I have a 99 Ram 2500 4x4, 80,000 mi. I have replaced the shocks and it still sounds like the whole front suspension is loose. Has anyone had this problem? I Live in Michigan it has been cold.

 

Give us some more information. Is it making the noise only when you go over a bump? Turning corners? Braking? Left side, right side?

 

Only hitting bumps

 

ok if your up to goin out in the cold crawel under the front end and grab your trak bars and give them a good shake becuase when i was workign at a tire store i had a ton rig from dodge come in and the trac bar bushings were gone and the bar just ratteled to the high heavans

 

Common problem
More than likely the shock bolts aren't tight enough.
They have to be really tight.

 

Lower shock bolts are more than likely the problem. A 1/2 inch johnson bar with all you have will get rid of the noise.

Remember you have to squeeze the shock in between the two pieces of steel.


Good Luck

Jason

 

Probably the shocks, mine are doing the same thumping, but it wouldn't hurt to check everything else, could be something serious, (or dangerous, like tie rods etc.). Hope it warms up for you, been a long hard winter down here in WV......

 

To really check the trac bar you've got to put some pressure on it. Park your truck on pavement and have someone turn the steering wheel while you get under and watch the bushings. This usually works best with the engine not running but the steering wheel unlocked. I had to replaced my trac bar at about 80k on my '96. Some of the other symptoms will be drifting or pulling more than normal and trouble keeping it going straight.

Do you have a suspension lift at all? Leveling kit?

 

Thanx for the replys. My buddy came over and turned the wheel while I was under the truck. I'm going to replace all the tie rods. I greesed everything about a month ago when I replaced the axel half shaft joints, and they didn't seem bad then, but they are now. This is the first year that my wife has plowed with our dodge, and we plowed about seven times in January. With all the mid 80's Chevys I have to keep up with, I didn't put much thougt into our Baby (dodge).

84' 85' 86' 87' 1 ton chevys, all 6.2 diesels.

99' DODGE 2500 24valve CTD, 4x4 Can't wait to buy another in 05'

 

Johnson bar?
First time I've heard that one

 

A Johnson bar is a long non-ratcheting drive that is used to apply PRESSURE that might break a ratchet drive...pretty common term around here.

 

We call them breaker bars down here

 

I would replace the trac-bar as well or first when I had trac-bar problem on old truck the trac-bar made everything lose and it needed ball joints I had to replace the trac-bar again (at there cost) after only 10,000 miles because the ball joints caused the original problem. good luck let us know what happens

 

we call it breaker bar here too.

 

I will replace the trac-bar also. I don't know if I am going with Lukes Links yet. I might keep all the old linkage and use lukes links the next time around. I'm going to see how much it is going to cost me