Hey guys I have a 98 ram 1500 4x4 that gets a clunk on bumps and turns. I put a leveling kit on it which has made it more noticeable but it definitely did it before. I crawled under and just felt around to see what had any sort of play. the only thing i really noticed was that if i grabbed the center/drag link that goes to the pitman arm and twisted it, the tapered hole in the link for the inner tie rod end clinks against that end. Is that normal or could that be my clunk that i can hear/feel in the steering wheel?

Also the rear shocks are shot but I dont think that would effect the front end would it? in any case I have new ones for the back just ran out of time this weekend.

 

Did you take off the front shocks to install the leveling kit? If you did, retighten the lower mounting bolts. They get torqued to something like 110 ft/lbs...... else, they rattle.

 

x2 on the lower mounting bolts. I had the same issue until i tightened them both up

 

As stated check the shock bolts. But also could be the bushing on the end of the steering column below the brake booster.

 

check the ball joints and wheel bearings

 

It could also be the steering column, common issue. Mine has a clunk too, gonna order this eventually.
http://rocksolidramtrucksteering.com/

 

I put some grease in all the tie rods end pieces inner and outer and the trackbar and it lessened it quite a bit. Ill go try to tighten the lower shock bolts right after I post this, and this weekend when we put it on the lift I should be able to check the ball joints and bearings. I did a quick 12 and 6 check on the tire when it was on jacks and didnt really feel any play but ill check again.

 

the truck needs to be lifted 2 inches of the ground stick a bar under the tire parallel with the axle lift the bar up and look at the balljoints, the balljoints on these trucks can not be checked by the 12 and 6 check