axle help?

[skey350]

My son is working on a 2021 Ram for a friend. They bought 20 by 10 wheels with 34" tires. They also put a 1 1/2 spacer on top of the 2 front struts. They are getting a grinding noise from the transfer case they believe. We are thinking it could be one of 2 things....1.) the change in angle of the axles is causing a problem in the transfer case or 2) when they were taking off the driver side strut, they were pushing down on the disc/hub assembly and pulled the axle out of place. We were able to jiggle it back in, but maybe something broke there?

All help appreciated. I think he is in a little over his head, but ......hey, they could be doing a lot worse

 

[CanuckRam1313]

First thing is to remove the spacers and toss them in the garbage!

Second thing is to look at either 5100 Bilstein or Eibach adjustable front struts, and set the fronts to 2.1" of height adjustment . I would also install the matching rear shocks, too. This way it is a matched set and balanced suspension that all works in unison with one another.

Pic is my baby with the 5100's front and rear and set to 2.1" height at the front (stock springs).

I would completely remove the axle that popped out and inspect it thoroughly.
There are snap rings ('C-Clip') that need to be in the right place and undamaged, and/or not stuck in places they should not be.
Then if all is okay, grease up the parts and reinstall properly.

 

[skey350]

Thanks for the reply...so you think the problem is with the axle and not the angle.....He said that he was bouncing up and down on the attached rotor to get the strut back in with the spacer on. He must have busted one of those clips you mentioned. It's his girlfriends truck....she spent $2k on the wheels/tires, don't think she has the money for the upgraded struts that you mentioned..... they are 18. Now he will have to figure out how to take that axle out....

 

[CanuckRam1313]

Thanks for the reply...so you think the problem is with the axle and not the angle.....He said that he was bouncing up and down on the attached rotor to get the strut back in with the spacer on. He must have busted one of those clips you mentioned. It's his girlfriends truck....she spent $2k on the wheels/tires, don't think she has the money for the upgraded struts that you mentioned..... they are 18. Now he will have to figure out how to take that axle out....

If they can't get the proper parts, leave it stock, and remove the spacers regardless!

Spacers are not advised...they can damage the vehicle and potentially cause safety issues.
Research it on the forum here and you'll see clearly it's not a recommended method to get the desired end result of front level/lift.

If the components were bounced on to get it to fit, that's not the way to do things, especially on a virtually new truck.

Remove it all, inspect everything thoroughly, and install properly and with care. Use manuals and ask those on here for help if need be. This is a fantastic place to learn and share with those who have passion for our trucks.

The front adjustable struts are not that expensive, forking out $2K+ on wheels/tires and then not doing it right seems a bit of a backwards way to do it, but yes, I remember being 18 once, too...lol.

Suggest to them that they find the coin and get the right parts from the start. Pay a bit now, or pay more later!

 

[skey350]

So...he got home from work.....again, he is 18 (internship at an aircraft testing facility) I told him to take the spacers out and reassemble and see it that fixes the problem? What's next .... pull the intermediate axle and replace?......obv have to get the new struts....but to get the truck up an running again?

 

[CanuckRam1313]

Yes, spacers out and toss them for both sides and reassemble the side not affected.

Then carefully and properly disassemble all the components to get at the axel that popped.
The axel the popped out needs to be fully removed from the truck entirely and thoroughly inspected, as does the connection point on the front differential.

Carefully pull the axel and check the spline (no damage from jamming it back in place and then bouncing the crap out of it with the full body weight of a teenage young man).

Then check to ensure the C-clips are on and/or not bent and/or out of position.

If there is any damage on anything and/or misalignment observed. Stop and regroup!

If a C-clip is missing, make sure it's not jammed in something important. Make it right and do it right!

Find the scratch to purchase, at the very least, new front 5100 Bilstein's (or purchasers choice).

Whatever he does, DO NOT let him or anyone inexperienced try to ever remove a strut spring (required when they get new front 5100 Bilstein adjustable struts) in a home shop environment! This is a recipe for disaster, or worse!

