Need Help Mysterious Clunk

[Joe Merchak]

I have the same noise. I have gone over all the recommendations and I have taken it to the mechanic. No one can find the noise.

 

[healthyrx]

One possible suggestion- check to make sure your trailer hitch bolts are all torqued to spec- I recently installed the hitch receiver on my truck and there is definitely a potential source of a clunk if any of those bolts are loose.
Also If you lay underneath the truck bed and use your legs to lift the bed up like a leg press- can you recreate the clunk?

 

[thefiddler]

Mine "'17 Laramie w/32 gal tank n 6.4 bed" has an annoying vibration in the same area. I was under it last night and tapped on the front of the fuel ta k with my hand. Sounds like a GI Joe action figure bouncing around inside the tank. Not happy

 

[Dusty]

My 2015 Ram Crew Cab 4x4, an oddball with 6'4" bed, has started making a clunking sound when I go over bumps, even when barely moving. It happens when driving straight. I can't say I have noticed it happening or not when turning. Oddly, I don't seem to hear it as much on taller bumps. It seems to happen more on short, sharp bumps. It sounds like the sound is originating behind me. My wife in the passenger seat agrees. My sons in the back seat say it sounds directly beneath them. I got under the truck and nothing seems to move by hand, though I don't know what things to try. The spare tire is tight. The exhaust pipes are secure. The only thing I see is a cable that looks like it goes to the brakes. It has a place right around the spot beneath the back seats where there is a joint and long bolt. Anyway, that cable/joint is free to sway 6" or more in any direction. I'm wondering if it clunking up against the bottom of the truck could be what I hear. What is this cable and should it be swaying like this or secured in some way?

Plenty of good suspects being mentioned. Here's a few more:

Loose rear sway bar link, or bad rear sway bar bushing?

Loose shock?

Loose wheel lug nuts?

Loose rear pads or caliper?

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33 gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build date: 03 June 2018. Now at: 066831 miles.

 

[JD522]

Mine "'17 Laramie w/32 gal tank n 6.4 bed" has an annoying vibration in the same area. I was under it last night and tapped on the front of the fuel ta k with my hand. Sounds like a GI Joe action figure bouncing around inside the tank. Not happy

At least knowing is half the battle! Sorry. I couldn't resist.

 

[JD522]

I do not have air suspension. The only seat bins are ones under the rear seat, under that folding board that can create a flat space when the seats are folded up. I initially thought it was that folded board bouncing, because it just kind of flops around there. But, I had my boys hold it still while going down our bump road and it did not eliminate the sound or change it in any way. One bin has the amp for the Alpine sound system. The other has a tow strap and some stuff but nothing that would cause this level of clunk. You can feel the clunk when in the bed bouncing it. Again, only bouncing the bed an inch or so up and down. The only thing in the bed is a spray on liner and a very thick bed mat. But, it isn't bouncing. I don't keep anything in my hitch receiver. The hitch was factory installed. I'll try letting the spare down and putting it back tight. I'll try holding more parts, including hitch, while getting my son to cause the clunk to see if I can narrow it down more. I'll try leg pressing the bed to see what happens. I'll report back once I get a chance to do those things.

 

[JD522]

Do you have air bag suspension ?
Do you have storage bins in front of the backseat in the floor ?
Do you know what the white pencil looking thing is in your pics of the brake cable ?

Do you mean the piece that looks about 2" long sticking out to the right?

 

[Rainmans 05]

Had a similar issues (driveways, sharp turns...) with my 2500 SLT long-bed which took months to figure out. The short answer: It was loose screws on the "box side braces" that attach to the frame and the rear fenders (near the opening of the rear wheel well). Once tightened, the clunking sounds (frame and body twisting) were elevated.

 

[Mister Luck]

Do you mean the piece that looks about 2" long sticking out to the right?

I circled the questionable object ,
what is that ?

 

[George Anderson]

Thank you all for the replies. I tried easy stuff first. I checked under all the seats. I thought maybe it was the jack which is under the front passenger seat. It is not very tight and can wobble a bit. If I do it with force it makes a similar clunking sound. I stuffed a wadded up cloth between it and the floor to prevent that. Clunk still present.

It definitely comes from the rear. Today I tried getting in my truck and squatting/standing to bounce the bed. I can easily reproduce the sound while only making the bed drop an inch or so. The clunk comes from the driver side rear. While standing beside the truck, I can even just put my weight on my forearms laid on the side bed rail above the tire and bounce the truck enough to make the clunk. It makes distinct clunk if I do that on the driver side. If I do it on the passenger side, there isn't much of a clunk but there is sometimes a sharper clack sound from the driver side. I had my son bounce the bed while I was under the truck. I could not tell where it was coming from exactly but it seemed like it was well above me, so closer to the bed than axle. It seems like in the spring or shock. I can feel the clunk in both. When driving we all feel like we can feel it in the floor. I'm not sure what exactly to look for. Due to the fender liners, I can't see the top of the shock or spring very well. I think I'd have to take off the Bushwacker flares to remove the liners. Nothing is loose by hand while the vehicle's weight is on its tires. I have not jacked it up. The only jack I have is that one under the passenger seat.

Can a shock go bad and cause the clunk? Or, is it going to be a mount-point issue? The shocks are the Fox Performance ones you can add onto the Zone lift. The springs are the ones you get with the Zone lift. The lift was installed less than 10k miles ago. The truck has less than 45k miles total. The only time I've been off road was at my buddy's property where I have to drive up a driveway cut-in that is still just dirt. So, I have not been on anything rough.

Treat me like I'm ignorant, because I am on this stuff. I've never done any auto work. I replaced the brake light bulb above the cab last weekend and felt pretty proud of myself. Pictures would help a lot.

Check all torque specs on suspension. You will need a short or modified 21mm open end wrench for rear upper shock inner nut.