Does anyone know of a step-by-step, walkthrough, or - even better - a dichotomous key,* to use when trying to:

A) determine whether a noise from under the vehicle is emanating from the steering, suspension or drivetrain, and
B) diagnose said issue once location is determined?

The service manual could help with B), because it seems best suited for helping pinpoint exactly what might be the cause of "Propeller Shaft Noise," "Universal Joint Noise," "Axle Shaft Noise," etc.

But what I could really use is something for A).

It would be akin to posting details of the noises in this forum, and then you folks with expertise and/or experience asking clarifying questions to help narrow down possible sources & causes. But it would be much less bothersome to you!

I've done some searches on the interwebs, and in this forum I've looked in the https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...-how-to-s-143/, many other stickies, and looked through a lot of posts that my searches pulled up - all to no avail.


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*A dichotomous key starts at #1 by asking two questions (or one question with only two possible answers). Then depending on your answer, directs you to one of two other numbers, each of which contains two questions. That continues until something can be definitely stated (or at least reasonably deduced). Sort of like a diagnostic Choose Your Own Adventure.

My first exposure (the first which I can recall) to a dichotomous key was many moons ago via a spiral-bound guide to identifying trees native to Alabama - a more extensive version of the PDF found in this article:

 

Have you checked the factory service manual for that information? I seem to recall that some of that information may be in there, however, it may or may not be in the form you're looking for - the electronic versions are here - https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...e-manuals.html

 

Thanks for the link. Yes, that was what I was referencing when I said that would help with B).

Unless I'm overlooking a section, you essentially have to have already narrowed down the issue to a particular system or component before the service manual really helps.

 

If it were trying to diagnose that type of issue, I'd try to determine if the issue occurred only when the vehicle is rolling down the road or not. I might jack the vehicle up on 4 jackstands, start the truck and see if I can replicate the issue. If not, I'd take the vehicle out and drive it with a friend and both of us try to determine where the noise may be coming from. With so many issues depending upon the vehicle in question and its associated quirks, I think its best to describe the issue in as much detail as possible and let folks help you through it.

 

Quite a first post.
What's the truck doing? What noise are you hearing and when does it occur?

 

...after 15+ years of lurking...

No need to rehash what's already been posted to death - might as well jump in with a cannonball!


I need to go out and do a better job of making note of what exactly it is doing when. Hopefully I can get to that this evening, but it might be tomorrow before I can. I'll come back here and update when I have something that (hopefully) y'all can run with. Thanks!