Hello,

I am new here and been reading some other threads maybe you guys could help me out!

So I purchased an 03 dakota with only 143k on it. i have been driving it for 2 weeks now. yesterday i went over one of those big speed bumps going a good speed seen as i did not see it until the last second. i did not bottom out or anything, how ever after that happened i notice a clunking noise. seems like its coming from the front end. i shook the truck today to see if there was anything visibly loose. i noticed the spare tire is. thats one thing. i then went to every corner of the truck and shook each one. the noise didnt happen until i did it to the front passenger side. i am no mechanic and no very little about cars or trucks. the truck turns smoothly no clunking while turning its only when i go over bumps. when i was pushing down the front passenger side after a few pushes i heard the noise, thats why im assuming its that corner of the truck. shocks arent blown, one of my friends said it could be the struts? also checked the exhaust to see if it was loose and everything seems pretty solid. not sure what to do and i dont want to bring it into the mechanics yet lol. also would like to fix it for cheap.

 

I will move this to the 2nd Generation Dakota sub-forum.

 

more info is helpful is it a 4X4 or 2 wheel what engine, trans club cab so on.

 

Like I said I don't know very much about cars our trucks so correct me if I'm wrong. But I believe it's a 4.7 L V6 quad cab short box. There are no mods to the truck everything is stock.

 

It is 2 wheel drive as well