I have a 06 ram 1500 4x4. I heard a noise coming from my front end when the suspension would fully unload... a clicking sound.
Anyway, so having my dad bounce my front bumper I got under the truck and found the cause of the noise. The right front strut is clicking. The 3 studs that hold the top of the strut in are tight. But the single stud that comes up off the strut itself is what is clicking back and forth, it is loose. Any idea what this can be? Can I tighten this while it is still on the truck?

 

Yes you can tighten it and some loctite on it may solve future issues

 

What do I have to hold the piston shaft from spinning while I tighten the single nut with a deep socket?

I am just surprised this nut came loose, because I hear of so many horror stories about this nut being rusted to the threaded shaft when people try to disassemble the strut to replace them.

 

Well I took a look at it today. Looks like I will need to somehow make the tool that dodge uses to take the strut apart in order to tighten the nut. I tried to turn the top nut which is 18mm, but the shaft of the strut just spun. I might but a cheap 18mm socket from Harbor freight and weld a shaft onto it just like the dodge tool https://millerspecialtools.spx.com/Detail.aspx?id=865

Can you mig weld onto a socket? Do you just have to grind the finish off first?

Also, it may not matter but the strut shaft on the loose side sticks out the top of the strut tower about 1/2" further than on the strut on the other side of the truck.

 

Or I may try a set of these
http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-to...set-32042.html

 

Actually after thinking about it, I am pretty sure some part of the upper shock mount failed(rubber or bushing), and that is what is letting the shock move up and down. Which would also explain why the stud/piston shaft is sitting further out of the top of the strut tower on the broken side. Whatever bushing broke is allowing the shock to sit further up in the upper shock mount.

Looks like its a pair of Monroe Reflex shocks for me, as well as a set of Strut mounting kits... or I will just get a set of Quick Struts.

I got quoted $150 and $200 from 2 different places to do my struts... I am just waiting to hear back from my dodge dealer. For that price, I will let them deal with this one, lol.