Front End Clicking / Clunking / Grinding

[JimmyP]

A couple weeks ago I started to hear a "clunk" in my front end when turning into my work's parking garage (right turn and slight incline). It seemed to happen when the right wheel was up the incline and the left was hitting it. Didn't really feel anything in the pedal or steering wheel but it would be hard to in that scenario. That was the only instance that I heard it at that time.

Then today I started to notice a bit of grinding / clicking and a maybe a clunk when turning right at speed. I can feel the grinding in the steering wheel and the clunk in the pedal a bit. Occasionally it would also click while going straight at about 20 MPH. When turning at low speeds, nothing. I also heard a pretty good clunk when going over a particularly steep speed bump in my apartment complex.

I've searched this and other forums for similar issues and found it could be issues with the CV axle, wheel bearings, break caliper, or steering rack. I've been a little suspect of the brakes on this truck since I bought it and one of the calipers came loose on the way home from the dealer. It doesn't feel like a sticking caliper though so I'm writing that off. Brakes have performed fine since. I visually checked both CV axles and there's no tears in the boots on either side. Nothing visible to the tie rods either.

I don't have access to any tools to really do much diagnosis, but I do have a solid mechanic that I trust. Before I give him a call, any thoughts on what this could be? I usually like going to him with "my own" thoughts on the problem. Anything I can check without jacking the truck up? I guess I do have a couple bricks and my standard truck jack...

 

[Burla]

CV axle, they just fail even if boot is in tact. More of a maintenance item they are so cheaply made. They are somewhere around 100 bucks give or take for the entire axle.

 

[Burla]

The rub is if there is one of the stub or intermediate shaft with the 2014, it isnt supported by any after market, literally one place to get them at this point and the mark up is no joke. Hopefully, your issue isnt that.

despite over 500 for a 50 dollar part you see he has sold 700 units, lol. This is the only place to get this part for years.

 

[Quick_Shifter]

A couple weeks ago I started to hear a "clunk" in my front end when turning into my work's parking garage (right turn and slight incline). It seemed to happen when the right wheel was up the incline and the left was hitting it. Didn't really feel anything in the pedal or steering wheel but it would be hard to in that scenario. That was the only instance that I heard it at that time.

Then today I started to notice a bit of grinding / clicking and a maybe a clunk when turning right at speed. I can feel the grinding in the steering wheel and the clunk in the pedal a bit. Occasionally it would also click while going straight at about 20 MPH. When turning at low speeds, nothing. I also heard a pretty good clunk when going over a particularly steep speed bump in my apartment complex.

I've searched this and other forums for similar issues and found it could be issues with the CV axle, wheel bearings, break caliper, or steering rack. I've been a little suspect of the brakes on this truck since I bought it and one of the calipers came loose on the way home from the dealer. It doesn't feel like a sticking caliper though so I'm writing that off. Brakes have performed fine since. I visually checked both CV axles and there's no tears in the boots on either side. Nothing visible to the tie rods either.

I don't have access to any tools to really do much diagnosis, but I do have a solid mechanic that I trust. Before I give him a call, any thoughts on what this could be? I usually like going to him with "my own" thoughts on the problem. Anything I can check without jacking the truck up? I guess I do have a couple bricks and my standard truck jack...

Get under your truck and see if you can get your cv axles to move (up down in out)

 

[JimmyP]

@Burla I'll have to look into that, any way to tell? I have the build sheet from the factory but it's on my work laptop so not handy until Monday. Not sure if that would be on there or not.

@Quick_Shifter about 1-2 mm of play in both going vertical, but the right has a notable "clink" when manipulating it that the left doesn't. No play horizontal that I could force.

 

[Burla]

It's on there, the question is if that is what is broke. I know there are some different symptoms intermediate shaft and/or cv axle, but those are not in my brain in this moment, do a search and good luck brother.

