2018 Power Wagon Front end noise

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Hydraplane

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I have a couple of issues with my '18 PW and am searching for other owners with the same type of problems by keyword for possible answers. I accidently posted this on another member's post earlier. The truck is stock, 7K miles. I don't have my written report from my last dealership trip but verbally they said "don't know what it is"... I should have the report next week. This is the first one- front end noise- it sounds like an intermittent grunt and is felt in the driver's floorboard and gas/ brake pedals. The first time was in 4 lo at idle in sand, high angle left turn up or downhill slope. I tried to find it with my wife driving following along on foot and can't hear it over other normal noises. I just tried it again on a sandy road, I can duplicate it in 4 WD HI or LO, Differentials locked or unlocked, sway bar disconnected or connected. High angle of right turn. Looked for evidence of rubbing or contact between components. Any help is appreciated.
 

crazy jerry

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if it only does it while turning then that gives some direction to look. doesnt sound like ring or pinion. possibly ujoint at the knuckle. if it were mine i would jack all tires off the ground and drive in 4wd with tires turned and see if the noise is there
 

56PW17

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Only does it when turning?
 
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Hydraplane

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Yes it only does it when turning sharp, but not holding it on the stops of course! Good idea from crazy jerry above. It will be a few days before I can try it...
 

MDethloff

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Sounds like a tire rubbing against either the plastic fender liner, the swaybar or the radius arm bolt. I would go with the plastic fender liner. When you turn all the way, and especially if you are articulated, the tire will get quite close to that fender liner. If that's the case it's a super simple fix, that liner can be trimmed no problem and won't cause any issues! Just trim away what you need to. I have done it in the field with a pocket knife. The more-correct way is to use a box cutter and a torch to just heat the plastic a bit to soften it. IF that's the issue.
 

Fitzreefer

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Hmmm...only in 4wd and a sharp articulating turn, doesn't matter left or right. Sounds normal to me. You really shouldn't be taking tight turns in 4wd. You could be hearing the scrubbing of whichever tire is on the inside of the turn because it has a shorter distance in the turn. Add articulation and there will be even more stress. The inside tire has to give off this stress in some way as it has to spin faster than it is actually going. I try to avoid turning sharply in 4wd unless I'm in something really soupy and wet. Even soft sand will give enough friction to cause this stress.

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crazy jerry

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he said it makes noise with or without diff locked . this meens the tires are free to turn independant of each other. besides that, sand or dirt doesnt make grunting noises

if he had 35" tires i could buy into the tire rubbing theory but hes all stock. mine rubed inner fender plastic sometimes but it sounded like a playing card in a bicycle spoke. not grunting
 
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Hydraplane

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Thanks for the ideas. It really is mysterious, no visible rubbing. I plan to get under it again and look along the firewall for engine or bellhousing area contacting something, shift mechanism etc... I also will try to duplicate it "in the air"
 

Fitzreefer

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he said it makes noise with or without diff locked . this meens the tires are free to turn independant of each other. besides that, sand or dirt doesnt make grunting noises

if he had 35" tires i could buy into the tire rubbing theory but hes all stock. mine rubed inner fender plastic sometimes but it sounded like a playing card in a bicycle spoke. not grunting
I am aware that he said he isn't locked. If that were the case, it would be ok to leave in 4wd on the street. I think I explained incorrectly. It is not the left / right difference. It is the front back difference, due to the rear taking a shorter path, particularly more pronounced during sharp turning maneuvers. If there is too much traction there will be drive line wind up which can cause the energy to be released at the tires which could give feedback through the pedals and noise from the front end. But, perhaps the OP is aware of this effect and what he is feeling is something different. I would check radius arm bolts for proper torque and radius arm bushings for wear, though doubtful based on low mileage and age. Also check steering linkage for sounds and wear, again doubtful based on low mileage and age.

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pwjouster

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this is the same clunk that alot of us have.

it occurs when you go to Lock to Lock on the steering wheel. Does not matter what range or what is locked.

Some say its the steering box resetting when you go lock to lock.
Some say its trackbar bolts wallowing out brackets and not being torqued properly and sliding in the brackets with the weight transfer.
Some say its Springs unseating and Re seating themselves in a more natural position when transferring weight when steering to either lock.

it does sound like a spring unloading and clanking into a coil bucket, but it would also make sense to come from the trackbar.

NO ONE HAS FOUND THE DEFINITIVE ANSWER YET
 

22hemi13

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this is the same clunk that alot of us have.

it occurs when you go to Lock to Lock on the steering wheel. Does not matter what range or what is locked.

Some say its the steering box resetting when you go lock to lock.
Some say its trackbar bolts wallowing out brackets and not being torqued properly and sliding in the brackets with the weight transfer.
Some say its Springs unseating and Re seating themselves in a more natural position when transferring weight when steering to either lock.

it does sound like a spring unloading and clanking into a coil bucket, but it would also make sense to come from the trackbar.