Take the new adjustable front struts to a shop with the original ones removed from the truck, too. Get them to set the new adjustable ones to 2.1" raised, and they remove the OEM strut springs and install them on the new adjustable ones.

 

[olyelr]

My son is working on a 2021 Ram for a friend. They bought 20 by 10 wheels with 34" tires. They also put a 1 1/2 spacer on top of the 2 front struts. They are getting a grinding noise from the transfer case they believe. We are thinking it could be one of 2 things....1.) the change in angle of the axles is causing a problem in the transfer case or 2) when they were taking off the driver side strut, they were pushing down on the disc/hub assembly and pulled the axle out of place. We were able to jiggle it back in, but maybe something broke there?

All help appreciated. I think he is in a little over his head, but ......hey, they could be doing a lot worse

Its not #1…leveling/lifting the front of an independent suspension truck changes absolutely nothing with the transfer case/driveshaft angles (unless the front differential was dropped).

However, lifting one too much without dropping the diff will reek havoc on the axleshafts due to the steeper angle.

Definitely check the axleshaft(s). Did he raise the front tires off the ground and spin the tires by hand yet? Im sure the grinding will make a sound…

 

[skey350]

Based on another members recommendation, I had him take it apart and remove the spacers. That seemed to do it. I was prob using the wrong language. The axle shafts likely were at to steep and angle like you said. Now that the spacers are out the truck seems back to normal.....Front end is only an inch low. They are happy with that.

Thanks,

 

[skey350]

In reading back the message from CanuckRam do you guys think the axles still need to be taken apart? He reassembled without the spacers and popped the axle back in....they took the truck out for a while last night and said it was good....no noise. Could there still be a problem inside or just leave well enough alone? It is a leased truck, but she intends on buying it...thus the upgrades.

 

[CanuckRam1313]

Nice truck!
If all is operating in 2WD and 4WD normally in drive and reverse, and while turning full stop to stop, and no abnormal noises, likely good to go.

 

[atreides]

They’re not ideal but a 1.5 inch strut spacer should not be causing the axles to bind. I had 3 inch spacers without binding out the axles.

Popping the axle back in was the fix and removing the spacers likely had nothing to do with it. The only damage that may have occurred would be to the splined shaft and mating slot on the axle.

Inspection is easy: pull the axle and check if the splines are damaged. Once the hub is out of the way, the axle pulls out with ease, don’t even need 2 hands to pull it out.

 

[olyelr]

They’re not ideal but a 1.5 inch strut spacer should not be causing the axles to bind. I had 3 inch spacers without binding out the axles.

Popping the axle back in was the fix and removing the spacers likely had nothing to do with it. The only damage that may have occurred would be to the splined shaft and mating slot on the axle.

Inspection is easy: pull the axle and check if the splines are damaged. Once the hub is out of the way, the axle pulls out with ease, don’t even need 2 hands to pull it out.

Meh…the spacers COMBINED with lifted struts is certainly not a good combination. Lifting these trucks over 3” with no drop brackets is not really ideal.

 

[atreides]

Meh…the spacers COMBINED with lifted struts is certainly not a good combination. Lifting these trucks over 3” with no drop brackets is not really ideal.

OP did not mention lifted struts so 1.5” spacers shouldn’t be an issue here.

I had my truck on 3” spacers without brackets for almost a year and it was indeed not ideal as I already mentioned. With blown factory shocks and struts it rode like garbage actually.

 

[olyelr]

OP did not mention lifted struts so 1.5” spacers shouldn’t be an issue here.

I had my truck on 3” spacers without brackets for almost a year and it was indeed not ideal as I already mentioned. With blown factory shocks and struts it rode like garbage actually.

Yes he did.

 

[atreides]

Nothing there states if the struts are extended struts or not.

 

[olyelr]

Nothing there states if the struts are extended struts or not.

And by golly u are right doh…just thought the 2 meant inches, but now that i read it for the 3rd time im wondering myself lol

 

[atreides]

And by golly u are right doh…just thought the 2 meant inches, but now that i read it for the 3rd time im wondering myself lol

Haha it happens to the best of us. I read it like 8 times just to be sure lol.