pipefitter

I have a chirping noise coming from my'96 4x4. I hear it when I drive along a rough road, and whenever I shut the truck off. It seems to be on the passenger side of the truck. I have lubed every suspension component I can find under the truck, including between the leaf springs. Anyone else have the issue? The truck has 98,000 miles on it.

SIXSLUG

Its the serpentine belt. Try lubing it with silicone spray, it should stop for a while.

The Goodyear Gatorback is the preferred replacement.

Welcome to the site!

pipefitter

I don't think that's it. It doesn't chirp as the engine rotates. I only hear it when I hit small bumps in the road, and when I it shut it off. I will take a look at it however. Thanks.

PS I didn't know about the CDC! When do we meet?

Hodge

Are the two chirps identical? If not, I would say you have two conditions- something in the suspension making the sound when driving, and then the common chirp when shutting down. Sometimes at shutdown, the compression will stop the rotating mass faster than the accessories, so the belt will chirp because something didn't stop rotating quite as fast. It happens because of the high compression- you never hear it on gas engines. It is common with the Cummins. I can't imagine a suspension problem that would make a noise when shutting the truck off, unless the shudder is affecting something. Check the engine mounts. Otherwise, you will have to get creative and find a way to observe the front end while it is moving over rough ground. For instance, we have a lot of open field- I would probably have someone drive the truck as I drive alongside it on my ATV, and try and pinpoint what facilitates it and where it seems to come from. Otherwise, I would jack the front up and start checking the ball joints, tie rod ends, u-joints, track bar, control arms, shocks, etc.
A noise like that on a loud truck can be hard to pinpoint.

pipefitter

The sounds are pretty much identical. I wondered about the engine mounts, but it takes such a slight bump on the road that I wondered if it could actually shake the engine enough to make the sound. Anyway, the search continues. Thanks!

gorms

Jack the truck up starting with the front end and have someone bounce the suspension corner to corner until you find it. I had a similar squeaking, turned out to be sway bar end links. Truck rocks a bit when it shuts off, enough to throw a little squeak. Things like leaf spring bushings, control arm bushings, etc. are tough to lube once they dry out to a point of squeaking.

pipefitter

That sounds like my issue. I sprayed the end links, but not the pillar blocks. I'll try it again. Thanks!

SIXSLUG

Sounds like a possible dry suspension component as mentioned.

I was thinking the low rpm's were allowing you to hear the belt, but guess that would be more of a whine, like on my Tahoe!

Motor mount is a good place to look also.

If you clean the rubber components really well you can saturate them with lube and blast a few shots of compressed air to force it into the joint....don't forget to wear safety glasses if you do.

The CDC meets where ever two 98.5-2002 Rams come together: in the parking lot, the intersection or just pass in the night!!

irish power mad

Have you got side steps or runner bars on the truck?. Mine does something like yours on rough roads but it's my passanger side step bar is loose.

pipefitter

Thanks all. I tightened up everything I could find under the truck, (including the steps), and lubed the rest. The noise temporarily went away, and I think it's the sway bar end links. I'll replace them with delrin bushings when I have a chance.

SIXSLUG

Maybe totally out there, but I just replaced my rear u-joint after only 63K...

pipefitter

It seems to have been the sway bar end links. The old ones crumbled when I removed them. Lubed everything up when I put it back together, and it's quiet. Thanks for all the responses.