2017 ram 3500, 220k mi, front driver clanking/rattling noise?

[audiodane]

Hey folks. Have had and loved this awesome beast since ~2021. I am no truck expert, but have been learning a lot in recent years. I'm hoping y'all can help me figure this issue out. I don't mind taking it in to the pros, but I don't know if it's currently safe to drive.

Bought with 193kmi, now (~3.5yrs later) at about 220k. Wife was driving home and started hearing odd noise, pulled over, and called me. I arrived, we couldn't reproduce it in the parking lot, so I had her take this video while I drove the truck in the 30-40mph range while heading home. Fairly smooth and recently repaved road (you can tell the truck isn't bouncing in the video). This clanking noise it isn't constant, it comes and goes.. and it also doesn't seem to matter if I'm coasting, accelerating, decelerating, or driving straight/turning. Having looked here and elsewhere for clues, I slid under the truck (I do not have a lift) and tried to push and pull on the sway bar links and bushings and they seem quite solid.

I posted the video here: https://youtu.be/CKq4b661nkw

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank y'all!
..dane

 

[nlambert182]

You need to get the weight off the front components to see if something is loose. Can you jack up the front end, let the suspension hang, and then start checking components? I can't watch the video so no clue what it sounds like.

 

[NCRaineman]

Yuck. As nlambert suggested, jack it up and take the tire off then start checking for loose things.

 

[audiodane]

You need to get the weight off the front components to see if something is loose. Can you jack up the front end, let the suspension hang, and then start checking components? I can't watch the video so no clue what it sounds like.

Hmm. I don't have any jacks strong enough for this truck. Haven't had the need. No way to diagnose without lifting it up?

 

[nlambert182]

Hmm. I don't have any jacks strong enough for this truck. Haven't had the need. No way to diagnose without lifting it up?

Nope.. can't check it with the weight on it unless it's glaringly obvious that something is blown out.

 

[audiodane]

OK. I'll see if a buddy has some jacks. Any ideas what I should be looking for? Haven't been able to find any similar kind of noise from searching online. :/

 

[jws123]

Hmm. I don't have any jacks strong enough for this truck. Haven't had the need. No way to diagnose without lifting it up?

go to any harbor freight buy a jack its cheap to me in the vid it sounds like a Ujoint.

 

[Burla]

Didnt your truck come with a jack buddy? You are gonna need stands too. I don't know if it is safe to drive or not, you will know if your suspension collapses and you die that it wasn't. I wouldn't drive that, and if it was me I'd pull both tires off jacked up and see what I could find. I kinda doubt it will be hard to find, it is a 3500 for you have a solid axle, you should be able to find that. Get you a torque stick 130/140 I forget something like that to use with your impact when you put lugs back.

 

[audiodane]

You mean a tire jack? Hmmm, I didn't think about that. Good idea-- but, I only have one of those, lol. The next "biggest" car I have is a Subaru Outback. Unless you mean something else, in which case I simply admit that I never learned how to work on vehicles until now, because folks charge too much for this truck, lol. I'm all ears, but don't have a lot of experience (yet!)...

 

[mtofell]

You mean a tire jack? Hmmm, I didn't think about that. Good idea-- but, I only have one of those, lol. The next "biggest" car I have is a Subaru Outback. Unless you mean something else, in which case I simply admit that I never learned how to work on vehicles until now, because folks charge too much for this truck, lol. I'm all ears, but don't have a lot of experience (yet!)...

Get a set of jack stands. Use the jack that came with your truck to lift one side, put a stand under that side, lower and remove the jack. Repeat on the opposite side. Tell your buddy to leave his jack safely in his Subaru. NEVER trust a jack and get under a vehicle with that as the only support. The jack should be used as a backup once the stands are set.