NO ONE HAS FOUND THE DEFINITIVE ANSWER YET
Mine “2500 hd” had a clunk after I got thuren suspension on. It was 100% the track bar not fully tq’d. I can imagine even if they didn’t tq the stock one right it would make the noise too. First place I’d check if it was me. And we’re talking tq not impact tight. That’s how they installed it and it was noisy. Went and rented a tq wrench and I did it properly. Noise gone.
 
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Hydraplane

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Thanks for your info, the dealership can hear it but does not know what is causing it. I wonder if it is only PW-centric or does it affect all HD trucks 4 WD or 2 WD? I will keep looking...
 

olyelr

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Thanks for your info, the dealership can hear it but does not know what is causing it. I wonder if it is only PW-centric or does it affect all HD trucks 4 WD or 2 WD? I will keep looking...

Did they check the torque on the track bar bolts?
 

RamCares

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Thanks for your info, the dealership can hear it but does not know what is causing it. I wonder if it is only PW-centric or does it affect all HD trucks 4 WD or 2 WD? I will keep looking...


Hello Hydraplane,

Keep us updated on your dealer visit. If we can be of any assistance, send us a direct message. We'd be glad to help.

Lamar
RAM Social Care Specialist
 

pwjouster

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truck was at the dealer yesterday, and FINALLY they replicated the noise by accident when doing my oil change.

removed front track bar, brushed the bracket, and reinstalled as tight as possible.

i have not yet been able to replicate it, but the only thing they did different from my first retorque, was wire brush the bracket.

Ill be flabbergasted if it is the Trackbar frame mount, but more-so, if its just the trackbar itself.
the frame mount side has witness marks from moving around, but the hole is perfectly round.

my concern is if it will just return with more aggressive driving and heavy use.
 

22hemi13

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truck was at the dealer yesterday, and FINALLY they replicated the noise by accident when doing my oil change.

removed front track bar, brushed the bracket, and reinstalled as tight as possible.

i have not yet been able to replicate it, but the only thing they did different from my first retorque, was wire brush the bracket.

Ill be flabbergasted if it is the Trackbar frame mount, but more-so, if its just the trackbar itself.
the frame mount side has witness marks from moving around, but the hole is perfectly round.

my concern is if it will just return with more aggressive driving and heavy use.
Lol damn dealers. They still didn’t tq it. Just tight my tight and just tight somebody else’s tight is different. I’d go rent a tq wrench and tq it. Once I tqd mine it hasn’t made a peep since.

124493F0-BC53-4B1D-8DAC-BE24C52FDF97.jpeg
 

22hemi13

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yea but i have re torqued it prior with a quality wrench... and it didnt work
Damn. Hopefully dealer can get it fixed. Think they’d throw a track bar at it. It’s cheap really
 
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Hydraplane

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OK, looking at my track bar bolts, looks like the dealer checked them at my last visit, i saw fresh tool marks on the bolt heads. using the pasted info above from thurenfabrication.com, I found the bolt heads on my track bar to be 27mm, a 1-1/16" fit real snug. My torque wrench tops out at 150 ft lb so I tried that first, no movement, then I used a bar and put over 200 on it, no movement. Looked around for obvious signs of rubbing and none found. Went out on a red clay sand road and found the following... In 2 wd with the body tweaked a bit it will make "the noise" with a little throttle applied, rears spinning. 4 wd lo, flat and level in tight turns walking speed will produce it best. sounds like a rubbing grunt of sorts, not the tire type of sound, cyclic, loud to soft about the same speed as the tires/ axles. tried axles locked and sway bar disconnected, no effect. I have yet to jack it up and try it unloaded, but that will likely be next. I also noticed the steering recall had been accomplished by welding the lock nuts to the adjustment sleeve on the drag link. How am I to adjust steering wheel position now? anyhow the saga continues... and I appreciate all suggestions.
 

pwjouster

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OK, looking at my track bar bolts, looks like the dealer checked them at my last visit, i saw fresh tool marks on the bolt heads. using the pasted info above from thurenfabrication.com, I found the bolt heads on my track bar to be 27mm, a 1-1/16" fit real snug. My torque wrench tops out at 150 ft lb so I tried that first, no movement, then I used a bar and put over 200 on it, no movement. Looked around for obvious signs of rubbing and none found. Went out on a red clay sand road and found the following... In 2 wd with the body tweaked a bit it will make "the noise" with a little throttle applied, rears spinning. 4 wd lo, flat and level in tight turns walking speed will produce it best. sounds like a rubbing grunt of sorts, not the tire type of sound, cyclic, loud to soft about the same speed as the tires/ axles. tried axles locked and sway bar disconnected, no effect. I have yet to jack it up and try it unloaded, but that will likely be next. I also noticed the steering recall had been accomplished by welding the lock nuts to the adjustment sleeve on the drag link. How am I to adjust steering wheel position now? anyhow the saga continues... and I appreciate all suggestions.


could you say it sounds like a continuous clicking? or is it occasional loud clunk that surprises you and then is silent again?
 
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