Well got to say its been years since I've signed in and posted..Used to have a few 2nd gens but the last four years have owned a 2004 1500 4x4. .mostly trouble free or I've been able to google any minor issues I've had until now..
So today for the second time in a few weeks I've encountered the following issue with my ram. I will be backing up say out of a drive or parking spot and the truck comes to a halt with a loud clunk. Stops on its own. The front wheels lock via brakes or axles but I'm not pushing the brakes when it happens..startles the hell out of me thinking I've hit or backed over something. So I give it the gas and it goes nowhere spinning the rear tires. Shift to drive same thing. So to get moving again and overpower the condition I switch to 4wd. At first it takes a good amount of accelerator to get moving and then it just frees up and its over with. I shift back into 2wd and move along. Has anyone experienced this or have a clue whats happening here?.. please reply..
Its a 4.7 gas auto by the way. Thx

 

Something is binding up in the front drivetrain. Using brute force to get it to release probably isn't doing you any favors. Time to put it up on a hoist, and look at everything.

 

Defiantly binding. Wheel bearing can do that, bind, then release with a bang.

 

Yeah thats what my first impression was..the front driveline locked up. The crazy thing is that I'm not in 4wd when it happens. Also it has only done it in reverse. I've also noticed latetly when I get up to speed the front end is shimmying. Like my front tire balance has gone to hell. Maybe is bearings. I know the suspension is awful squeaky. Im suspecting ball joints there..thx

 

Balljoints wouldn't prevent the truck from rolling, that is gong to be bearings, axles, or the diff itself. Jack it up, turn things by hand. See if anything presents itself.

 

Yes ..understood..was only saying that the ball joints has been an ongoing issue. Not blaming them on my new problem.. Is it possible a front brake caliper and/or pad locks so abrupty that it feels like the drivetrain jammed up?

 

My guess is wheel hub assy. Bearings are locking up. I would replace both sides.

 

Jack it up and spin stuff by hand. Whatever is causing the problem is likely to be patently obvious. If its' THAT bad, it's gonna be noisy.

 

Well would be leaning towards bad bearings if it happened going both forward and reverse. So I'm planning to get it on stands this weekend and pull the fronts and try to see what is going on.thx

 

I have had bearings fail in such a manner as the vehicle would roll one direction, but, not the other......