A couple of months ago I started noticing faint tapping sound comming from the left side of my 2007 3500 dually. I would usally notice it as I was coasting into my parking place at work. Since then it has become very noticable even accelerating (slowly) but very noticable when coasting. It sounds almost like something metallic in my front tire that when it hits the pavement it taps or pops. I've jacked up the frontend and looked around to see if something was loose and also spun the tires to see if I could get the sound, but nothing. I does seem to stop when I turn left or right but comes back when I straighten out. Any ideas out there?

Thanks, racfan9

 

if 4x4 I'd look at u-joints.

 

check the lug nuts too. I had several start to loosen and even though it looked fine I found I could get another 1/8 to 1/4 turn on most of them. Scared the helll out of me thinking I almost ignored it.

 

Front axle u joints. Very common problem on these trucks. If it is that and your out of warrenty, go for the greaseable ones. Other things to check would be bearings, brake rotor rust or flaking scraping on something, driveshaft u joints.
Good luck

Sticky

 

^^^^plus control arm bushings.

 

Is it a rotational noise or more like something bumping or banging? Knowing the characteristics of the noise definatley helps point you in the right direction to start looking. Start paying real close attention to it and how driver input and conditions affect it (ex. - braking, turning the wheel while moving or stopped, accelerating, cold or hot, etc.). If you go to the dealer and the noise is not screaming at them then be prepared for the famous "could not duplicate" from them.

Good Luck,

Sticky

 

Sticky,
The noise is rotational I'm getting ready to mark a tire because the noise occurs with about each rotation of the tires. My thinking is it could be a wheel , hub or front axle u-joint since they will all rotate equally, Am I correct? By the way the sound is almost like a piece of large gravel stuck in the tread of the tire and everytime it smacks the pavement it pops.

Terry,

 

mine is doing the same and it is my front axle u joints. Estimated repair cost is between 5 and 6 hundred. anyone know how hard it is to do yourself ???

 

I replaced both front axle u-joints about a month ago. One right after another went bad. Hardest part is removing the rotor and wheel bearing. I got new joints for about $70 each. I would recommend checking out your ball-joints while you are into the front end. Steps to get you to the u-joints get you to the ball joints also. Mr. Gadget has a good ball joint thread on this forum that works well for the u-joint also. Quick search should work.

 

+1 on the Mr. Gadget thread!!!!

 

Take it to an independent shop. The service station down the road from me did it for about $100.00.

 

I lost the front axle ujoin and only cost me 165. U joint cost more than the labor. It was a local shop that has the correct pullers to keep the wheel bearing intact. Took him less than hour. I pre lubed it the night before.