I'm hesitant to give this advice as a 3500 truck is no small machine and jacking/supporting one safe enough to crawl under is no small task. You need HEAVY DUTY stands and need to know the right points to set the jack and the stands. And keeping in mind this is all just to get you under a truck that you have no idea what are looking for. Honestly, take your truck to a shop with a lift and ask for a diagnosis. You can likely find one to do it for free. Driving an HD truck is an expensive game.... your posts are starting to sound like a DIYer looking for advice on removing an appendix.

And I'm not trying to give you crap.... your posts are great and you seem to have a good attitude. I just think your are getting in deeper over your head than you realize.

 

[2003F350]

I'm inclined to agree with mtofell here...might be better to take your truck to a shop if you aren't sure what you're looking at. However...

If you want to tackle this yourself, get yourself a heavy duty set of jackstands - each one should be rated to hold minimum 4k lbs individually. That is the smallest rating I own and I don't use them often, I typically grab the bigger ones. Get a minimum 3 ton floor jack, preferably 4 ton if you can find one (for whatever reason they're getting harder to find). A lot of people look down on them but the best jack I've ever owned has been my Harbor Freight 4 ton jack.

The advice above is SOLID. NEVER get under a vehicle supported only by a jack. If you have to get UNDER a vehicle to do something, put it on a stand. I have just changed tires with only a jack, but I'm not really UNDER the vehicle...though I still prefer to put stands under it anyway. For ANYTHING else, put stands under it.

Get the steering components unloaded. Ordinarily I'd say get the jack stands under the frame but I don't think you're going to need the rest of the suspension unloaded, this seems to be something in the steering or driveline. And start moving/shaking/rocking everything you can get your hands on, to see where it's moving. If something seems to move weird, get some help to have them repeat the movement you just did while you crawl under and watch things to see WHAT is moving.

 

[nlambert182]

Also agree with Mtofell. If you are not mechanically inclined, an HD truck is NOT the place to cut your teeth.

The front axle needs to be hanging, which means you'll need to place the properly sized stands under the frame in a specific place. I have 6k lb stands for mine and that isn't something that just anyone has. Then you need to know what you're looking for and how they should function under normal working conditions. Just on the front end you have tie rod ends, steering gear box, pitman arm, steering shaft, sway bar end links & bushings, steering stabilizer, drag link, u-joints, ball joints, caliper bolts, hub assemblies, etc... That doesn't include anything behind the front axle. It's a lot to look for and again, not something a novice should practice on. Take it to a shop and let them diagnose it. It's much safer for you.

HD trucks can be expensive to work on and you don't want to fire the parts cannon at them because of 1) the expense of guessing and 2) the danger if you don't install something correctly.

 

[audiodane]

mtofell, 2003F350, nlambert182, thanks for your feedback. (also, nlambert182, hi from Madison.) To be clear, I'm an engineer in a town of engineers, and have learned a lot on this truck already. Posting here not because I'm an idiot looking to die, but just as part of my research seeking wise counsel. For example, early research suggested sway bar link/bushing, which looked very easy to deal with. I'm not too proud to take it in. Been doing that my whole life. Had my wife's video caused a reply of "oh, yeah, this is easy, do X, Y, and Z and you'll be good to go," however, then it would have turned into a great learning opportunity. Seems that might not be the case here, and I'm fine with that. All part of learning.

 

[Burla]

Does it sound kind of rotational in a way? Usually with suspension clunks you don't get that rapid knock sound. Sometimes you do but most of the time I believe that suspension bushings don't usually sound like that. What does sometimes sound like that = flex plate. I'd see if there is an inspection window on the 3500 in front of transmission.

 

[nlambert182]

Good deal! Do you work close to Research Park? If you do, I may be able to squeeze in some time one day soon at lunch and at least take a gander at it. I work over around the Target/University area. More than willing to give an opinion if it's something easily noticeable. I've been around these trucks a long time. Not saying I can pinpoint it for you at all, but I'm willing to take a look if you'd like.

That said... if you want to take it to a shop, I DON'T recommend Landers at all for these trucks. They have 1 diesel/HD truck tech and they only work on them on Wednesday nights. (Not a joke)

ProAuto on the north end of Meridian street is the ONLY shop that touches my truck if it's something I can't/won't tackle. Lee (the owner) is honest, fair priced, and extremely knowledgable.

