2012 ram 1500 New Ball Joints Now Tap

I'm new so sorry if this was posted once but I couldnt find one that had same issues.

I have a 2012 ram 1500 5.7 hemi with 4wd. I took it to get new tires and a alignment and was told they couldn't due to the ball joints being bad.

So I changed them myself and now when I reach speed over 35mph I hear a tapping noise. I've never had this issue on any other trucks when I've changed them so this is the first. Wondering if anyone has a idea on what it might be because I've checked if they were loose and they aren't. Tie rode are still good and there's no play in any joints.


Again I'm sorry if this was posted once before but I could find any similar to my issue.

You're going to have to provide more details on this: Where is the noise coming from? Have you done some basic troubleshooting and looked at your ball joints? Does the tapping increase in speed or get louder when you're going faster or when you're turning in one direction or the other? Does it feel like it's affecting the truck's handling? Have you put it up on jacks and spun the tires forwards and backwards? Ball joints won't cause a tapping noise - but clearly something while you had it up originally is not right. Maybe left a zip tie on, didn't put the wheels on correctly, someone messing with you?

Black-Wolf said:

You're going to have to provide more details on this: Where is the noise coming from? Have you done some basic troubleshooting and looked at your ball joints? Does the tapping increase in speed or get louder when you're going faster or when you're turning in one direction or the other? Does it feel like it's affecting the truck's handling? Have you put it up on jacks and spun the tires forwards and backwards? Ball joints won't cause a tapping noise - but clearly something while you had it up originally is not right. Maybe left a zip tie on, didn't put the wheels on correctly, someone messing with you?

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It's coming from the driver side I belive since I had my buddy ride with me and he didn't feel anything on the passenger side. But I could feel the tapping under me while driving. Could camber bolts being put in wrong be the cause? Because I had to take my lower control arms off and have my buddy help with his shop tools and i just thought of it. Like maybe too loose or to tight maybe? I'm new to this stuff since I never had the issue and I'm only 19 trying to figure it out. As for someone messing with me I don't believe so since I've checked everything over and can't find anything odd.

2012ram15004wd said:

It's coming from the driver side I belive since I had my buddy ride with me and he didn't feel anything on the passenger side. But I could feel the tapping under me while driving. Could camber bolts being put in wrong be the cause? Because I had to take my lower control arms off and have my buddy help with his shop tools and i just thought of it. Like maybe too loose or to tight maybe? I'm new to this stuff since I never had the issue and I'm only 19 trying to figure it out. As for someone messing with me I don't believe so since I've checked everything over and can't find anything odd.

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So, I'd take a look at your caliper on the driver's side - but take the time do check the other side as well. It's probably vibrating because a bolt is lose as you stated. Get a good torque wrench, and make sure you torque ALL the bolts to the correct torque. The small bolts have a low torque, and the big ones are pretty hefty - you can just google "year/model RAM caliper tourqe values" and you'll have all the info you need. Make sure your brake pads are seated correctly. Pics of what you're seeing always help here, but make sure you take several from different angles and distances - you'd be surprised at how often someone posts a pic of something asking for help without explaining what it is they need help with, and all the pic shows is some part without detailing what it is they want someone to look at.

Black-Wolf said:

So, I'd take a look at your caliper on the driver's side - but take the time do check the other side as well. It's probably vibrating because a bolt is lose as you stated. Get a good torque wrench, and make sure you torque ALL the bolts to the correct torque. The small bolts have a low torque, and the big ones are pretty hefty - you can just google "year/model RAM caliper tourqe values" and you'll have all the info you need. Make sure your brake pads are seated correctly. Pics of what you're seeing always help here, but make sure you take several from different angles and distances - you'd be surprised at how often someone posts a pic of something asking for help without explaining what it is they need help with, and all the pic shows is some part without detailing what it is they want someone to look at.

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Will do. Like I said I've never been on this forum and just joined. This place has helped me with a few issue. And when I get off work I'll take a look at my calipers and see if pads are seated wrong. But like i said before could my camber bolts be a issue? Since I removed them and installed then back on how I remembered and off YouTube videos.

