2001 Dodge Ram 1500

I purchased this vehicle in February and had many things fixed on it right after being purchased including all the tie rod ends and ball joints (among other things). I put almost $2000 into it and the vehicle ran fine and I noticed nothing until a couple weeks ago.

Now every time I go over a bump or puddle, or go up/down my driveway from/onto the street I notice it feels like a "bottoming out" (for lack of a better word) just on the front drivers side. The passengers side is fine, no problems. There is also a grinding noise/feel for a second when it "bottoms out" on the drivers side. Let me be clear that even when I hit a sewer cover on the street there is now a squeak coming from that drivers side area. There are no other times when I experience this issue..only when I'm doing what was mentioned. I am trying to be very careful and take things slow or I will experience this every time...I'm trying not to damage it more than it already is.

Initially I was hoping it's just a bad shock ($25-$35 at Autozone for the basic model) but I was reading up and it could be a mount or something more.


Before I take it to my mechanic I was wondering if anyone has ever had this same issue?

What do you guys think it is? Has anyone had this issue?

 

does sound like ur shock blew out man. but thats just me.

 

2WD or 4? They are completely different front ends, so it would help to know what you're dealing with. Welcome to DF, lots of help and info to be found here

 

like Maxx said, is it 2 or 4wd?

but with 6 years of automotive experiance, id have to say, your coil spring is bad, shock is bad, or maybe control arm bushings?

 

Yep, sounds like a busted shock or a busted spring to me. Look over the spring on that side and check if there is some fluid leaking out of the shock.

If you see nothing visibly wrong then take the top of the shock loose and push on it to see if goes in easy or if there is a good bit of resistance (and see if it extends again). You should be able to push the shock in with some resistance and the faster you try to push it, the more resistance you should encounter.

 

+1 on the shocks...i had the same issue and installing new shocks made all the difference. the bottom bushings were completely gone, causing that bottoming out/clunk/thud when the shock tube hit the bracket.

 

its just a 2WD (wish I had 4 )

Well I was hoping it was just a bad shock...if you guys think so then that's better news than something a lot more costly.

I'm gonna have my mechanic check it out soon

 

DO IT YOURSELF lol.....i just did the front shocks in my dads old ram (my buddies now,) its a 2wd, the shocks were $19each, and i had them changed out in less than an hour.....aside from taking off the tire, there is 1 bolt, and the top shock mount bolt.

 

That top bolt can be a bit of a pain if it's a northern truck, but with some penetrating fluid it'll come out and like 95RAM360 said, it isn't that hard.