Metal grinding noise

[Devinj234]

So I’m back AGAIN because you know Ram things. I have a gem 4 Ram 1500 and it’s been making this weird grinding metal noise and slightly turning. I have changed my brakes, rotors and wheel bearings and it still makes this grinding noise while driving. If anyone knows what it can or have ANY idea what it could be please let me know.

 

[RedcardRam]

Have you done any other mods like rims?
Front or rear?
Only does when turning ?

 

[RedcardRam]

Have you done any other mods like rims?
Front or rear?
Only does when turning ?
Any play in the steering?

I would check to make sure the caliper isn't rubbing on rim.
Could be dust shield.
That's if you are lucky.

Could be axle related.

 

[Daw14]

Can you tell if it is from the front end ? Or rear ?

Jack up the rear end , put it on some stands so you don’t kill yourself. Put it in gear and listen if noise is present , stop wheels before putting into park.

 

[sdeeter19555]

I've had this before in an 80s Dodge w150 with a 9.25Corp, it was an issue with the limited slip in the rear differential.

 

[TRK_GANG74]

Reviving this thread. I've been hearing the same noise as in post #1. Started when I changed the rear pads and rotors 7 months ago. Thought it was my pads rubbing on the rotors but was flat wrong. Took it to the dealer where I bought it from 2 hours ago and found out it is the rear differential. A new one is on order so it should be here in 7-10 days. A new one was cheaper than a remanufactured one and I’ll pick up a loaner on Monday at no charge. Had to leave the truck there, they didn't want me driving it anymore for safety reasons. Dang noise was driving me crazy trying to figure it out on my own. I'll say this about my dealer, their customer service is top notch all around and they didn't even charge me a diagnostic fee or for putting it on the lift.

 

[Mojo88]

"New differential" sounds expensive, especially at a dealer.
How much $$$$$$ ? Good luck with the fix!

I changed my rear diff fluid not long ago at 60k miles,
and (thankfully) the old stuff came out looking and smelling new.

 

[TRK_GANG74]

I changed my fluid at the 100,000 mile interval and everything looked good then. They told me it’s probably a bad bearing and seal where the drive shaft enters the pumpkin. The tech was able to easily move the drive shaft back and forth with his hands It’s going to cost me $5905.54 and I don’t have the tools to do this myself and with a recent shoulder surgery a few years back and up coming foot surgery next year I can’t do this. In this case I am more than happy to let my dealer do this and I know the work will be done right based off previous visits. Also the work will come with a warranty as you may already know.

 

[TRK_GANG74]

Just got my truck back today after 29 days! Took 27 of those days for it to be assembled by one company and delivered by UPS. She is quite as a mouse in the rear and smooth as butter. Cost me $5905.54 and they waived the diagnostic fee of $199 when paying cash.

 

[Mojo88]

Just got my truck back today after 29 days! Took 27 of those days for it to be assembled by one company and delivered by UPS. She is quite as a mouse in the rear and smooth as butter. Cost me $5905.54 and they waived the diagnostic fee of $199 when paying cash.

Ouch, that's a lot of $$$$$$. Rebuilding a rear end is not that difficult... BUT ..... you do need the tools and a lift (which I have) would help.

Hopefully, your truck is a "business" truck, thus you can write that off as a 'repair' expense for 2025.....

Good luck with it. I bet you'll be changing that rear diff fluid more than required, lol

 

[TRK_GANG74]

Ouch, that's a lot of $$$$$$. Rebuilding a rear end is not that difficult... BUT ..... you do need the tools and a lift (which I have) would help.

Hopefully, your truck is a "business" truck, thus you can write that off as a 'repair' expense for 2025.....

Good luck with it. I bet you'll be changing that rear diff fluid more than required, lol

After talking with parts it was the pinion bearing and seal that failed which resulted in a lot of scoring inside the housing where it sat. It would have been more expensive to do a rebuild so I decided to go with a new rear diff. I plan on keeping the truck for a while especially with today’s prices and the problems with the 25’s and 26’s. Plus I like the look of my 19 Laramie Longhorn over the new stuff. Has more character and sass! I got great service from my service dept and that made a world of difference from beginning to end and that means more to me. The cost is what it is and I got a new rear differential with brakes and calipers that have zero miles. Overall a win for me and I’m happy. Oh and I had just changed the fluid on the front, rear, and transfer case 3 months before this started and all the fluids looked ok with no signs of a problem.

