TheBlueFalcon
Junior Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2019
- Posts
- 5
- Reaction score
- 5
- Location
- Yakima, WA
- Ram Year
- 2013.5
- Engine
- 6.7L Cummins Turbodiesel
I'll try to give you the details without going crazy here...
I have a 4WD Ram 3500 2013.5 68RFE with 350k miles on it. I've had to replace a number of components as you can imagine, but I'm getting really ticked with my front end.
I noticed a solid clunk at low speeds on washboards coming from the front beneath my feet. I could hear/feel it resonate through the metal. I grabbed hold of everything I could reasonably suspect and noted the tie rod was the worst and seemed way too loose. The boots were shot, so I took it to the stealership for their opinion (I've searched high and low for anyone remotely close that us confident working on a 1-ton diesel and haven't found squat).
After having it overnight, they said it was the whole steering linkage, from tie rod to drag link, also stating that it was risky to drive more than necessary. This I assumed, as handling was pretty unstable and loose overall. But they were backordered until mid-February so I opted for aftermarket. I went with the Thuren Fabrication setup. Knocked that out the next day and my buddy and I noted the drag link had no play, so I left that in the box for when the time comes. I took it for alignment at Les Schwab.
This is where my trouble begins.
Les Schwab couldn't align it. (though I got lucky by guessing and had all my specs within the margin while stationary) They said it was because the play in my trackbar and ball joints was pretty horrific, which I visually confirmed. They were confused when I asked about the drag link, which they showed me was solid. Replaced these mentioned parts soon after, OEM ball joints and Carli Trackbar. Les Schwab wouldn't do the trackbar, so I opted for the dealership.
Dealership recommended that I get front U-Joints done to save on labor. I agreed reluctantly. The Ball joints, trackbar, and U-Joints took 3 days to finish... Got the truck back, and 20 miles later: "Clunk-clunk-clunk". I suspected the trackbar and it was installed totally wrong. Hardware wasn't used that increases clearance so the bar was knocking on the diff and damper mounting bolts. To make sure it wasn't the sway bar links, I removed these at home before taking it in. Slight improvement taking these off, but not a resolution. Bushings also look good. Back to the trackbar...
A different tech did it this time, and had to do it twice because he also failed to read the instructions for torque/measurement specs. He had to redo it one more time, with me having to show him how to do almost every step. I wasn't a ****, so I only pointed out some of the specs and orientation of parts being installed. But I had to instruct the mechanic at a dealership....
ANYWAY!
I left and made it 20 miles home with not a single clunk. My elation was shortlived because an errand later that day revealed the clunks had come back as bad as ever. I swore and crawled underneath in snow and slush to see the trackbar was not lining up as it had before. The jackasses didn't use any locktite. The jam nut had loosened, allowing the driver side to twist so it was tapping the bracket every bump. Not to mention my steering was pulling now, albeit subtle.
The dealership was closing soon so I had some of the guys I'd come to know at Les Schwab look at things. They took it down, installed it correctly and we were off. But a slightly quieter clunk still remains. I'm not returning to the dealership. I would be better off having an understaffed daycare try fixing it than those idiots at this point...
TL;DR
I'm losing my sanity over this, namely because I don't want to cause rapid wear and breakdown of related parts if it is something I am missing. I've shelled out a painful heap of cash at admittedly valid repairs, but none resolved my chief concern: the clunk.
I don't feel it in the wheel. It isn't a body panel or running boards. It is definitely not a small clunk. My hubs and brakes are brand new.
Ball joints, U-Joints, tie rods, sway bar links, drag links, and the trackbar have all been eliminated.
I got a new gearbox/power steering pump/damper/brake booster before all this, so I'm checking those off.
What in the world is left? I wouldn't pump this much money into this pig if I didn't need something with nuts massive enough to tow the rare huge loads I have to. A new truck sadly is out of the question since I have invested in rebuilding everything fairly recently except the tranny, frame and rear suspension.
I just want to drive this SoB without flinching at every sound since I know the mechanics in my area can't diagnose worth a damn, never mind make repairs, especially at the dealership...
I could really use some veteran brain power here. I will be combing over struts and the hood bumpers in desperation next, though precursory inspection has shown nothing for those...
Details on the clunk:
- It is audible/palpable over the engine and radio.
- It does NOT happen at highway speed.
- It coincides with washboards/potholes/dips.
- The frequency seems like it matches the wheel rotation speed, but that has been difficult to assess. It almost seems to clunk each rotation of the tire when on bumpy roads.
- I feel it in the floor more than my steering wheel.
- I suspect it is on my side, but clunking tends to travel well through the frame.
- Not 2WD or 4WD dependent.
- Does not seem to be related to acceleration.
- Occurs most often when traveling or down a grade with bumps in the road, independent of the throttle/brakes.
- No, it isn't just poor traction and mud/snow clods...
