Air Suspension "Clunk"

[xrsman]

Hey guys

My new truck came with the air ride, which has been awesome so far. My only issue with it is that twice now it has clunked, almost felt like someone bumped the truck from behind.

It seems to happen when in stop and go when you're stopped, move maybe 6 feet and stop again.

Has anyone else had this happen?

 

[AustinB]

Sounds more like a transmission issue.. How did you narrow it down to the suspension?

 

[xrsman]

The clunk sounded like it came from the rear of the truck, which is why transmission didnt occur to me. It sounds like someone bumped me from behind. Plus the truck was stopped and my foot was on the brake. It's really weird, I'm going to have to try and replicate it, then it's dealer time.

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[TC323i]

There is a thread in the suspension section at ram1500diesel with a number of guys that experience the same thing. Have you seen that thread?

 

[xrsman]

There is a thread in the suspension section at ram1500diesel with a number of guys that experience the same thing. Have you seen that thread?

Thanks, I haven't but I'll go check that out now!

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[TRCM]

Sure it wasn't sloshing fuel in your 32 gal tank that is only 3/4 full ??

I've had mine feel & sound like you describe too, and I got no air suspesnion

 

[xrsman]

Sure it wasn't sloshing fuel in your 32 gal tank that is only 3/4 full ??

I've had mine feel & sound like you describe too, and I got no air suspesnion

Yeah I'm sure, there was a noticeable clunk, sounded like someone bumped me with their car. Plus I also found out I've only got the 98 litre tank, the other section is filled up with DEF

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[codered]

well man i'm not so sure that's an Air suspension problem. I hate to bust your bubble but because an Air shock rebounds faster than gas or hydraulic shock. i've worked on a 20 year old Lincoln with Air suspension. No fun! but, of all the issues i've dealt with only clunk i can tell you is a that you have a hole in one of your air springs and the air shock has completely failed. But consider this 1. you have a new truck 2. most things on your truck are computer controlled. 3. if the air springs completely failed it wouldn't be a clunk or being bumped with a car, it would be a loud thunk or a silent drop of your truck. besides with almost new components i wouldn't suspect the air suspension. now I've had a similar occurrence happen with my transmission. I'd take my foot of the gas and my truck would shift like it hit a wall. my guess is since the new trucks have a heavily computer controlled transmission. Maybe just maybe, the computer in your transmission is computed to send a certain amount of fluid through the internals of your transmission and the computer is doing wrong and causing a lower fluid amount to be sent so a transmission is full of moving parts and not enough fluid can cause some issues. I know what you're thinking " I'm at a stand still it's not my transmission." older vehicles have a manual operation transmissions. and newer vehicles have computer controlled transmissions that means more efficient operation at all rpms. Not saying you're an idiot man i'm just explaining.

 

[TRCM]

Yeah I'm sure, there was a noticeable clunk, sounded like someone bumped me with their car. Plus I also found out I've only got the 98 litre tank, the other section is filled up with DEF

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then if yer running def...you need to change your vehicle in the profile...it says Hemi 5.7l.......and they don't use def...LOL

 

[xrsman]

well man i'm not so sure that's an Air suspension problem. I hate to bust your bubble but because an Air shock rebounds faster than gas or hydraulic shock. i've worked on a 20 year old Lincoln with Air suspension. No fun! but, of all the issues i've dealt with only clunk i can tell you is a that you have a hole in one of your air springs and the air shock has completely failed. But consider this 1. you have a new truck 2. most things on your truck are computer controlled. 3. if the air springs completely failed it wouldn't be a clunk or being bumped with a car, it would be a loud thunk or a silent drop of your truck. besides with almost new components i wouldn't suspect the air suspension. now I've had a similar occurrence happen with my transmission. I'd take my foot of the gas and my truck would shift like it hit a wall. my guess is since the new trucks have a heavily computer controlled transmission. Maybe just maybe, the computer in your transmission is computed to send a certain amount of fluid through the internals of your transmission and the computer is doing wrong and causing a lower fluid amount to be sent so a transmission is full of moving parts and not enough fluid can cause some issues. I know what you're thinking " I'm at a stand still it's not my transmission." older vehicles have a manual operation transmissions. and newer vehicles have computer controlled transmissions that means more efficient operation at all rpms. Not saying you're an idiot man i'm just explaining.