 

[audiodane]

Does it sound kind of rotational in a way? Usually with suspension clunks you don't get that rapid knock sound. Sometimes you do but most of the time I believe that suspension bushings don't usually sound like that. What does sometimes sound like that = flex plate. I'd see if there is an inspection window on the 3500 in front of transmission.

Honestly, if I were to describe the sound visually -- forget cars for a moment. imagine a metal rod or plate hanging freely above something spinning. (i imagine the rod/plate hanging from a clothesline and little johnny has his bike upside down nearby and cranking the wheels for fun.) Sometimes the hanging rod/plate happens to get too close to the rotating thing and it starts batting at it like a cat batting at a suspended toy. Sometimes the rod/plate is hit at the right angle and it swings to the side, out of the way, and no longer makes contact with the spinning item. Sometimes the rod/plate sways back and the interference begins again.

It didn't do it while idleing, or even under 10mph in the parking lot, but did again on the way home in the 30-40mph range.

I did some looking online at what damaged flex plates sound like, and most of the videos are very regular and rhythmic, until I found this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xkl-anX7RQ. While too short a video to really tell, but it does sound similar and isn't necessarily rhythmic. But I don't think I'm ready to start opening up transmissions in my driveway. lol

 

[nlambert182]

That seems like a really odd and unlikely occurrence. I guess anything's possible, but I'd look at everything else that rotates externally first. Seems like at the rate of which a flexplate spins, that it would be rhythmic and happen more frequently and not just once you're up to speed. If you don't see anything obvious under the truck I might suggest taking it into a shop for a full diagnosis.

 

[Burla]

Most transmissions have an inspection hole for the flex plate, open it shoot a flash light, pretty easy to see if it is cracked you will see it and you found you cause, if not look elsewhere.

Diagnosing a Broken Flex Plate

In this video a engine knock is diagnosed

youtu.be

 

[audiodane]

Good deal! Do you work close to Research Park? If you do, I may be able to squeeze in some time one day soon at lunch and at least take a gander at it. I work over around the Target/University area. More than willing to give an opinion if it's something easily noticeable. I've been around these trucks a long time. Not saying I can pinpoint it for you at all, but I'm willing to take a look if you'd like.

That said... if you want to take it to a shop, I DON'T recommend Landers at all for these trucks. They have 1 diesel/HD truck tech and they only work on them on Wednesday nights. (Not a joke)

ProAuto on the north end of Meridian street is the ONLY shop that touches my truck if it's something I can't/won't tackle. Lee (the owner) is honest, fair priced, and extremely knowledgable.

Truck is stuck at home right now -- near Bob Jones -- until I can figure out my next steps. And no, Landers is why I started learning how to do stuff on my own in the first place. We bought our first truck in 2019 to pull a fifth wheel, and upon receiving the bill for my first service, I started asking friends to teach me how to do my own maintenance.

We discovered Adept Auto Repair on 72. Have used them a few times now. Seem to be an honest, Christian-valued, family-owned business. They ended up replacing the heater core after I flushed it multiple times and it still didn't heat. They're also worked on some of our other vehicles.

I would happily let you take a look, but I'm wondering from this thread so far if I should just play it safe and take it to the shop. Still happy to get together sometime for lunch though. New friends aren't a bad thing. My treat.

 

[audiodane]

Most transmissions have an inspection hole for the flex plate, open it shoot a flash light, pretty easy to see if it is cracked you will see it and you found you cause, if not look elsewhere.

Diagnosing a Broken Flex Plate

In this video a engine knock is diagnosed

youtu.be

Wow! I did go out at lunch to try and at least find out where the flex plate is located, and kinda got lost, lol. But I'll do some searching to see if I can figure out where to look and see if there is an inspection hole. Stupid question -- how do you turn the plate to inspect more of it? If I need it off the ground, then that's another check in the 'take it to shop' column, lolol.