Getting noisy
 

My truck is coming just over 139K and has been making some strange noises. There are 2 noises. I think both are from the rear but it is hard to tell for sure.

Noise #1. Squeak when turning. Turn in either direction and I have a squeak noise. I'm pretty sure this is suspension but is there a way to get rid of it? Was under the truck last night and noticed that from the rear axle back there is bright red powdery rust on leaves and such. I'm guessing that the rear driveshaft mount just sprays this area of the truck with everything. Tried to clean it up some with the light I had left. But sure enough the noise was still there this morning.

Noise #2. Seems that when decelerating from 20 on down there is a rhythmic clunk. I thought something might be rubbing under there but found nothing. Noise seems to be there whether I'm on the brake or not. But seems to be more noticable when brake is applied. Rolling window down makes it harder to hear so front/back isolation is tough.

From poking around here I'm going to recheck the lugs. I checked the driveshaft and Ujoints seemed ok, at least when I tried checking for slop by hand. I did my oil/tires/all fluids back at 135K and can't say I noticed noises prior to that. But my ears are usually more keen after I've had my 2 left thumbs on that much at one time.

Curious if anyone had opinions or thoughts on this.

I'm still suspicious of Ujoints. These trucks eat em. The only way to really know if you got one going out is to drop the shaft. It is usually the rear one and it is only 4 bolts to get it off. Long bed you have the carrier bearing to deal with too. You can then roll the flange around and if it is smooth, you are probably ok. You just can't tell unless you get the shaft down sometimes.

The squeak when turning sounds more like the front end. I would jack the truck up and turn the wheels right, check, and then left. Rotate and you should be able to feel a tight joint in the front axle. Grab the top and bottom of your front wheels while they are off the ground and and try to rock them back and forth to check your wheel bearings. Good luck and let us know!

Thanks RTillery. Yeah i guess I'll have it up tomorrow. Truck is full of fun today. I was leaving the houe and it quit. Threw P0628 on me. It has since run and been fine. But I could have lived without this.

Well due to other things breaking on the truck I haven't had the chance or time to do much with this.

I do think the ticking/clunking noise is to the front of the truck. I found that if I put it in 4H it would stop. Only to return with a clunk as it was put back to 2WD and the clutch let out. Thinking front u joints I pulled the front drive shaft. Nope, still have a noise.

But I did bugger up a bolt for the driveshaft. I need to get a replacement T40 bolf for the shaft to the front diff. Does anyone know the part # for that bolt. I see mention of it everywhere here but not a part#.

If it stops when you put it in 4hi, then I would say it is in the rear driveshaft. When in 4wd, you take load off the rear driveshaft. When in 2hi, all load is to the rear. That is when you get the clunking, right? I would at least check the rear driveshaft first. It gets a lot more load and wear than the front one does.

Please don't take this that I'm disagreeing with you. I'm not, I'm just trying to wrap my head around it.
The noise is only heard when slowing down or coasting from about 25 on down. Doesn't seem to matter if the truck is in gear or not, clutch in or out or brakes applied or not. it might be doing it at other times but its not audible over the engine and road noise. Would the load be off the drivetrain at this point?
I thought it was up front because putting it to 4hi stopped the noise. And when I put it back to 2wd it wouldn't return until I loaded the (**** this makes a lot of sense now, you're probably right) drivetrain letting the clutch out to move again. Then there was a clunk that could be felt in the transfer handle. I guess I thought this was the slop being taken back out of the front. I was looking the wrong way.

Any idea on those diff to shaft bolts?

I would check the u-joints in the cardan joint very closely.

Have your checked your front axle u-joints? When mine went bad, they would make a squeak-squeak noise only on slow speed turns. The u-joints were covered with rust dust coming from the caps.

You nailed it. The passenger side it toast.

Can someone help me with a part #...

MoparAmerica is saying the torx bolts form the DS to front diff is 6506497AA But that seems to be the other end of the shaft. Listed as a Hex head.

While seaching I found part # 6506382AA. I even found this references on another forum as being a T40 bolt.

I found this pic. I need #6.

Anybody? I'm trying to get 4wd working before the next round of weather.

Take one to any fastener shop and get good grade hex head replacements.