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.

 

[JD522]

View attachment 489193
I circled the questionable object ,
what is that ?

It is the cable you see coming from the right side of the picture, which is the rear of the truck. It just makes a loop around that piece that the left side of your circle covers.

 

[JD522]

I again had someone (wife) bounce in the truck bed while I was under it. We switched twice. That damn noise is like cricket. You can't pinpoint it. Sometimes it seemed like the top of the shock (driver rear). Sometimes it seemed like the fuel tank - like something was in there clunking against the side. Towards the end we both independently thought it was a joint right above the axle where a straight bar connects that spans the width of the truck (see red arrow below). I can definitely feel the clunk there and when holding that bar. I swear I can see that joint move exactly when the clunk happens.



The odd thing is that I have not moved (or even started) my truck since the last time I was bouncing it. But, this time a different joint was squeaking loudly and making it hard to focus on the clunk. The squeaky joint is the one the green arrow points to. It is where a vertical chrome bar meets a black bar that also spans the width of the truck but is lower than the other bar and angles around the pumpkin. What can I do about that squeak? WD40? Grease?

I wanted to try what @healthyrx suggested and leg press the bed from beneath. But, I'm not sure I could have gotten my legs above me with so little clearance. Also, I didn't see a clear path to the bed with muffler, pipes, gas tank, etc. in the way. I was able to sit behind my truck and just lift up on the rear bumper enough to bounce the truck and make the clunk. It really doesn't take much to make the clunk and it seems to happen no matter how you make the truck bounce.

I don't have a torque wrench. I guess I need to buy one so I can loosen some of these bolts and re-tighten them. Does anyone know of a good set of diagrams that show these parts and their proper torque?

 

[Dusty]

I again had someone (wife) bounce in the truck bed while I was under it. We switched twice. That damn noise is like cricket. You can't pinpoint it. Sometimes it seemed like the top of the shock (driver rear). Sometimes it seemed like the fuel tank - like something was in there clunking against the side. Towards the end we both independently thought it was a joint right above the axle where a straight bar connects that spans the width of the truck (see red arrow below). I can definitely feel the clunk there and when holding that bar. I swear I can see that joint move exactly when the clunk happens.

View attachment 489286

The odd thing is that I have not moved (or even started) my truck since the last time I was bouncing it. But, this time a different joint was squeaking loudly and making it hard to focus on the clunk. The squeaky joint is the one the green arrow points to. It is where a vertical chrome bar meets a black bar that also spans the width of the truck but is lower than the other bar and angles around the pumpkin. What can I do about that squeak? WD40? Grease?

I wanted to try what @healthyrx suggested and leg press the bed from beneath. But, I'm not sure I could have gotten my legs above me with so little clearance. Also, I didn't see a clear path to the bed with muffler, pipes, gas tank, etc. in the way. I was able to sit behind my truck and just lift up on the rear bumper enough to bounce the truck and make the clunk. It really doesn't take much to make the clunk and it seems to happen no matter how you make the truck bounce.

I don't have a torque wrench. I guess I need to buy one so I can loosen some of these bolts and re-tighten them. Does anyone know of a good set of diagrams that show these parts and their proper torque?

[EDIT]

Torque specifications in ft/lbs:

Upper shock mount - 35
Lower shock mount - 103
Track bar, axle - 127
Track bar, frame - 96
Stabilizer bar link, lower - 74
Stabilizer bar, upper - 41

As far as the bracket where the Track Bar mounts to the frame (red arrow), They don't list a torque.

I enlarged the photo and the lower rear shock bushing doesn't look right to my eye.

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: 066966 miles.

 

[NJMOPAR]

The track bar (upper one) looks like it has some type of relocation bracket on the left side. I'd check those bolts.
The sway bar link your arrow points to looks like it's bushing is shot, looks expanded out of it's sleeve.
Find a good 4x4 shop and have them inspect all aftermarket suspension pieces.

 

[JD522]

I will take closer pictures of both from different angles.

 

[indept]

Have you checked the gas tank mounting straps? The points that they fasten to on the frame have been known to rust out.

 

[JD522]

@indept, I will check those straps the next chance I get.

Here are better pictures of that chrome (sway bar?) joint. Left is from rear of truck. Right is from the other side, which was tough to get a good picture of.


Here are more pictures of the track bar joint. From rear:


Looking from passenger side:


Below are from the front where a different bar connects. It runs along the side back toward the front of the truck.






Here are two pictures of the bar from the side of the truck and the joint it connects to on the other end:

 

[Dusty]

@indept, I will check those straps the next chance I get.

Here are better pictures of that chrome (sway bar?) joint. Left is from rear of truck. Right is from the other side, which was tough to get a good picture of.
View attachment 489437

Here are more pictures of the track bar joint. From rear:
View attachment 489438

Looking from passenger side:
View attachment 489439

Below are from the front where a different bar connects. It runs along the side back toward the front of the truck.
View attachment 489441

View attachment 489442

View attachment 489443

Here are two pictures of the bar from the side of the truck and the joint it connects to on the other end:
View attachment 489444

View attachment 489445

Chrome?! I've never seen any chrome on a factory sway bar link from Ram.

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: 067078 miles.

 

[JD522]

@Dusty I assume it was part of the Zone suspension lift.

 

[Quick_Shifter]

I again had someone (wife) bounce in the truck bed while I was under it. We switched twice. That damn noise is like cricket. You can't pinpoint it. Sometimes it seemed like the top of the shock (driver rear). Sometimes it seemed like the fuel tank - like something was in there clunking against the side. Towards the end we both independently thought it was a joint right above the axle where a straight bar connects that spans the width of the truck (see red arrow below). I can definitely feel the clunk there and when holding that bar. I swear I can see that joint move exactly when the clunk happens.

View attachment 489286

The odd thing is that I have not moved (or even started) my truck since the last time I was bouncing it. But, this time a different joint was squeaking loudly and making it hard to focus on the clunk. The squeaky joint is the one the green arrow points to. It is where a vertical chrome bar meets a black bar that also spans the width of the truck but is lower than the other bar and angles around the pumpkin. What can I do about that squeak? WD40? Grease?

I wanted to try what @healthyrx suggested and leg press the bed from beneath. But, I'm not sure I could have gotten my legs above me with so little clearance. Also, I didn't see a clear path to the bed with muffler, pipes, gas tank, etc. in the way. I was able to sit behind my truck and just lift up on the rear bumper enough to bounce the truck and make the clunk. It really doesn't take much to make the clunk and it seems to happen no matter how you make the truck bounce.

I don't have a torque wrench. I guess I need to buy one so I can loosen some of these bolts and re-tighten them. Does anyone know of a good set of diagrams that show these parts and their proper torque?

Where the green arrow is take the bolt completely out. 2 19mm wrench’s. Where the red arrow is loosen the top bolt 21mm wrench (loosen about 4 turns) then try and reproduce the sounds