Hi, I am new to the forums and I wish I was joining for a better reason but I need some advice. I have tried searching google and these forums for anything that could relate to my problem but I can not find anything. Maybe I am using the wrong terminology in my searches.

I have a 2004 dodge ram 1500 hemi 5.7l 4x4. Long story short my truck makes a pretty loud clunk noise about 30-40 seconds after shutting off 4x4 and it seem like its coming from the front passenger side. I have the electronic 4x4 switch, no errors seem to be coming up. 4x4 it self seems fine. I cant tell 100% if its 4w is staying on for that 30-40 seconds after i turned it off. I am afraid to test it anymore, fearing I may damage something more.

When I turn it off I was driving in a straight line and took my foot off the gas till the light switched back to 2w.

Another thing is that I have not been keeping up on fluid changes for the difs and transfer case.

Whats my worst case scenario, transfer box? Any help would be appreciated just so I have an idea what to say to a tech when I take it in.

 

I have the exact same poblem this year. I have been searching all over the net for a answer but no luck. All fluids have been changed, all services done also. I do have the firestone airide on the rear suspension that I keep at 40psi because I cary a very heavy trailer and construction materials. Having the airide at 40psi keeps the back of the truck jacked a bit so i was tinking maybe that was the problem. Do you have a suspension helper, lift kit or something like that?

Can't beleive we are the only ones this happend to!

 

Although you're going in a straight line, if it is bound up it won't pop out of 4x4 until there is some slack in the drive train. I've had this puylling off the drive when I discovered the kids had been playing and put it in 4lock, I had to reverse the way I came to get it to unlock the 4x4 in the transfer box.

You shouldn't really move on to tarmac in 4x4 as you'll probably be turning or possibly spinning a wheel when you do and that binds up the entire transmission.

Hope this helps.

 

This is actually my first truck out of 4 that didn't clunk when coming out of 4x4. I was told when i aquired about it a few years back that when the front diff is disengaging it is very common to hear a noise. My toyota i used to have was def. the worst it would feel like my wheel was falling off but so far the dodge hasn't made a peep

 

Thanks for the responses.

mountaingade, everything on my truck is stock.

I think I might be just a 4x4 noob. I had some buddys at work checking the actuator, and pulling the wheels off checking god knows what. They told me just to just stop moving before turning it off.

I was just worried of something breaking more if something was sticking. I used it the last 2 years on snow roads and never had anything like this so I was worried. I checked the manual and it says I can switch 4x4 on, on the move but it doesnt say anything about shutting it off.

As long as you guys cant think of anything being damaged then Ill stop worrying about it.

 

Update Time.

Since my last post i had a transmission shop take a look at it. I had all fluids changed and the transfer box checked ect. He said he couldnt imitate the problem. It was the end of the snow season so I just left it alone. This past week i had the 4x4 on some muddy non paved road. I was still on dirt and I stopped and put it in N before turning off the 4x4. Once turning it off it did the clunk noise ( sounds like a bad pot hole and almost feels the same) 20-40 seconds after moving again. I was still on dirt at that point.

My back tires are old compared to my fronts. They are the same make/size. Not sure if that matters ? I thought it would be ok as long as im offroad.