Even the body side mouldings have these long tunnels next to the truck body. If you take a hose and spray them out, you'll see all the orange sandy crud come out. I clean the fender wells with kerosene and then hot soapy water. Nothing like it. All crud comes off with hot water. I put hot and cold spouts in my driveway. Only way to wash it in the winter. The plastic fasteners were for a Ford or something. I ordered several types and sizes and picked the best one. The truck looks like brand new when it's done. I will drive this truck for a mil' at least. I'll squeeze 30 grand out of this thing for sure.

 

[shendren]

yes, i would like to have KAR's phone. thanks. scott.

 

[CoreyPerez]

Quick Check (Applications??)

I'm wondering if the Quick Check will work for any other truck other then the 24valve, and if they make connectors for other vehicle types.



Anybody have any ideas / Information?



Corey

 

[JBritton]

low-speed rattle

Corey,

I had a similar problem a few months ago. If your truck is a automatic, check out the shifter linkage. I had the same low-speed, bumpy road rattle that almost sounded like a ticking noise. My shifter linkage has no plastic bushings were they inter-connected and they would rattle when driving over a bumpy surface. I soaked to joints with spray lithium grease and it cured the rattle. Hope this helps you









Jeff

 

[CoreyPerez]

I'm starting to get desperate. I've checked about everything. Heck, i'm about to pay somebody to find it. I'll have to look at the shifter. This rattle is more of a "dull thud" I guess woudl be a better description. It actually sounds like the bed is bouncing or something, but its in the front, and I'm sure its on the P. S. Its a lot louder on that side, and can't hear it through the D/S window.



HMMMMM... . ONly a few more weeks and I'll be back in NC, and I'll have my other truck as well as a few days to get "into" it?



Corey

 

[vinconco]

Well I have the same dull thud... . hasn't got worse but still can't find it. Hope somebody staggers up on it.

 

[Lazy-Boy]

Dull thud rattle

Corey,

Did you tighten you're front shock's lower bolts?

It looked like someone had suggested this so I was curious if you had tried it.



I had this exact noise you're describing and fixed it a couple months ago by tightening these bolts. I had to get a pretty big wrench to get em real tight but it worked. Hadn't heard it since.

 

[CoreyPerez]

Honestly,



No...



I did get under the truck when it was on a lift and used a pry bar to try and move a lot of the chassis components, and the shocks sure seemed tight to me. I've checked the exhasut and the turbo. I've looked all over. I guess I'll just spring for a new set of shocks when I get home. I'm only planning on waiting because I want to spring for a Poly Kit also for the chassis. But with a huge prybar the shocks didn't do much moving up/down, left/right.



Corey