Hello again. 98 Dakota 4x4 standard cab. Any of you Dakota guys/gals out there. I got a rattle/clunking or whatever in my truck. Smooth roads is OK and even bigger bumps are OK but when I hit smaller ones,especially in succession, I get it. Truck just generally feels as though it just rides rougher than it should. I can't pinpoint but I think its in the front although sometimes it may go throughout truck. I kind of feel it in the pedals and the steering wheel. Ball joints, tie rod ends, steering box, shocks (4), sway bar bushings, all new. When I jack it up everything is seems tight. I spent about an hour under there tapping on everything (front, middle, and rear) with a hammer.I even just replaced the brake pin bushings on the calipers thinking that could be it . No change. Well every time i jack this thing up I am constantly aware of the bearing hubs but they spin freely (of course they are connected to the axle) and I can't get them to move no matter what. Truck was just aligned a month ago and steers fine. No real vibrations, pulling, etc. Could I possibly have a problem anyway due to the fact that me checking with human strength is no match for the weight of the truck. I did replace these long time ago but back then I actually heard a grinding noise. It was probably a 100,000 miles ago. I also haven't been exactly driving with the windows down due to weather.

 

Tons of possibles. It could be anything from ball joints (Even new can be bad) to bad motor mounts. Just lift up the tires move things around. Keep checking.

 

If there is a firestone or expert-tire near you they will do a complete car inspection for about $20.00. it may be worth the 20 to just have them check it out. espescially if you go in looking for a specific thing.

 

Little update. When weather permits I do just that, poke around and keep looking. Well the other day I had the jack out and just on a whim I put it under the back of the transmission and YEP the mount separated. Well luckily it is basically a bolt in part and it is already installed. The noise is still there but maybe not quite as often so maybe I am on the right path. Maybe I should poke around the motor mounts?. How should I go about checking these? Remember it is a 4x4 and a stick so I can't power brake it. Don't laugh but the noise is just impossible to trace to a source. It seems to be CAUSED by the front wheels hitting bumps but the noise itself is just too general
P.S. I knew going in that the symptoms just didn't exactly match a broken trans mount - no speed vibrations, shift clunking, etc. but it was broke so in it went (cheap enough)

 

Yeah, I hear ya, and congratulations on getting under there and doing it instead of taking it in to a shop. You can power brake a manual trans as long as your E-brake works. Thats how I found my engine mount problem a few weeks ago.