i have a 96 dodge ram 1500 4x4 5.9 and there is a squeaking or squealing noise coming from the front end while i am in drive and in motion.. when i stop at a light or if i am just sitting there, then there is no noise. only squeaks when moving forward... ive heard it could be a pully, or the barrings in the starter and recently just heard it could be the universal in the front drive shaft... need help because i am lost and the damn squealing is driving me nuts lol

 

If it only makes noise when you are moving, it is probably a wheel bearing, or a front u-joint. Jack up the front of the truck, and try shaking your wheels... if they move, find out why, and fix it. If that all seems good, have a look at the u-joints in the outer knuckles, if there is any slop in them, they are bad.

 

If the noise goes away when you are on the brake pedal, it could also be your front brake pads need replacing.

 

It's not the front driveshaft if it's doing this in 2wd. And give a Jethro Gibbs style smack to whom ever told you it could be the starter bearings.

 

Another NCIS fan? Cool.

 

Brakes or knuckle u-joints, most likely.

 

Great show.

 

thanks guys, i have tomorrow off so i will check out the u joint and wheel barrings and let you know how it goes... im new to working on vehicles. i swear when im done with this truck il be a full fledged mechanic. ive done rebuilt the spider gears in the rear pumpkin, replaced an axle seal in the rear, put in a transmission, replaced the water pump and thermostat, ive had to run new brake line and put new pads, calipers, and wheel cylinders and now trying to figure out the squeal in the front end lol... money has been to tight to pay anyone to do the work so i have been doing it all myself, and let me tell ya not knowing what you are doing and learning as you go pretty much sucks lol

 

ok the U-Joint behind the driver side front tire is wiggling inside the bracket, so i am assuming that this is the problem. so thanks for helping me narrow it down... also i would like to know if it is one of those parts that if i replace it on one side i should change it on the other side because its sure to go out soon, or it may make it pull to that side? oh and if anyone know s how to replace this can you tell me if it is easy or hard to do and if at all possible can you give me a brief walkthrough, i would be happy with minimum basics. i know everyone's time is valuable and im not asking you to spend an hour writing a detailed message, just a basic layout if possible... any help would be greatly appreciated.. thank you in advance.. and also thanks again to all that helped before.
Justin

 

i paid 50 for both u-joints, and paid a machine shop to press in the new joints, that was another $20...i pulled the axles of coarse.you are going to need someone to press in new joints, unless u have a press