 

[TRK_GANG74]

Well I’m sitting on the side of the road waiting for my tow truck with my daughter! The work done on my new rear differential was less than stellar. Look at what departed my truck! I am pissed and lucky I was able to maintain control! Two miles from home! Truck is going to the dealer tonight and I will be raising heck tomorrow morning!

 

[Mojo88]

DAMN! That's a pretty important bolt, like maybe the MOST important one, geesh. Guy must have forgot to put the nut on, or maybe just barely started it. I've had stuff happen like that before, and I also have been lucky.

Was there any damage, to you or anyone else? At least no injuries, it sounds like.

Wow......angels were looking out for ya.....

 

[Yardbird]

Is there supposed to be a fill plug on the rear cover, or is that just a V-6 thing?

I hope you don't have any damage to the truck, and thankfully there was no wreck involved with this.

 

[rzr6-4]

Well I’m sitting on the side of the road waiting for my tow truck with my daughter! The work done on my new rear differential was less than stellar. Look at what departed my truck! I am pissed and lucky I was able to maintain control! Two miles from home! Truck is going to the dealer tonight and I will be raising heck tomorrow morning!

I know on the front track bars on the 2500s you are supposed to retorque after 200 miles. I found that out the hard way after I had lost the nut but luckily before the bolt fell out on mine.

It's very possible it was installed incorrectly, but there is also the chance is was correct initially but failed to have you come back in for the follow up torque check.

 

[TRK_GANG74]

UPDATE: Both of us a shaken but fine. I was able to get an appt 2 minutes before the service dept closed yesterday. The parts manager heard about this last night and rushed to the dealer to look under the truck and was shocked as I was. Went in when they opened and showed the pics and expressed my anger respectfully. They had already put everything in motion to get a new nut and bolt first thing in the morning. They moved other morning appts back to take care of me. Inspected all the mounting points and check and re-torqued everything, inspected everything for any other damage and found none. They test drove the vehicle and gave it back. The warranty on the differential is 2 years. As it turns out the nut and bolt was torqued properly, it just snapped sometime after I got the truck back and decided to depart sometime Monday a week later. Later that afternoon when I went to run a grocery errand is when the torsion bar came out of the bracket. It took them about 1 1/2 hours to complete. Been driving all day today running errands and she’s running great. No highway driving today since I was still a little rattled from all the bucking she did. I wasn’t brushed off or dismissed on any concerns and they let me say what needed to be said. Got tons of apologies and they performed everything I wanted to to ensure my safety. Can’t blame them for this. Those nuts and bolts for the torsion bar are meant to be reused. Luckily this didn’t happen on my 36 mile one way trip to or from work since I have to cross a 3 mile bridge and tunnel each way. Somebody was really looking out for us and he gets all the credit so thanks!

 

[Yardbird]

Those nuts and bolts for the torsion bar are meant to be reused.

They might want to reconsider that in the future..

I'm glad everyone came out OK and they did everything possible to make things right for you.

 

[TRK_GANG74]

My thought exactly. I’m probably going to get the other nut and bolt replaced on the other end.

 

[Mojo88]

As it turns out the nut and bolt was torqued properly, it just snapped sometime after I got the truck back and decided to depart sometime Monday a week later. Later that afternoon when I went to run a grocery errand is when the torsion bar came out of the bracket. ....

That bar is called a Panhard bar or track bar. And it would have come out of the bracket within a second or two of the bolt coming out. I've been working on cars/trucks for ~50 years, and never heard of one of these bolts breaking. How about it guys? ANYONE ever hear of one of these bolts snapping?????

Main thing is: you're all safe and sound. No damage to truck. Major luck there.
Should be all set for as long as you own the truck.......

 

[Yardbird]

Never heard of one snapping, but, we didn't used to have the quality of metal we have now.

It could have been a North Korean bolt.