I've been noticing a clunking sound coming from somewhere in the front end. Sometimes I can even feel it on the floorboard. I gets worse at low speeds and rough roads. I sounds like something is loose but I have no idea where to start looking. Bumps at highway speeds don't seem to cause the noise, only low speed. I just replaced the u-joints on the front shaft, but should I be able to turn it slightly. I can make the ring and pinion clunk just by turning the shaft by hand. Is this normal? Could this be causing the clunking sound at low speeds? Thanks.

 

is the clunking all the time or random. . .my A/C compressor will make a clunk so hard my truck 'thumps' and actualy leans for an instant.

 

It clunks anytime I hit a sizeable bump going fairly slow (less than 40 mph). Is there anything in the front suspension that has been know to come loose? The steering is still tight and no shaking. I'm lost! It feels like the truck could fall apart when I take it hunting on a rough dirt road.

 

I say its the u joints in your front axle, I just replaced the one on my drivers side and had the same problem your having. Check those out before anything major. Also, if thats your problem, get spicer greasable joints and they will last forever.

 

Anyway to tell if those are bad? Did you do the work yourself? I tried doing my front drive shaft joints and ended up at a driveshaft shop because they were in so tight I couldn't press them out. Just wondering if these will give me the same problem.

This reminds me that I have also had a grinding or vibration when I turn or pull into or out of parking places. Would the u-joints on the front axle cause this?

 

I've noticed this in my truck as well. I only have 13000 miles so I didn't think it was anything serious. I thought maybe a loose nerf bar or my hitch but I do feel it in the floor sometimes. I thought maybe I was just nuts so its nice to know I'm not the olny one. 06 2500 ctd

 

I'll let you know if I figure it out.

 

Did you ever track down your problem? I'm experiencing something similar and looking for any and all clues...

 

Yes, it was the sway bar bushings. They were worn out and I could wiggle the sway bar by hand. If that is your problem, they are about $35 from Dodge and take about 45 minutes to install.