2012ram15004wd said:

Will do. Like I said I've never been on this forum and just joined. This place has helped me with a few issue. And when I get off work I'll take a look at my calipers and see if pads are seated wrong. But like i said before could my camber bolts be a issue? Since I removed them and installed then back on how I remembered and off YouTube videos.

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They could definitely be an issue. That's why I said to get a torque wrench and torque them. Make sure you know the difference between in-lbs and ft-lbs on a torque wrench. One you'll need is a ft-lb. torque wrench for those caliper bolts. You should put a dab of blue lock-tite on them too - don't coat the whole threads - just a dab will do. That'll make sure they don't back out for some reason.

BTW: Good job trying to learn! Vehicles now-adays are not as simple as they were when I was growing up - but knowing how to do your own maintenance and be self-sufficient will do more for you than anything else you can do in your life!

Black-Wolf said:

So, I'd take a look at your caliper on the driver's side - but take the time do check the other side as well. It's probably vibrating because a bolt is lose as you stated. Get a good torque wrench, and make sure you torque ALL the bolts to the correct torque. The small bolts have a low torque, and the big ones are pretty hefty - you can just google "year/model RAM caliper tourqe values" and you'll have all the info you need. Make sure your brake pads are seated correctly. Pics of what you're seeing always help here, but make sure you take several from different angles and distances - you'd be surprised at how often someone posts a pic of something asking for help without explaining what it is they need help with, and all the pic shows is some part without detailing what it is they want someone to look at.

Click to expand...

Will do. Like I said I've never been on this forum and just joined. This place has helped me with a few issue. And when I get off work I'll take a look at my calipers and see if pads are seated wrong. But like i said before could my camber bolts be a issue? Since I removed them and installed then back on how I remembered and off YouTube videos.

Black-Wolf said:

They could definitely be an issue. That's why I said to get a torque wrench and torque them. Make sure you know the difference between in-lbs and ft-lbs on a torque wrench. One you'll need is a ft-lb. torque wrench for those caliper bolts. You should put a dab of blue lock-tite on them too - don't coat the whole threads - just a dab will do. That'll make sure they don't back out for some reason.

BTW: Good job trying to learn! Vehicles now-adays are not as simple as they were when I was growing up - but knowing how to do your own maintenance and be self-sufficient will do more for you than anything else you can do in your life!

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Alright so it was my camber bolts being too loose. A

Black-Wolf said:

They could definitely be an issue. That's why I said to get a torque wrench and torque them. Make sure you know the difference between in-lbs and ft-lbs on a torque wrench. One you'll need is a ft-lb. torque wrench for those caliper bolts. You should put a dab of blue lock-tite on them too - don't coat the whole threads - just a dab will do. That'll make sure they don't back out for some reason.

BTW: Good job trying to learn! Vehicles now-adays are not as simple as they were when I was growing up - but knowing how to do your own maintenance and be self-sufficient will do more for you than anything else you can do in your life!

Click to expand...

It was my camber bolts not being tighten fully. And I borrowed a torque wrench from a buddy's shop and torqued it down to what was said.

And thanks. I grew up doing some of this but on old trucks. My dad only owned old trucks and when I turned 12 he bought a new ram 1500 and that is what made me love dodge/ram trucks so much. But I bought my own truck 2 years ago used and love it. And I told myself I'd always fix it if I can do it. And if I need help, we'll, we have internet lol

2012ram15004wd said:

It was my camber bolts not being tighten fully. And I borrowed a torque wrench from a buddy's shop and torqued it down to what was said.

And thanks. I grew up doing some of this but on old trucks. My dad only owned old trucks and when I turned 12 he bought a new ram 1500 and that is what made me love dodge/ram trucks so much. But I bought my own truck 2 years ago used and love it. And I told myself I'd always fix it if I can do it. And if I need help, we'll, we have internet lol

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Glad you solved the problem! And glad your dad has taught you some things about vehicles! And you are right - the internet is a great tool, but it can also lead you down the wrong path if you let it!