hey everyone. bigtime dodge guy here. i have an 02 dodge ram 1500 4x4 quad cab with the 5.9l in it. just today i was driving downtown and i started to hear a noise in the right front. it was like a clucking er popping er crackling noise. didnt think much of it. until i heard it again. and again. and again. it did it all the way back to my shop. im a mechanic by the way. but im jsut trying to figure out what exactly it is. this noise happens, from what i could hear, when i turn in either direction. but it seemed to do it more when i turned to the left.and its not the howling noise i hear. its the popping clunking crackline etc. i got back to work and at the end of the day i put it up on the lift to check it out. before i lifted it. i was turnin the wheel both ways to the locks, and i could hear it, but not all the time. once i lifted it, i didnt find anything broken. but my first thought was a wheel bearing. when i spun the right front, i did hear a noise that sounded like a bad dry wheel bearing. the wheel bearing is not loose either. but i kinda think its a wheel bearing. but i also thought maybe it could b a cv joint. because of how it cracks pops n clunks. boots r not cracked or anything like that. they r in good condition. when i drove it home. i swerved back in forth to try to listen for a wheel bearing noise. i couldnt hear the humming noise characteristic to a wheel bearing, though it was raining pretty good, and dual exhaust dont help matters any when ure trying to listen for a noise. i jsut need some ideas of what others think. ive been on here all nite reading others posts. n now im stuck between a cv joint and the wheel bearing. any help is greatly appreciated.
THANKS!!

 

Yeah that really sounds like a cv joint. If you are mechanically adept you can replace the cv in your driveway as they are relatively inexpensive. BUMP!

 

ok. thats what i thought too. becuz of the popping crackling and thunking noise im hearing when i turn. but what would explain the wheel bearing noise i hear when i spin the wheel by hand. becuz it sounds exactly like a bad wheel bearing when i spin it. and ya. i can change em.

 

Yeah but if you are spinning the wheel shouldn't your cv be spinning too. Im not sure on this (never owned IFS) but that would explain cv noise.

 

yes. they both spin together. but it sounds more of an internal noise. like. identical to a wheel bearing. thats what gets me. ive never really heard what a bad cv joint sounds like. also. i forgot 2 mention. there is a slight squeak when i spin the wheel. n thats not from the brakes. its somethin else. i do appreciate this help by the way. very much. i like keepin my truck in top condition. n i jsut wanna fix it.

 

Well cost depending you could replace both the cv's and the bearing seeing as the bearings need out for the cv's to be replaced. Another thing to try is having the truck in the air and turning the wheel to fully expose the shaft and have a buddy spin the tire and you can feel the cv as it turns. If its all knocky and shizz than there you are, but Im thinking you could be right as well and both components need to replaced.

 

ill probably have to end up replacing both to make me feel better. haha. i checked prices of both earlier. 195 for the wheel bearing and 99 for the cv shaft. and thats for the good ones. not the cheap ones. i dont wanna put the cheap ones in n then have to replace them again here soon. so id just rather do the good ones. but anyways. i guess ill do a little more checkin out 2moro n c what i can find. thanks for all the help.

 

yeah cannot really go wrong with those prices at all dude. Figure out what is what then get wrenching.

 

Hey guys i need some help.. I got a 2002 dodge ram 1500 reg cab 4x4 the front cv axle pass side broke. I removed it and it looks like the shaft that comes out of the diff is warn down what is that part called and were can i find one.
Thanks Tom

 

Hey dont forget to look at the front drive shaft. That wierd hub/quasi-ballbearing/u-joint end closest to the transfer case can sound just like a cv or wheel bearing going bad.

The one on my Durango threw me for a loop. Unless its totally shot (mine wasn't but degrading FAST) then it's really hard to tell until you unbolt that one end and move it around the angles by hand.

If it IS that, a good drive shaft specialty shop can weld a real u-joint on that end that is greasable.