2003 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT 4x4

I have been chasing a clunking noise from the front end. The chrysler dealer is telling me it is a lower control arm bushing. I managed to rig a camera for short drive and I want to know what some of you think after hearing and seeing it yourself. Here is the link to the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K27r...ature=youtu.be

The clunk is at time 0:28; 1:08; and 1:34 on the video. Looks like the torsion bar is popping maybe. Would appreciate your thoughts as to what it might be.

Thanks!

 

The very first thing I noticed was the creaking sound when you got into the truck and loaded the suspension a little more. That is a clear sign of a worn dry ball joint and/or control arm bushing. If ball joints are good, I would tend to believe the dealers findings. The popping you are seeing in the torsion bar is a transfer of energy from the lower control arm, (in my opinion) as a result of the worn part in the lower control arm. .

 

Something is binding, then letting go. It seems to be steering related. Can you get it to pop while sitting still?

 

p38251, It does not clunk or pop while sitting still and turning wheel. It is typically on a left turn, or backing out of driveway and cranking wheel all the way right while backing. Also, for reference, the video is looking forward toward front driver's side wheel and suspension.

 

Lower Control Arm Bushings replaced......noise still there. It may be not as loud, or that may be because I am hoping I didn't spend $$ on nothing.... I am not one to usually throw parts at something. I would take it back to dealer, but he clearly doesn't know.

Any other ideas? Could the torsion bars be adjusted out of spec?

 

I have been watching thread because I am curious about your issue. Watched your video a few more times. Bear with me, Im just making comments..

Still dont like the creaking sound when you get into your truck, my guess is that it is related.....if it is still there with the new bushings.

I have never seen a video from this point of view, but it seems the lower control arm moves fore and aft alot, which seems be be bending the torsion bar. ( Maybe this is ok and just the way it is due to movement in rubber bushings of lower control arm) ?

If it was mine, I think the next step I would be doing is looking at the torsion bar and mount at the back end where it mounts into the socket and frame where adjustment is made. ??? Maybe try playing with torsion bar ride height adjustment to see if it affects or changes the clunk. ? Then again, maybe dealer already played with this adjustment when doing the bushings. ? Sorry, just talking out loud for suggestions for you......

 

that squeaking was exactly what mine was doing, Ended up replacing the upper control arms and lower ball joints with nice ones that have grease fittings.

 

There is a crossmember running across the front suspension between the lower control arms. Specifically the lower control arm rear. Nothing obvious to the eye, but it turns out the bolts were loose on the driver side and it was binding on left turns and rear right turns with wheel at full crank. I will put a picture of the crossmember and bolts (upper and lower) and someone more chassis savvy than me can identify it for us. Does anyone know the correct torque for these bolts? I torqued them to 55 ft lbs and the clunk is now gone. Took it to 2 independent shops and the stealership and they couldn't find it, but they all wanted $$$ for new suspension parts

TrueDogman got me thinking when he identified the transfer of energy from the lower control arm to the torsion bar in the video. Thanks for the help.





front suspension crossmember





Lower control arm rear bushing