my buddy just got a 03 ram 2wd hemi quad cab 1500 after about a week of having the truck. we were going down a back road and hit a few big bumps and it had a horrible grinding noise comming from the front end... we first thought it was a caliper draging but the truck tracked straight even under breaking and would then stop. now it doesnt always do it only after hitting a bump or going over railroad tracks it grinds horribly. i am not sure what to look at we took off rotor and caliper and pads and nothing had groves or looked bad wheel bearing felt tight. where to look next???

 

Oh man... There could be so many things wrong. So many parts up there. Here is a link to the PDF parts list and repair manual. Best I could do for ya. SERVICE MANUAL - PARTS LIST

 

ok under further inspection we found a grove in the right front rotor. It is towards the inside of the truck. could it be a dust sheild?

 

Grooves in the rotors are somewhat normal depending on how bad the owner lets the brake pads get. Thats not going to be your issue.

 

the pads are good no glazing or chunks missing...

 

Is the grinding metal on metal, or what?

 

I dont see grooves happening in rotors unless it is from worn pads. Even though you say he just got this 03 and the pads are currently good doesnt mean the previous owner didnt wear down a set of pads too far. It happens more often than you think.

 

yeah it was metal on metal... we ended up changing the front right hub assembly i guess the bearing was bad it didnt have any play, but it did drag a little bit. We changed that and no noise. I have never heard a wheel bearing sound like that it was different to say the least