Alright. This just started this afternoon pretty suddenly.

I have an '02 Ram 1500 quad cab 4wd all stock with 185,000 miles. When I am driving at any speed or in any direction it sounds like a mud flap or something is rubbing on the front tires. It mostly sound like it is coming from the left front, but my right ear is bad and that may have something to do with it. As I said, this happens in forward or reverse, going straight or turning either direction. I have looked around and don't see anything rubbing a tire. When I put it in four-wheel drive, the indicator light does not come on, but the noise seems to stop and in four low it feels all torquey (thats a word right?) like it normally would if the 4wd were engaged. Any ideas what I might be looking at here?

 

I'd lift the front end and spin the tires individually to see if you hear a sound. Check the rear tires as well, I once had the e-brake come off on the passenger rear tire and could've sworn it was coming from the driver front tire... not sure why.

 

bearing?

i agree....raise front, rotate eveything, including driveshaft. see if you can narrow it down.

brakes hanging up/dragging is another idea

 

thanks guys i will give that a go and see if i can narrow some things down.

 

Alright the CV joint on the driver's side has come unattached from the stub shaft that comes out of the diff. The splines on the stub shaft are a little chewed up now.

So, the questions I now have are.

1) What are the chances of being able to simply reseat the CV joint onto the stub shaft and call it good?

2) Assuming that is not an option, how hard is this project?

3) Any special tools needed?

4) Does the stub shaft need to be replaced also? If so, does that require any special tools?

 

i havent done a ram yet but most others are standard tools.

grab a haynes book for starters. any auto part store has them and they are invaluble for getting started.

reusing the damaged cv would be a mistake causing more damage. napa usually has them in stock.

cliff notes in link:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you..._Ram_1500_1500

 

I'd probably put in a new CV shaft (at least install it with a new c-clip)
I've never figured out a good way to pull the CV joint off the stub shaft, I've pried on it with anything I can get my hands on and it just seems to suddenly come off with a magic amount of swearing. If the splines aren't destroyed on the stub shaft it should be alright to re-use, those things are expensive. Make sure to check the CV boot and see if it got wrecked, if the boot has cracks/holes just replace the whole unit, you'll have to do it eventually. Heave on the CV on re-install to make sure that the C-clip is seated fully.