Okay, so if it's the transmission, what is the clunk sound at the back of the truck?

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[xrsman]

then if yer running def...you need to change your vehicle in the profile...it says Hemi 5.7l.......and they don't use def...LOL

Oops I forgot to update that! Usually I'm on Tapatalk so I don't see the side info or the signature lol!

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[codered]

Okay, so if it's the transmission, what is the clunk sound at the back of the truck?

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the transmission itself or the rear axle. chrysler/fiat had a recall about some rear axles because the axle shafts weren't hardened enough and would break but i highly doubt you have that issue. At first when i got my truck i thought my rear diff was going out because i heard those same sounds. a few days later i started having transmission issues. but, the way sound travels you would hear the clunks from the back of the truck because the sound they make would bounce of the bottom of the bed and come out the back. Also there have been some complaints on here saying what you are saying and it ended up being the transmission. i can say it's way to much for me to wrap my head around. so i'm fine and dandy with my 94. the best thing to do is take it to the dealer tell them you're having an issue and have them flash your TCM "transmission control module" i think i remember reading that they had an update and they flashed the TCM and everything was as good as new. I hope that's the case with you. new ram owners are like guinea pigs to fiat and Chrysler. I'm not really too fond of computers in cars. they're good for finding out problems easier but when it comes to dealers they can probably reprogram your truck to show a warning light of some sort or send a virus through your truck.

 

[xrsman]

the transmission itself or the rear axle. chrysler/fiat had a recall about some rear axles because the axle shafts weren't hardened enough and would break but i highly doubt you have that issue. At first when i got my truck i thought my rear diff was going out because i heard those same sounds. a few days later i started having transmission issues. but, the way sound travels you would hear the clunks from the back of the truck because the sound they make would bounce of the bottom of the bed and come out the back. Also there have been some complaints on here saying what you are saying and it ended up being the transmission. i can say it's way to much for me to wrap my head around. so i'm fine and dandy with my 94. the best thing to do is take it to the dealer tell them you're having an issue and have them flash your TCM "transmission control module" i think i remember reading that they had an update and they flashed the TCM and everything was as good as new. I hope that's the case with you. new ram owners are like guinea pigs to fiat and Chrysler. I'm not really too fond of computers in cars. they're good for finding out problems easier but when it comes to dealers they can probably reprogram your truck to show a warning light of some sort or send a virus through your truck.

Makes sense, thanks for the info!

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[codered]

Makes sense, thanks for the info!

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anytime man i just enjoy helping people when in a bind. I know if i was in your shoes and i couldn't find an answer i would be pissed! i hope all goes well

 

[TRCM]

Oops I forgot to update that! Usually I'm on Tapatalk so I don't see the side info or the signature lol!

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Yer pic looks to still be a 1500 too....

 

[xrsman]

Yer pic looks to still be a 1500 too....

Lol I'll fix that too, new truck is a 1500 Ecodiesel!

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[TRCM]

gotcha.....couldn't tell in the pic, but I knew the hemi didn't use def junk.......

glad my 97 3500 didn't either

 

[xrsman]

gotcha.....couldn't tell in the pic, but I knew the hemi didn't use def junk.......

glad my 97 3500 didn't either

Yeah I'd like to pull it all off, but the fines up here are pretty steep if you're caught!

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[Railman17]

I have a 2017 limited 5.7 hemi truck with four corner air suspension.
My truck does the same thing, has a bump when you release the brake pedal after a stop.
This happens about 85% of the time.
It's coming from the rear suspension system, or the drives shaft support system.
When I said something to the service writer, he said it's called Ram "bump" and they haven't found a cure for it.
It's really irritating and embarrassing when people ride in your new high dollar truck and does that.
Not sure about yours, my air ride is stiff and I feel every crack in the road!
It tows my boat and rv trailer great, but sucks in everyday driving.

Good luck