Thanks in advance. I’m new to making my own repairs and avoid going to a shop at all costs so I can learn to do this on my own. I appreciate the patience

A few months ago I bought a 1999 Ram 1500 4WD for my daily driver after moving from out of state. There has always been noise from the front driver wheel when it’s rotating. The noise gets louder and there’s a pronounced “clunk” if I turn the wheel at maximum deviation either way.

Thinking it may be wheel bearings or something with my brakes (it’s happened to me before) I removed the caliper and hub. Nothing wrong with the brakes. The wheel bearings do not appear to be damaged.

The wheel does not spin as freely as it should when jacked up. There is a grinding noise coming from the axle. I’ve attached photos where the noise is for sure coming from. Like I said, I couldn’t technically describe this part so pictures are my friend!

Please help me figure out where to start. Thank you.

 

Axle ujoint. Get Spicer 5-760x only. Hope you have a monster torque wrench for that axle nut you removed or you will have a bad bearing down the road. Careful removing axle shaft as to not damage seal which is by the pumpkin inside and a big job.

 

Maybe a video with sound will help diagnosing. I want to narrow the problem down before I buy all these parts and tear everything down.

 

Wow, that sounds really weird. Are you sure it isn't the fan hitting something, and not the front end at all?

 

The engine was off. I was turning the wheel by hand.

 

LOLOL.

Well, I guess that means it wasn't the fan.

Could be ball joints, or any other joint in the steering system then. Have someone else turn the wheel, while you listen in various spots. Shouldn't be too difficult to isolate.

 

It’s a phantom noise! It sounds like wheel bearings, then maybe u joint then it sounds like it’s coming from the axle itself!! The u joint has a little play in it but nothing major that would make that sound. I don’t see any damage it’s just this noise!

I’m doing the passenger side u joint tomorrow, which is almost completely destroyed. Maybe I’ll have time to take the driver side apart. I’ve never done this repair before so wish me luck!

 

Good Luck. Let us know what ya find.

 

Spider gears at the diff. Couple of years ago I noticed similar noise from the front axle when axle was on a brake rollers. Naturaly I completely forgot it, until last week when I changed axle seals. There is a slight play on one of the gears that ride on the cross pin.

 

That doesn’t sound easy to remedy.