I am new to rams, we just got ours 2 weeks ago. Here is my question. from a dead stop if you hit the gas after about 5 feet you feel a clunk, sorta like when something slide in you bed and hits the tailgate or maybe a miss?(thats the best way i can describe it). you feel it in the floor. I have checked all mounts and they are all tight, I am concerened it may be the trans. I checked all the u joints and the are in very good shape. Other than that the truck runs and shifts awsome. Except for the death flash! Thanks in advance

 

Whats the tranny fluid look/smell like? If its dirty you might be able to get away with just a filter change and adding a bottle of lucas tranny supplement. That is what I did when mine started acting up and knock on wood, its been ok so far.

 

UPDATE: I had the trans checked by a shop and they said the trans is fine. I replaced the u joint also., new shocks, and still have the clunk on takeoff. Almost feels like the tire slips for a second. It also gets worse as I drive it.

 

It might be axle wrap.

I have a 98 quad cab with a 360 and had the same thing clunk.They even changed the leaf springs back in 1998 and it still did it.

I want you to try a little experiment, in a empty parking lot, etc. This may sound crazy, but bear with me. Put a wedge of wood between the gap in your leaf springs. You know the space that you have between the spring and the short helper spring. Do both sides and then gun-it.
If the clunk that you would usually hear is gone, then you have an axle wrap.

What is happeningis thatyou have a lot of torque goin' to the pavement and your axle starts to twist which bends the leaf springs into a S-pattern. Your helper spring then snaps up and hits the main leaf springs and that is when you get that clunk you hear.

You can get a friend to help you, get him to drive the truck and you stay outside. When he guns-it you should be on the right rear about 5 or 6 feet ahead of the rear wheel and you can see this happen. WHEW!

Hope this helped
Kayakman

 

Slipping in the rear end maybe??

 

motor or trans mount.

to check if its a motor mount, pop the hood, put it in drive, powerbreak (dont have to lose the tires, just build tension) and then the same in reverse. If the motor slaps, thats your problem. Same for the trans but youll want someone to look for you, obviously you wont be able to see that one.

 

My '96 has a similar problem. I thought it might be u-joints. While it was on a lift, I checked the u-joints and they seemed fine. The mechanic took a look, and said it was exessive gear lash. I don't know. Seems to be in the rear end, though.

When I am coasting, and give it gas, it does it pretty bad now. I can make it do it by coasting/tapping the gas at low speeds. See if yours does the same thing.

With only 22k miles, I wouldn't think this would be a problem. I do want to change the gears though (to 4.56's), and addLSD,so if that is it, at least it's something I want to replace anyway.

Might be something for you to check into.

 

DRIVELINE SNAP

A snap or clunk noise when the vehicle is shifted

into gear (or the clutch engaged), can be caused by:

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The source of a snap or a clunk noise can be determined

with the assistance of a helper. Raise the vehicle

on a hoist with the wheels free to rotate. Instruct

the helper to shift the transmission into gear. Listen

for the noise, a mechanics stethoscope is helpful in

isolating the source of a noise.