 

[Quick_Shifter]

@Burla I'll have to look into that, any way to tell? I have the build sheet from the factory but it's on my work laptop so not handy until Monday. Not sure if that would be on there or not.

@Quick_Shifter about 1-2 mm of play in both going vertical, but the right has a notable "clink" when manipulating it that the left doesn't. No play horizontal that I could force.

If you’re hearing a noise swap both CV’s and snap rings (dealer only item) the rings are $14 at the dealership Hopefully you caught it before it wiped out the intermediate shafts. Depending on your mileage I normally recommend doing the wheel bearing’s while your in there

 

[hodge-xj]

If you go with new CVs, get mopars. I've tried the cheaper alternatives and they just don't hold up.....I'm on my 3rd set.

As mentioned, cvs and wheel bearings on these are non serviceable wear items. If you're in there doing CVs spend the extra $ on new unit bearings as well. Especially if you're over 100k or in a pretty corrosive/wet environment.

Only other thing that comes to mind is if you're using a level spacer on the strut with a large center opening that allows the strut shaft to push through it. Once that happens it usually creates a low speed clunk/ lots of funky noises

 

[JimmyP]

No level or anything on the truck. My mechanic seems to think wheel bearings. Going to see him Wednesday for an inspection. @Quick_Shifter I'm at 97,000 so I may have him do both wheel bearings and cv joints. Just depends on if I can get authorization from my extended service contract company to do both...Guess we'll have to say they're both bad. Just paid out of pocket for him to replace my sheared exhaust manifold bolts so...

 

[Burla]

Thinks it is wheel bearings or hopes it is wheel bearings? And wheel bearings are now warranty? All the way nope.

The fact it sometimes clicks when moving forward is a sign of intermediate or stub shafts, click when turning = cv. Wheel bearings are nothing, a simple maintenance item for sure and a simple fix, but this isnt your issue. Did you ask why your mechanic "thought"" is was wheel bearings? Did he actually test drive the truck?

 

[JimmyP]

That was just his guess based on my description on the phone. Maybe I didn't describe it as well as I did here. He'll test drive and inspect it on Wednesday. It wasn't an issue when it was with him a couple weeks ago.

Both CV joints and wheel bearings are listed in my Veritas service contract as covered items, just double checked that. The clicking is kind of off and on but the grinding at speed while turning is constant, clunking is kind of random.

 

[Burla]

Cool, I stand corrected, good news

 

[Quick_Shifter]

No level or anything on the truck. My mechanic seems to think wheel bearings. Going to see him Wednesday for an inspection. @Quick_Shifter I'm at 97,000 so I may have him do both wheel bearings and cv joints. Just depends on if I can get authorization from my extended service contract company to do both...Guess we'll have to say they're both bad. Just paid out of pocket for him to replace my sheared exhaust manifold bolts so...

Yes I would do both wheel bearings and CV's @ 100K

 

[Tuscon]

I suspect cv joint too, the sounds they make are usually a sure sign. Wheel bearings will grind going straight mostly, on that type of bearing anyways.

 

[Burla]

I'm not sure a warranty company will be cool with yeah replace all the old stuff type of work, but if they do give me their number, that would be a warranty worth paying for.

 

[JimmyP]

Cool, I stand corrected, good news

Might have to do with the difference between a warranty and "service contract". A user on another site pretty adamantly explained that they are not the same thing. Never bought new or close enough to new that I had a manufacturer warranty so I wouldn't know.

After watching videos on both CV replacement wheel bearing replacement, it looks like I'll be saving some cash to have him do both no matter which one is busted. If he's in there to do the CV joints, maybe tack on an extra hour or two to hit the wheel bearings since everything is apart already. Better than having an issue after my contract is expired and paying for all the labor to get back in there. So I guess I'm hoping the more expensive part is broken and covered under the service contract. And that both sides are busted so I don't end up with one new side and one old side!

@Tuscon yeah no grinding straight line that I've noticed.

 

[JimmyP]

Well it turned out to be a bad left front wheel bearing.