Hey guys, I was wondering if someone could help me out here. I have a 2001 dakota with 165,000 miles on it and I've noticed that in the past few weeks I have had a new noise coming from the truck. It sounds like a bb rattling in a soda can mixed in with a gurgling noise. It only does it when I stop and start moving again, till I reach about 15mph. The truck also does this vibrating once it goes over about 35-40 mph.. that noise almost sounds like running with the devil by Van Halen.. I've been hearing that noise for about 3 years now though. Are the two noises related? Im more concerned with the new "bb rattling in a soda can" noise than I am about the "running with the devil" noise. The dealership also told me that I need a new steering rack in the truck.. could that be causing the noise too? I would appreciate any help diagnosing this problem.. Thanks

 

I had a subtle vibration a few thousand miles back that slowly got a little worse with time - but it would only be noticeable in certain speed ranges. Turns out it was a driveshaft universal joint failing. That was at about 110,000 miles. Now the bb sound, well I can't say I heard anything like that...sorry.

 

did you drop a BB somewhere?


i had a weird noise like that in my old XJ, turned out to be a 9/16th socket chillin on top of my skid plate.

 

I'm hoping its something stupid like a socket that the last tech. left behind.. I've already had the front driveshaft and u-joint, intermediate driveshaft and u-joint, 6 CV boots, 2 half axles, and pretty much everything else underneath the truck replaced.. as for the noise, sounds like a bb or a marble rolling around with a gurgling type noise also, I noticed that it does do it when I'm going about 30mph too.. could it be something broken in the Cat converter? thanks for your input guys..

 

yeah, last week mine sounded like i had a box of marbles jumping around anytime i went over 25 mph. turned out the axle splines where the half shaft meet were wiped out. pull off you're diff cover plates and inspect for bad gears. also inspect all the work done, rotated the half shafts and the drive shafts, move them up and down for an excessive play, etc.

 

could be the pumpkin...(differential)

 

have you attempted to put her in 4wd since the problem began? when front took a sh*t on me, 4wd would not engage. it's thats sensitive.

 

I haven't tried the 4wd since it started but I will give it a try tomorrow. If it were the differential, how and why could it be making that noise? Thanks guys, I really appreciate all of your input.

 

be making that noise, probably cause of stripped out splines. the marble sound should be similar to a whine when it comes to the drive train.