There is a TL;DR at the end.
I know this is a novel at this point, but my stress and frustration are high enough that I'd rather y'all have all the details than be missing anything I didn't mention. For all I know, I'm overlooking something obvious.
I have a 4WD Ram 3500 2013.5 68RFE with 350k miles on it. I've had to replace a number of components as you can imagine, but I'm getting really ticked with my front end.
I noticed a solid clunk at low speeds on washboards coming from the front beneath my feet. I could hear/feel it resonate through the metal. I grabbed hold of everything I could reasonably suspect and noted the tie rod was the worst and seemed way too loose. The boots were shot, so I took it to the stealership for their opinion (I've searched high and low for anyone remotely close that us confident working on a 1-ton diesel and haven't found squat).
After having it overnight, they said it was the whole steering linkage, from tie rod to drag link, also stating that it was risky to drive more than necessary. This I assumed, as handling was pretty unstable and loose overall. But they were backordered until mid-February so I opted for aftermarket. I went with the Thuren Fabrication setup. Knocked that out the next day and my buddy and I noted the drag link had no play, so I left that in the box for when the time comes. I took it for alignment at Les Schwab.
This is where my trouble begins.
Les Schwab couldn't align it. (though I got lucky by guessing and had all my specs within the margin while stationary) They said it was because the play in my trackbar and ball joints was pretty horrific, which I visually confirmed. They were confused when I asked about the drag link, which they showed me was solid. Replaced these mentioned parts soon after, OEM ball joints and Carli Trackbar. Les Schwab wouldn't do the trackbar, so I opted for the dealership.
Dealership recommended that I get front U-Joints done to save on labor. I agreed reluctantly. The Ball joints, trackbar, and U-Joints took 3 days to finish... Got the truck back, and 20 miles later: "Clunk-clunk-clunk". I suspected the trackbar and it was installed totally wrong. Hardware wasn't used that increases clearance so the bar was knocking on the diff and damper mounting bolts. To make sure it wasn't the sway bar links, I removed these at home before taking it in. Slight improvement taking these off, but not a resolution. Bushings also look good. Back to the trackbar...
A different tech did it this time, and had to do it twice because he also failed to read the instructions for torque/measurement specs. He had to redo it one more time, with me having to show him how to do almost every step. I wasn't a ****, so I only pointed out some of the specs and orientation of parts being installed. But I had to instruct the mechanic at a dealership....
ANYWAY!
I left and made it 20 miles home with not a single clunk. My elation was shortlived because an errand later that day revealed the clunks had come back as bad as ever. I swore and crawled underneath in snow and slush to see the trackbar was not lining up as it had before. The jackasses didn't use any locktite. The jam nut had loosened, allowing the driver side to twist so it was tapping the bracket every bump. Not to mention my steering was pulling now, albeit subtle.
The dealership was closing soon so I had some of the guys I'd come to know at Les Schwab look at things. They took it down, installed it correctly and we were off. But a slightly quieter clunk still remains. I'm not returning to the dealership. I would be better off having an understaffed daycare try fixing it than those idiots at this point...
What. In. God's. Name. Is. That. Sound.
TL;DR
I'm losing my sanity over this, namely because I don't want to cause rapid wear and breakdown of related parts if it is something I am missing. I've shelled out a painful heap of cash at admittedly valid repairs, but none resolved my chief concern: the clunk.
I don't feel it in the wheel. It isn't a body panel or running boards. It is definitely not a small clunk. My hubs and brakes are brand new.
Ball joints, U-Joints, tie rods, sway bar links, drag links, and the trackbar have all been eliminated.
I got a new gearbox/power steering pump/damper/brake booster before all this, so I'm checking those off.
What in the world is left? I wouldn't pump this much money into this pig if I didn't need something with nuts massive enough to tow the rare huge loads I have to. A new truck sadly is out of the question since I have invested in rebuilding everything fairly recently except the tranny, frame and rear suspension.
I just want to drive this SoB without flinching at every sound since I know the mechanics in my area can't diagnose worth a damn, never mind make repairs, especially at the dealership...
I could really use some veteran brain power here. I will be combing over struts and the hood bumpers in desperation next, though precursory inspection has shown nothing for those...
Details on the clunk:
- It is audible/palpable over the engine and radio.
- It does NOT happen at highway speed.
- It coincides with washboards/potholes/dips.
- The frequency seems like it matches the wheel rotation speed, but that has been difficult to assess. It almost seems to clunk each rotation of the tire when on bumpy roads.
- I feel it in the floor more than my steering wheel.
- I suspect it is on my side, but clunking tends to travel well through the frame.
- Not 2WD or 4WD dependent.
- Does not seem to be related to acceleration.
- Occurs most often when traveling or down a grade with bumps in the road, independent of the throttle/brakes.
- No, it isn't just poor traction and mud/snow clods...
