tie rod ends?

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FlatbedHemi

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Recently I replaced the front shocks on my 2015 2500 4wd, and I immediately noticed a clunking sound in the front end that wasnt there before. I thought I had left a shock loose, but that wasnt the case. I crawled underneath and began shaking things down, and so far have found that my steering stabilizer has a little slack in the bushings, and that the tire rod has enough slop rotationally that it is causing the clunk, but when I move the tires side to side, there is no visible play in the ends in that direction. Is this normal for the ends to have enough wear to flop around but still be tight enough to not have any lateral play? I was going to go ahead and fix them, but I have been looking online and in stores, and can only seem to find the right side. The truck drives fine, steers fine, and tires wear fine, so not sure if this is a potential safety hazard or not, so Im not sure if I should keep scouring for the right parts to fix it ASAP, or can I just wait until the parts I have found are back in stock?
 
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FlatbedHemi

FlatbedHemi

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Have tried RA, will look at All Mopar. Thanks.
 

nlambert182

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I would get it replaced. My tie rod ends did the same thing. I had to rebuild most of my entire front end on my 2012 2500 at 53k miles sadly. Tie rod ends, track bar, sway bar end links, bushings, added a steering stabilizer, shocks, and both front hub assemblies. It drove like a new truck after that with no clunking.

My 2016 3500 never had to have a part. I sold it at 129k and still drove like a new one. I guess it's a roll of the dice.
 

SouthTexan

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I would get it replaced. My tie rod ends did the same thing. I had to rebuild most of my entire front end on my 2012 2500 at 53k miles sadly. Tie rod ends, track bar, sway bar end links, bushings, added a steering stabilizer, shocks, and both front hub assemblies. It drove like a new truck after that with no clunking.

My 2016 3500 never had to have a part. I sold it at 129k and still drove like a new one. I guess it's a roll of the dice.

The front suspension of the HD's changed from a 5-link setup to a much stronger 3-link system in 2014.
 

2003F350

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Recently I replaced the front shocks on my 2015 2500 4wd, and I immediately noticed a clunking sound in the front end that wasnt there before. I thought I had left a shock loose, but that wasnt the case. I crawled underneath and began shaking things down, and so far have found that my steering stabilizer has a little slack in the bushings, and that the tire rod has enough slop rotationally that it is causing the clunk, but when I move the tires side to side, there is no visible play in the ends in that direction. Is this normal for the ends to have enough wear to flop around but still be tight enough to not have any lateral play? I was going to go ahead and fix them, but I have been looking online and in stores, and can only seem to find the right side. The truck drives fine, steers fine, and tires wear fine, so not sure if this is a potential safety hazard or not, so Im not sure if I should keep scouring for the right parts to fix it ASAP, or can I just wait until the parts I have found are back in stock?
The boys in this thread are correct, if it's clunking then it should be replaced.

To answer your specific question about if it's normal for them to flop around...no. They shouldn't 'flop' around, but you may be able to get a firm grip on them and make them rotate..but they should be stiff, it shouldn't be very easy.
 
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FlatbedHemi

FlatbedHemi

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The boys in this thread are correct, if it's clunking then it should be replaced.

To answer your specific question about if it's normal for them to flop around...no. They shouldn't 'flop' around, but you may be able to get a firm grip on them and make them rotate..but they should be stiff, it shouldn't be very easy.
Well, they arent just floppong freely. It does take a little grip to make the tie rod rotate, but its not much because it moves enough to make a clunk when going over uneven terrain. I was just stumped how it can have so much play rotationally, and not have any side to side slack. Im still playing hell trying to find both sides though.
 
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